CORE BELIEFS
We welcome anyone, of all faith-backgrounds or religious beliefs, to our retreats. You do not have to agree with the following to come on our retreats.
However, some retreats are specifically geared toward religious groups or church groups, and we offer custom retreats where Christian teaching on food, health and wellness is at the forefront. The following Core Belief Statement is meant to communicate our specific Christian and Biblical convictions to the groups/leaders who want to know our beliefs.
The following should not be taken as a statement of exclusion to anyone who wants to come on our retreats but does not share the beliefs below. The following was written by the owners of Luminaries Retreat and does not necessarily express the beliefs of all staff, partners, or volunteers of our retreats.
We believe in the One Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Equally God, but existing from all eternity as three distinct persons. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2).
We believe Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God; fully God and fully Man. He was born of the Virgin Mary, begotten by the Holy Spirit in the foreordained plan of the Father to reconcile the world to Himself. (Luke 1:35; 2 Corinthians 5:19).
Jesus is the mediator between God and man, and through His suffering and death on the cross for atonement, humans can be saved from hell by grace through faith, as the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Peter 2:24; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 1:9).
The gospel is the good news and the power of God for salvation to all who believe. Belief in the gospel is a saving faith, putting one’s dependence specifically in Jesus Christ and His work on the cross. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no one can come to God the Father except through Him. (Romans 1:18; John 14:6). One cannot earn their way to heaven through good works. However, good works are essential as evidence of genuine faith that saves. (James 2:14-26).
We believe the Holy Spirit was present at creation (Genesis 1:2), that he was sent to glorify Jesus (John 16:14), he convicts the world of sin (John 16:8), he guides believers into truth (John 16:13), and he accomplishes sanctification. (Galatians 5:22, 1 Peter 1:2).
We believe the Bible is the inerrant, infallible Word of God, and is sufficient for all teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16). We cherish the Scriptures, that every word is true, breathed out by God, both in the Old and New Testaments.
We believe the human body was created by God to glorify Him (1 Corinthians 6:20), to display his creative genius (Psalm 139:14-15), to be a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), and to serve others. (Colossians 1:24-9). We believe physical training has some value, but godliness has value for all things. (1 Timothy 4:8). We do not elevate physical appearance knowing that God looks at the heart, but we treasure taking care of our bodies as stewards of a good gift. (1 Samuel 16:7; Genesis 1:31; 2 Corinthians 7:1).
We believe wellness is not just an absence of sickness, but the presence of health. Health has its roots in body, soul, and spirit. (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Our bodes, as part of creation, are subject to futility, but we strive to take care of the whole person, both physical and spiritual. (Romans 8:20). Our bodies may suffer physically but inwardly we can be renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16; 5:1-4).
Therefore, our goal is to live out our faith by loving and accepting people wherever they are at spiritually or physically, encouraging one another, and building one another up toward faith, hope, and love. (Galatians 5:6, 13; 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 14; 1 Corinthians 13:13). We honor everyone, love people, and serve each other in Jesus’ name. (1 Peter 2:16-17).