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Fortress Statement of Beliefs and Ethics

The ministries of Fortress are unapologetically rooted in historic, orthodox, evangelical Christianity. That means both our beliefs and our professional ethics find their center in these truths. Many who are looking for answers to the big problems of life know there are many systems of belief and practice competing for dominance in our world today. This is why, perhaps more than ever, we must be aware of the underlying assumptions about truth upon which we rely for answers. 

Fortress Statement of Beliefs

We believe in one God, creator and sustainer of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally co-existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Deut. 6:4, Heb 1:2-3; Matt 3:16-17; Matt 28:18-19; John 15:26; 2 Cor. 13:14).
We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired Word of God and the complete revelations of His will for the salvation of mankind, and the divine and final authority for all faith, life, and practice(2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:19-21; Eph. 1:13; Deut. 8:3; Ps. 119; Is. 40:8; Acts 20:32).

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the agent of regeneration and renewal for believers in Jesus Christ, and that He makes the presence of Jesus Christ real in believers and enables them to live in a manner that honors God (Titus 3:4-7; John 7:37-39; John 14:16-18; Eph. 3:16-19; Rom. 8:11-16).

We believe that the shed blood and substitutionary death of Jesus Christ and his physical resurrection provide the only ground for justification, forgivenenss, salvation, and sanctification for all who believe in Christ alone; everyone who is born of the Holy Spirit by the faith alone through grace alone becomes a child of God (Rom. 3:21-23; I Cor. 15:1-7; 2Cor. 5:21; John 1:12-13; Gal 2:16).
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We believe that all events, both good and bad, are controlled by the Sovereign God; who administers all things for His intended pleasure, which displays His ever present desire for the good of His people (1 Chron. 29:11-12; Ps. 24:1; Ps. 47:7; Ps. 135:6; Is. 46:10; Dan. 4:35; Rom 8:28-30).

Fortress Statement of Ethics 

Ethics is not just a branch of academic philosophy and theology but a practical outworking of our beliefs. At Fortress we view ethics in terms of five core truths, grounded in our beliefs but stated in practical terms of how we care for others, especially in the storms of life. 

                                                                                 Five Core Ethical Truths
Remembering our True Condition 
Biblical Foundation: Wisdom
Theoretical Foundation: Holistic Health
Historical Legal Foundation: First Do No Harm (primum non nocere)
Ethical Foundation: Attending Skills
 
Revealing our Secret Desires 
Biblical Foundation: Confession
Theoretical Foundation: Affective Neuroscience
Historical Legal Foundation:  Advised Consent
Ethical Foundation: Active Listening Skills
 
Renewing our Distorted Beliefs
Biblical Foundation: Repentance
Theoretical Foundation: Cognitive Neuroscience
Historical Legal Foundation:  Freedom and Bondage of the Will
Ethical Foundation: Diagnostic Skills
 
Restoring our Distressed Routines
Biblical Foundation: Peace
Theoretical Foundation: Behavioral Neuroscience
Historical Legal Foundation: Morality and Personal Responsibility
Ethical Foundation: Management Skills
 
Reconciling our Conflicted Relationships 
Biblical Foundation: Reconciliation
Theoretical Foundation: Interpersonal Neuroscience
Historical Legal Foundation: The “Golden Rule” (Law of Reciprocity)
Ethical Foundation: Dialectical Skills 



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