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What It Really Means to Be Nazarene: A Life Shaped by Three Core Values
When I first stepped into a Nazarene church, I didn’t know what made it different from others I had visited. The worship was familiar. The preaching was strong. But as I got involved, I kept hearing three words repeated—Christian, Holiness, and Missional. At first, they sounded like slogans. But the more time I spent among this community, the more I realized: these aren’t just words—they’re a way of life.
Let me take you on a journey through the heartbeat of the Church of the Nazarene.
We Are a Christian People
This isn’t just about claiming a label. Being “Christian” means we’re part of a global family—the Church Universal—rooted in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It means we affirm the ancient creeds—the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed—and we declare with confidence: Jesus is Lord.
We’re not isolated. We stand side-by-side with believers of every nation and tongue who confess faith in the Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We Are a Holiness People
This one changed me.
Holiness isn’t about perfection. It’s about transformation. We believe that God doesn’t just forgive sin—He cleanses us from it. Through a second work of grace, often called entire sanctification, the Holy Spirit refines our hearts, fills us with love, and empowers us to live in obedience and purpose.
It’s not a cold doctrine—it’s a living reality. Holiness is about being set apart for something, for someone. It’s the freedom to live fully in God’s will, not out of duty, but out of joy.
We Are a Missional People
You’ve probably heard the word “missionary” and imagined someone traveling overseas. That’s part of it—but in the Nazarene Church, being missional means something deeper. It means we are a sent people. Every one of us.
Whether we go across the globe or across the street, we are called to live out the love and truth of Jesus in our homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods.
It means feeding the hungry. Sharing the gospel. Building churches. Healing wounds. And doing all of it in partnership with God’s ongoing work in the world.
Why It Matters
These three values—Christian, Holiness, Missional—aren’t checkboxes or theological trivia. They shape how we see the world and how we live in it.
They remind us that:
- We belong to a global body of believers.
- We are called to spiritual transformation, not spiritual stagnation.
- We have a mission that goes beyond church walls.
This is what it means to be part of the Church of the Nazarene. It’s a call. A community. A commission..
