Issue 4, Spring 2010
what do we believe? šš We believe in one God, the infinitely perfect and omnipotent creator of all things, who exists eternally as three persons (the Holy Trinity): Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. šš We believe Jesus Christ was true man and true God, conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. As was prophesied, He died on the cross, accepting the punishment for our sins. He arose bodily from the dead, and ascended into Heaven where He is now our advocate at the right hand of the Father. We believe His shed blood and resurrection provide the only grounds for salvation. We believe He will return in glorious power to usher in the end of times and consummate the eternal plan of God. šš We believe that the present ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and make us aware of our need for God, restore the believing sinner, and indwell, guide, instruct, and empower the believer for Godly living and service. šš We believe that mankind was created in God’s image but fell into sin and only through repentance and regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained. šš We believe in the free claim to eternal life in Heaven for all who believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God and in the judgment and eternal separation from all things good for those not abiding in Christ. šš We believe the Bible to be inspired and inerrant in the original writings, and that it is the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. šš We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
DOULOS Magazine is now online as well! Visit our website at www.doulosmagazine.org, where you can find additional content, discuss articles, receive news updates related to this publication, and learn more about the staff and our ministry! We hope to hear from you soon!
what’s in a name?
Background artwork by John Knight ‘08. Adapted from DOULOS Magazine cover. Page design by Tyler Francke ’10, Editor in Chief.
DOULOS Magazine is not bound to any one ministry, denomination, sect, creed, or point of view. Our staff and contributors may be Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, and anything in between. Some of us are liberal, some conservative. We are journalists, artists, engineers, scientists, writers, teachers, leaders, and more, all unified by our one Faith – that of the divine existence and supreme Lordship of Jesus of Nazareth. Together, we seek the Truth in our world, culture, university, each other, and in our own hearts, minds, and souls. We are a paradox; our lives are defined by our faith at the same time that our faith is still being defined in the search. Our differences may go deep, but these core tenets go deeper. The statement of faith that follows was written by the founders of DOULOS in 2007 and has held true for our editorial staff ever since.
E-mail us at umaine.doulos@gmail.com!
Doulos (doo-lŏs) is a Greek word that literally means “slave,” but it can imply voluntary servitude. Used about 30 times in the New Testament, the word is often translated “servant,” “bondman,” or “bond-servant.” We picked this name because, at some point in our lives, we willingly chose to become Christ’s servants. This tradition has ancient roots. In the Old Testament, if a Hebrew servant chose, out of love, to not leave his master when the terms of bondage were up, the master would bore his ear with an awl and he would serve the master the rest of his life. Fortunately, ear piercing is no longer required. But the question remains: If we have the choice to be free, then why would we want to be slaves? Unfortunately, there is no choice to be free. The Bible teaches that we were created to live abundantly, in the joy of communion with God, but we have all turned our backs on Him and chose to go our own way. And seeking the “freedom” of our own will, we became slaves to our pride, selfishness, addictions, and sin. Only by accepting Christ’s atonement and returning to the Father can we be restored to the liberty He originally intended. Spiritually, freedom is not an option. The only choice is who you want to be your master: God or sin. This publication is a part of our service to God, trusting that it is a good thing for us, our peers, and our university. We strive to bridge gaps, to break down barriers, to help create a more open, united campus. We seek to find a voice that neither coerces nor compromises the beliefs that make us who we are. We believe the message of Jesus Christ is as powerful and necessary now as it was 2,000 years ago, and we can’t help but embrace it and share with others what we’ve found. As we continue to seek and learn, we are grateful to be a part of your journey. Thanks for reading! DOULOS MAGAZINE staff
The opinions expressed in this publication are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial staff or the University of Maine.