Denominationalism and Christian Camping

     In the Christian camping experience, we have to deal with advantages and disadvantages in being under a denomination.  On the one hand, we have authority over us which keeps us accountable for our doctrine.  This is a good thing, and allows us to stay focused on what we believe, both as a camp and as a denomination.  Some aspects of denominationalism are helpful to the Christian camp, because it does allow a standard for what we will allow and what we will not.  Some aspects, however, are less helpful.  If denominationalism was taken to its extreme in Christian camping, the ministry would never be able to reach out to non-Christians, nor would it have an influence outside its own circles.  This does limit greatly the number of people a camp is able to serve.
   Hidden Acres has done a fairly good job of balancing being a denominational camp with serving Christians and   non-Christians from various backgrounds.  We had a good size group of counselors this last summer that came from a variety of denominations.  Camp compensated for this by requiring applicants to ascribe to the Evangelical Free Church statement of faith.  This provided a basis for unity among those with different backgrounds.  We also serve a variety of groups from different denominations and non-Christian folks also.  Not to mention that we use the denominational authority over us to keep out heresy and division.  This is perhaps the main advantage of being under a denomination.

How does understanding the worldview of other religions help you minister to others’ needs?

     To know a person’s worldview is to know them.  Well, almost.  Each person has their own individuality which is needful to consider in ministering to them.  Nevertheless, a person’s worldview is their most prominent feature, especially when it comes to serving or preaching the Gospel to them.  Though all people share basic needs, such as food and salvation, each has his own expectation of food, or of salvation.  In order to best minister to those who are hungry in various parts of the world, those who serve the needy must adapt to the culture and the individual situation.  What is served in one nation may be unacceptable to be served in another.  With salvation, it is similar, but not quite this way.  While the Gospel is always the same, the way it is preached must indeed be adapted to fit the situation.  For example, when Peter preached to the Jews in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, he never once mentioned the fact that man-made idols were not the One True God, nor did he mention that this God created all things.  The people knew these truths.  However, Paul mentions both of them when preaching to the Athenians.  (Acts 2 and Acts 17, respectively.)  In each case, the apostle took the knowledge of the people and expanded upon it to present the Gospel to them.  Thus it is easy to see that one must be at least somewhat acquainted with the knowledge of the people in order to best present and explain the Gospel unto them.  “So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”  -Romans 10:17

Statements of Faith and Their Importance

           Since ancient times, the Christian Church has had statements of faith.  They were formerly called “creeds” or “symbols”, and they formed a summary of essential doctrines.  They have several purposes, such as: to form a framework or summary of biblical teaching, to train new Christians in the basics of doctrine, and to remind older Christians what is essential.  The most well known of these is called the Apostle’s Creed.  This was used as a test for Christian orthodoxy in the early centuries, until the Council of Nicea, when the Nicene Creed was composed.  The their design was to draw a doctrinal line distinction between Christians and heretics.

            The Christian Camp and Conference Association’s Statement of Faith serves a similar purpose.  It demands that all camps and organizations affiliated with it subscribe to this Statement, in order to insure that they are, indeed, Christian in doctrine, that is, that they correctly teach what the Bible says about the central doctrines.  For those who run or are employed by Christian camps, this statement has several good purposes.  First, it is well suited for use as a standard for employees.  Those seeking employment and a Christian camp ought to be Christian, and the Statement of Faith provides a doctrinal standard by which a candidate’s Christianity may be measured.  Secondly, it may also be put to groups who desire to use the camp’s facilities.  Thirdly, for those employed by Christian camps, it is useful not only to know what their camp teaches, but also to provide a framework for their own doctrine, that they may, “always be ready to give an answer to everyone asking you a reason concerning the hope in you, with meekness and fear.”  -I Peter 3:15b, LITV