Basileia is a liturgical-sacramental, Evangelical-Reformed, and Orthodox-charismatic communion of the Church.
Basileia is a liturgical-sacrament, Evangelical-Reformed, Orthodox-charismatic communion of the Church.
Our spiritual heritage received through Communio Christiana is a convergence of these three historic streams of the Church.
The Church as a whole may be likened to a river that is a confluence of three streams of spirituality whereby the Trinity speaks through creation, in Scripture and by the Spirit.
- Liturgical and sacramental expressions of the Church emphasize the priestly mode of revelation through creation in general and specifically through the Church’s signs, symbols and sacraments.
- Evangelical and Reformed expressions of the Church emphasize the prophetic mode of revelation in Scripture.
- Orthodox and charismatic expressions of the Church emphasize the kingly mode of revelation by the Holy Spirit.
The degree to which we actually hear and obey the unified revelation of the Trinity speaking through symbol, Scripture and the Spirit is the degree to which we fulfill our call to be a communion shaped by convergence. But the degree to which we fail in this is the degree to which we fall into the divergence of denominationalism.
We intentionally, self-consciously and consistently endeavor to be convergent, not autonomously elevating any one of these three expressions of the Church above another, but by grace keeping the unity of the faith and integrating the treasures of all three into a greater whole.
Therefore, in regards to prayer, belief and action:
- While our Liturgy emphasizes priestly revelation in symbol, our Liturgy is liturgical and sacramental in Evangelical, Reformed, Orthodox and charismatic ways. This is the principle of lex orandi est lex credendi et agendi, which translated says, “The rule of prayer is the rule of belief and of action.”
- While our Lifestyle emphasizes prophetically embodying revelation in Scripture, our Lifestyle is Evangelical and Reformed in liturgical, sacramental, Orthodox and charismatic ways. This is the principle of lex credendi est lex orandi et agendi, which translated says, “The rule of belief is the rule of prayer and of action.”
- While our Canons emphasize kingly revelation by the Spirit, our Canons are Orthodox and charismatic in liturgical, sacramental, Evangelical and Reformed ways. This is the principle of lex agendi est lex orandi et credendi, which translated says, “The rule of action is the rule of prayer and of belief.”
Because Basileia is a communion shaped by convergence, our Liturgy shapes our Lifestyle and Canons, our Lifestyle shapes our Liturgy and Canons and our Canons shape our Liturgy and Catechism. Our Liturgy, Catechism and Canons are interdependent and ultimately identical, not in form, but in meaning. They all mean the same thing. They are perspectivally related, re-presenting the same thing from three different angles or perspectives. This is a practical outworking of the Father’s pleasure to unify in Christ all things in heaven and on earth through the revelation of the Word in creation, Scripture and by the Spirit.
Our identity as a communion shaped by convergence is foundational to how Basileia in turn relates divine revelation, the Church, creeds and tradition.
