Shadowlands Tabernacle - Blairsville GA
Shadowlands Tabernacle "Engaging Today's World...Impacting Tomorrow's Lives"
Shadowlands is a community of Christ followers trying to live out the gospel in relationship to God each other, to the North Georgia Tri-state area, and to the world. We are
People Living to be Real -- Real Church -- Real People Living to...
be THE Church...more than just going to Church...
plant THE Church...more than just A church...
promote HIS Church...more than OUR church...
reach out to our community because of MISSION...more than because of STRUCTURE...
teach Church as something we 'ARE'... not only something we 'ATTEND'...
display CHRIST...more than US...
Living in Christ: "I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some":We should not think Paul changed his doctrine or message to appeal to different groups (he denies this in 1 Corinthians 1:22-23); but he would change his behaviour and manner of approach. “This passage has often been looked to for the idea of ‘accommodation’ in evangelism, that is, of adapting the message to the language and perspective of the recipients. Unfortunately, despite the need for that discussion to be carried on, this passage does not speak directly to it. This has to do with how one lives or behaves among those whom one wishes to evangelize.” (Fee)
This ministry's goal is to introduce real solutions for real problems, not to indoctrinate others into ritualistic traditions. Shadowland's spiritual preparedness will make it possible to reach the unreachable for, as 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 tells us, we are willing to be made all things to all men for the gospel's sake. "Paul sought to win people to Jesus Christ by being sensitive to their needs and identifying with them. We should try to reach people where they are today and expect to see changes later."
John 15:15-17 (King James Version) 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
We are people with different backgrounds coming from different denominations, yet non-denominational, who are unified by salvation in Jesus Christ:
Fellowship
The original term for fellowship is koinonia, which referred to a close, mutual relationships where people share things in common and remain involved with one another--the bad times as well as the good. Shadowlands is a place where the word of God is not only learned through teaching...it is lived through fellowship.
Unified through Christ
At Shadowlands, we believe it doesn't make sense that Almighty God would have children characterized and separated by denominationalism, legalism, exclusion of other believers, fear and insecurity as some teach. It's not about denominations. It is about our relationship to God and community. For the church to be the kind of church Jesus promised to build, there has to be fellowship, teaching, prayer and breaking of bread. See Acts 2:42.
Non-denominational
For the first thousand years of Christianity there was no Protestantism, Eastern Orthodoxy, or no "Roman Catholicism" as we know it today. There was only the one, holy, "catholic" church affirmed by early creeds, which was the body of Christian believers all over the world (catholic simply means "universal"). We were ALL the Church.
All are welcome
As part of the body of Christ, Shadowlands Tabernacle will provide a refuge where there is rejection; promote hope where there is hopelessness; and perpetuate compassion where there is criticism. At Shadowlands, we feel our purpose is to reach out to all those who feel the need to grow, to be equipped to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ. The God-inspired vision for Shadowlands is founded upon His Living Word and prayer. Each and every component of this ministry has scriptural credence pertaining to its own specific purpose.
We are not in competition with each other
Christ has declared that He will build His church, and nothing--not even the powers of hell--can stop Him. In truth, the battle has already been won. Christ will be triumphant in the end, and those of us who stand with Him and live for Him will be victorious. That should be the foundational message of His church.
We are building His Church
Unfortunately, we have become separated by denominational differences and affiliations. Sadly, the church risks becoming an overwhelming legalistic mechanism that pushes agenda, forces programs and consumes lives. At the other extreme, some hear a feel-good message instead of what Christians need to know to stand strong in a world that's lost its way. Praise God a new day has dawned at Shadowlands! We are building His Church!
In "My Jesus" lyrics, Todd Agnew ask, "Which Jesus do you follow? Which Jesus do you serve? If Ephesians says to imitate Christ, then why do you look so much like the world? Cause my Jesus bled and died. He spent His time with thieves and liars. He loved the poor and accosted the arrogant. So which one do you want to be?"
Imago Dei
Created in the "Image of God" -- Christ-like (Christians) in "The Imitation of Christ" -- In Christ Alone We Stand
The way in which faith-based communities regard other denominations varies from mutual respect and acceptance to suspicion and denial that the other group is really "Christian." It all boils down to one thing "If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, then you are part of our Church community."
In Christ Alone We Stand
If loving humanity is core to God’s nature, and if we are made in God’s image, then as Christians, "loving community" is core to our nature too. What we call Church, then, is nothing less than God’s own community extended to each of us and shared among all of us. What we call the gospel, in turn, is nothing less than God’s invitation to all peoples to commune with Him and with each other in His eternal love. At Shadowlands, we seek to root everything we do in this understanding of community in our local community and beyond the walls of the building. Our motives, messages, methods, and aims should always reflect the relational priorities of the relational God we see in Jesus Christ.
Fellowship
The original term for fellowship is koinonia, which referred to a close, mutual relationships where people share things in common and remain involved with one another--the bad times as well as the good. Shadowlands is a place where the word of God is not only learned through teaching...it is lived through fellowship.
Unified through Christ
At Shadowlands, we believe it doesn't make sense that Almighty God would have children characterized and separated by denominationalism, legalism, exclusion of other believers, fear and insecurity as some teach. It's not about denominations. It is about our relationship to God and community. For the church to be the kind of church Jesus promised to build, there has to be fellowship, teaching, prayer and breaking of bread. See Acts 2:42.
Non-denominational
For the first thousand years of Christianity there was no Protestantism, Eastern Orthodoxy, or no "Roman Catholicism" as we know it today. There was only the one, holy, "catholic" church affirmed by early creeds, which was the body of Christian believers all over the world (catholic simply means "universal"). We were ALL the Church.
All are welcome
As part of the body of Christ, Shadowlands Tabernacle will provide a refuge where there is rejection; promote hope where there is hopelessness; and perpetuate compassion where there is criticism. At Shadowlands, we feel our purpose is to reach out to all those who feel the need to grow, to be equipped to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ. The God-inspired vision for Shadowlands is founded upon His Living Word and prayer. Each and every component of this ministry has scriptural credence pertaining to its own specific purpose.
We are not in competition with each other
Christ has declared that He will build His church, and nothing--not even the powers of hell--can stop Him. In truth, the battle has already been won. Christ will be triumphant in the end, and those of us who stand with Him and live for Him will be victorious. That should be the foundational message of His church.
We are building His Church
Unfortunately, we have become separated by denominational differences and affiliations. Sadly, the church risks becoming an overwhelming legalistic mechanism that pushes agenda, forces programs and consumes lives. At the other extreme, some hear a feel-good message instead of what Christians need to know to stand strong in a world that's lost its way. Praise God a new day has dawned at Shadowlands! We are building His Church!
In "My Jesus" lyrics, Todd Agnew ask, "Which Jesus do you follow? Which Jesus do you serve? If Ephesians says to imitate Christ, then why do you look so much like the world? Cause my Jesus bled and died. He spent His time with thieves and liars. He loved the poor and accosted the arrogant. So which one do you want to be?"
Imago Dei
Created in the "Image of God" -- Christ-like (Christians) in "The Imitation of Christ" -- In Christ Alone We Stand
The way in which faith-based communities regard other denominations varies from mutual respect and acceptance to suspicion and denial that the other group is really "Christian." It all boils down to one thing "If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, then you are part of our Church community."
In Christ Alone We Stand
If loving humanity is core to God’s nature, and if we are made in God’s image, then as Christians, "loving community" is core to our nature too. What we call Church, then, is nothing less than God’s own community extended to each of us and shared among all of us. What we call the gospel, in turn, is nothing less than God’s invitation to all peoples to commune with Him and with each other in His eternal love. At Shadowlands, we seek to root everything we do in this understanding of community in our local community and beyond the walls of the building. Our motives, messages, methods, and aims should always reflect the relational priorities of the relational God we see in Jesus Christ.
