THEOLOGICAL & BIBLICAL LIFE STANDARDS
For Members of the American Council of Elders and All “Gideon Men” of the State Reformation Teams
GOALS:
"To help bring REFORMATION & BIBLICAL REVIVAL to the Christian Churches, pastors and elders, and to REBUILD OUR AMERICAN CIVILIZATION UPON THE BIBLE, and in that process, to see a rebuilding of the laws of our local, state and federal governments upon Biblical principles, and to reestablish the U.S. Constitution as the Founders’ LAW OF THE LAND."
"To help bring REFORMATION & BIBLICAL REVIVAL to the Christian Churches, pastors and elders, and to REBUILD OUR AMERICAN CIVILIZATION UPON THE BIBLE, and in that process, to see a rebuilding of the laws of our local, state and federal governments upon Biblical principles, and to reestablish the U.S. Constitution as the Founders’ LAW OF THE LAND."
THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ELDERS
The major governing and philosophical Body, the “American Council of Elders” (ACE), should be composed of 24-70 Christian leaders, most of whom lead their own Christian or conservative national or local organizations, and all of whom sign the THEOLOGICAL AND LIFE STANDARDS (see below).
The “American Council of Elders” (ACE), is being called into existence at this point in history to serve the Body of Christ in the United States as a trans-denominational, “Think Tank” and “Leadership Team” composed of seasoned and respected, older leaders who can help guide the Body of Christ in America through these perilous times. They are being asked to function as “The Elders at the Gate” for America, and to offer their “Consensus Wisdom” about directions the Church should take to be Biblically wise, and to honor and obey Christ their King. Every other month their “consensus wisdom” is to be placed on the ACE website offering Biblical wisdom and directions which leaders in the Church could take if they wish for advancing the Kingdom of God on earth and dealing with current issues the Church faces.
The “American Council of Elders” (ACE), is being called into existence at this point in history to serve the Body of Christ in the United States as a trans-denominational, “Think Tank” and “Leadership Team” composed of seasoned and respected, older leaders who can help guide the Body of Christ in America through these perilous times. They are being asked to function as “The Elders at the Gate” for America, and to offer their “Consensus Wisdom” about directions the Church should take to be Biblically wise, and to honor and obey Christ their King. Every other month their “consensus wisdom” is to be placed on the ACE website offering Biblical wisdom and directions which leaders in the Church could take if they wish for advancing the Kingdom of God on earth and dealing with current issues the Church faces.
Biblical Life Standards
- Member must qualify as an elder or deacon as stated in I Timothy, Chapter 3.
- Must be deeply humble with a servant’s attitude of “washing a brother’s feet” and considered so.
- Must be willing with other members to “mutually hold each other accountable to live in obedience to the Bible and tell each other when they see that is NOT happening.”
- He is willing to carry his cross and die for Christ and the establishment of His Kingdom on earth if necessary, as in Luke 9:22-23.
- Feeds himself daily on the Word of God, reads the Bible through regularly over and over, and knows the basic content of the books of the Bible and how to lead others in Biblical obedience.
- Manages his household well so his wife and children are happy to live in obedience and submission to him, as per Ephesians 5:22-33.
- As in Ezekiel 9:4, he personally feels God’s pain and anger at the unbiblical condition of the Church and society.2
- He has the courage to confront falsehoods and evil actions and does not automatically accommodate to society’s anti-biblical falsehoods and life-styles out of fear.
- He has overcome his love of money and material possessions and is able to rest in God’s total sovereignty over all things and trust God’s provision for his family.
- His heart wants to see the Body of Christ, particularly at the local city/county level, working in Christian unity together and see visible expressions of the church’s and pastor’s love for each other.
- Luke 9:22-23 – “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny him-self and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
- Ezekiel 9:4 - And the Lord said to him, “Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.”
Theological and Historical Standards of Truth
He firmly holds to the Christian Worldview derived from God’s own statements in the Bible about: God, Man, Truth, Reality, History, and Eternity. And he is in theological and lifestyle agreement with these two Foundational Documents listed at www.Reformation.net and with items 3 and 4 below.
- The ICBI Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy: (States historical, orthodox view of the Bible and the view of Jesus, Paul, and all the other human Biblical writers.)
- The 42 Articles on Historic Christian Doctrine: (States the major doctrines of the Church’s past 2,000 years)
- He is in general agreement with the 24 “Church Council Documents” listed in the book Rebuilding Civilization on the Bible, and believes they basically, even if not perfectly, state the Bible’s position on each of the issues.
- He can explain the Christian history of America and its founding principles of Law, Government, and Economics or is in the process of learning this information from books such as America’s Providential History, by Beliles & McDowell: The American Covenant, by Marshall Foster, or God and Government, 3 vols., by Gary DeMar.
THE FORMATION OF STATEWIDE GIDEON REFORMATION TEAMS
A Biblically obedient new “Spiritual Army” of “Green Beret” and “Navy Seal” type Christian men willing to lay down their lives to advance Christ’s Kingdom on earth and fulfill Christ’s Great Commission is also being formed. These teams are to be composed of Christians who are businessmen; professionals in law, medicine, media, arts, education, etc.; and in skilled labor, who can eagerly sign the same “Theological & Biblical Life Standards,” and who stand ready to be guided by the Consensus Wisdom of the ACE. “Gideon Men” will also be asked to form in nearby cities the “1Church1Day” Prayer Plan wherein 31 local churches each commit to praying for their city, state and nation one day per month so prayer ascends to God 24/7 all year. This plan is explained on Commander Tim Taylor’s website at www.KingdomLeague.org. This “1Church1Day” plan has brought powerful revivals and great unity to the Body of Christ where it has been tried.