Our Beliefs

"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15

Our Spiritual Backgrounds and Foundation

At Anastara Acres, our beliefs arise from a sincere desire to know God, follow Jesus Christ, and live in alignment with the truth He has revealed. They are not merely ideas to affirm, but convictions that shape how we understand reality, relate to one another, steward creation, and participate in the life God intended for humanity.

We recognize that people arrive at faith from many different backgrounds and experiences. Some inherit faith through family or church tradition. Others come through seasons of questioning, study, hardship, skepticism, spiritual exploration, or personal transformation. Many within our community belong to the latter category. We did not arrive at these convictions through unquestioning acceptance, but through years of inquiry, lived experience, scientific investigation, professional practice, spiritual searching, and ultimately encounter with Jesus Christ.

For many of us, the journey began with a desire to understand what is true. Some pursued answers through science, medicine, psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, history, or the study of consciousness. Others searched through various spiritual traditions, self-development systems, healing modalities, or alternative worldviews. Along the way, we encountered meaningful insights, profound questions, and glimpses of truth. Yet we also found that no human system, philosophy, ideology, or practice could fully satisfy the deeper longing of the human heart or adequately answer life’s most important questions.

Over time, our search led us toward an unexpected conclusion: faith and reason are not enemies, but companions. Science and spirituality need not stand opposed. Truth does not fear investigation. And the more deeply we examined reality—whether through nature, history, human experience, or Scripture—the more we became convinced that all truth ultimately finds its source and fulfillment in God.

We do not claim perfect understanding. We remain students of Scripture, dependent upon the guidance of the Holy Spirit and continually growing in wisdom, humility, and discernment. Yet we hold certain convictions as foundational to our faith and life together. These beliefs shape the culture, mission, values, and rhythms of Anastara Acres, providing the framework through which we seek to understand God, humanity, creation, community, and the purpose of life itself.

Before explaining what we believe, however, it is important to explain how we approach the pursuit of truth and why we have confidence in the conclusions that follow.

Faith, Science, and Reason

We believe faith, science, and reason are not enemies but companions in the pursuit of truth. Because God is the author of all truth, sincere inquiry ultimately serves faith rather than threatens it. The same God who revealed Himself through Scripture also created the universe, established its laws, endowed humanity with reason, and invited us to seek wisdom and understanding. For this reason, we do not fear honest questions, careful investigation, or intellectual exploration. Truth can withstand scrutiny.

Throughout history, scientific discovery has revealed a universe of extraordinary complexity, order, beauty, and intelligibility. The precision of physical laws, the fine-tuning of the cosmos, the complexity of living systems, the emergence of consciousness, humanity’s innate moral awareness, and the very existence of rational thought continue to raise profound questions about the nature of reality. While science excels at describing how the world functions, it is less equipped to explain why the universe exists, why consciousness emerges, why beauty moves us, why we have an internal sense of morality, or why human beings persistently search for meaning and transcendence. We believe these questions point beyond matter alone toward a deeper reality. Rather than undermining belief in God, many of the most profound discoveries about creation invite wonder and suggest purposeful design. The more we learn about the universe, the more remarkable it appears. 

At the same time, we reject the false choice often presented between faith and evidence. Christian faith is not merely blind belief in the absence of reason, nor is it the refusal to examine difficult questions. Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly invites people to observe, reason, remember, investigate, and discern. The biblical worldview assumes that creation is intelligible precisely because it was created by an intelligent Creator.

We likewise recognize that science itself operates within certain assumptions that it cannot fully explain, including the reliability of reason, the consistency of natural laws, the existence of objective truth, and the capacity of the human mind to understand reality. These assumptions point toward a universe that is not random chaos, but one marked by order, coherence, and meaning.

Faith and reason therefore serve complementary purposes. Science helps us understand the mechanisms of creation. Reason helps us evaluate evidence and pursue understanding. Faith enables us to trust the One behind creation and revelation. Together, they provide a richer and more complete understanding of reality than any one approach alone.

At Anastara Acres, we value curiosity, learning, humility, and thoughtful dialogue. We welcome sincere questions and recognize that faith often deepens through honest examination rather than avoidance. We do not view doubt as the enemy of faith, but as something that can become a doorway to deeper understanding when approached with humility and openness to truth.

Yet while reason, observation, and scientific inquiry can reveal much about the world, they cannot by themselves fully answer humanity’s deepest questions: Who is God? Why do we exist? What is the purpose of life? What is good and evil? Why do suffering and death exist? Is redemption possible?

For answers to these questions, humanity has long turned toward revelation. Among the many writings, traditions, philosophies, and spiritual teachings that have shaped human history, we believe God has provided a uniquely trustworthy witness through Holy Scripture.

Holy Scripture: The Reliable Guide

We believe the Bible is the primary and authoritative written testimony through which God has revealed His character, His purposes, His relationship with humanity, and His plan of redemption through Jesus Christ.

Composed over approximately fifteen hundred years by 40 authors from diverse backgrounds—including shepherds, kings, prophets, fishermen, physicians, scholars, and apostles—Scripture presents a remarkably unified narrative centered upon God’s ongoing relationship with humanity and ultimately fulfilled in Christ. Despite spanning multiple cultures, languages, historical periods, and literary genres, its overarching themes remain consistent: creation, fall, covenant, redemption, restoration, and the coming Kingdom of God.

We do not believe Scripture is merely a collection of legendary stories, moral teachings, spiritual reflections, or religious traditions. Rather, we believe it records God’s self-revelation within human history and provides a trustworthy guide for understanding truth, morality, purpose, identity, and salvation.

OUR BELIEFS, GUIDED BY SCRIPTURE

We believe there is one God, eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These are not three gods, but one God revealed in three distinct beings who exist in perfect unity, love, and relationship. Though fully equal in divinity, they are distinct in personhood and work together in perfect harmony according to one divine will and purpose.

“And we all… are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

— 2 Corinthians 3:18

We believe in one eternal God—the Creator and sustainer of all things, known throughout Scripture by various names, including Yahweh, Elohim, El Shaddai, Adonai, and Father. Before anything existed, God was. He is uncreated, self-existent, eternal, and without beginning or end. All things derive their existence from Him, yet He depends upon nothing outside Himself. He spoke the universe into being, established the laws that govern creation, sustains every moment of existence, and holds all things together by His power.

“I am Yahweh, and there is no other; apart from Me there is no God.” 

— Isaiah 45:5

We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, the promised Messiah foretold throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, the Word made flesh, and the fullest revelation of God’s character and purposes. Jesus was not merely a prophet, teacher, healer, philosopher, spiritual guide, or moral example. While He was all these things, He claimed—and demonstrated—to be far more. He identified Himself with the divine name, forgave sins, exercised authority over creation, accepted worship, and declared Himself one with the Father.

“Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and that the Father is in Me?” — John 14:9–10

We believe the Holy Spirit is the third being of the Trinity and the living presence of God actively at work within creation and within the lives of believers. The Spirit is not merely an influence, force, energy, or impersonal power. He is fully God, sharing the same divine nature as the Father and the Son while possessing distinct personhood. Throughout Scripture, the Spirit speaks, teaches, guides, comforts, convicts, empowers, intercedes, transforms, and reveals truth.

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.” 

— John 14:26

We believe reality is both physical and spiritual. Scripture teaches that creation includes not only the visible world, but also an unseen spiritual realm inhabited by beings who serve God as well as rebellious spiritual powers opposed to Him. Human beings are not merely biological organisms or material creatures, but spiritual beings created in the image of God and called into relationship with Him. Throughout Scripture, the spiritual and physical realms continually interact, influencing human life, history, temptation, worship, discernment, suffering, redemption, and the unfolding of God’s purposes.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”  — Ephesians 6:12

We believe creation is a gift entrusted to humanity by God. The natural world is not an accident, nor is it merely a collection of resources existing for human consumption. Creation reflects the wisdom, beauty, order, creativity, and generosity of its Creator. From the vastness of galaxies to the intricacy of living cells, from the rhythm of seasons to the complexity of ecosystems, creation continually bears witness to the intelligence and goodness of God.

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.” — Romans 1:20

We believe human beings were intentionally created in the image of God and entrusted with a unique role within creation. Every person possesses inherent dignity, worth, and value—not because of accomplishments, abilities, wealth, intelligence, social status, ethnicity, nationality, or usefulness, but because each person bears the image of their Creator. We believe humanity reflects God’s image in many ways. Our capacity for reason, creativity, conscience, moral responsibility, beauty, love, imagination, relationship, worship, and stewardship all point toward the One in whose image we were made. Human beings possess a unique ability to consciously know God, respond to His invitation, and participate in a loving relationship with Him.

“So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.” — Genesis 1:27

Before speaking of discipleship, obedience, spiritual growth, service, stewardship, community life, or transformation, we begin with grace. We believe salvation is a gift freely given through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and received through faith. It cannot be earned through moral performance, religious observance, spiritual achievement, good works, personal effort, or human striving.

Because humanity could not bridge the separation created by sin or restore itself to God through its own efforts, God Himself made a way. In Jesus Christ, He entered human history, bore the consequences of sin, conquered death through His resurrection, and opened the path of reconciliation. Salvation is therefore not something we accomplish for God, but something God accomplishes for us through His grace, mercy, and love.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

— Ephesians 2:8–9

While each person must personally respond to God’s invitation, Scripture consistently portrays believers as members of a larger spiritual family united in Christ. Salvation is not merely an individual experience of forgiveness and reconciliation with God; it is also an invitation into a redeemed community. Throughout the biblical story, God forms not merely isolated individuals but a people—a community called into covenant relationship with Himself and one another.

The primary Greek word translated as church is ekklesia (ἐκκλησία), meaning “the called-out assembly” or “gathering.” In its original context, it referred not to a building, institution, or religious organization, but to a people gathered together for a common purpose. Scripture therefore presents the Church first and foremost as a community belonging to Christ through faith and called to embody His life within the world.

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” — Romans 12:4–5

We believe every human being is created in the image of God and therefore possesses inherent dignity, worth, and value. This conviction forms the foundation of how we seek to treat one another. Every person—regardless of age, ethnicity, nationality, culture, personality, socioeconomic status, life experience, strengths, struggles, questions, or stage of spiritual growth—is deserving of respect, compassion, and love.

“For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all given one Spirit to drink. Indeed, the body is not one part but many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,’ it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I don’t belong to the body,’ it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God has arranged each one of the parts in the body just as He wanted.”

— 1 Corinthians 12:13–18

The Kingdom of God

At the heart of Jesus’ teaching stands the Kingdom of God. From the beginning of His public ministry, Jesus proclaimed:

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” — Mark 1:15

The Kingdom of God is not described in Scripture as merely a place believers go after death, nor simply a future reality awaiting Christ’s return. It is the reign and rule of God breaking into the world through Jesus Christ and continuing through the work of the Holy Spirit.  Throughout His ministry, Jesus revealed what life under God’s Kingdom looks like. He healed the sick, welcomed the outsider, forgave sinners, fed the hungry, confronted injustice, restored the broken, and taught a radically different way of living. In His life we see the values of God’s Kingdom made visible: love instead of hatred, humility instead of pride, generosity instead of greed, service instead of domination, truth instead of deception, mercy instead of condemnation, and reconciliation instead of division. 

The Kingdom therefore represents both a present reality and a future hope. Through Christ, the Kingdom has already begun. Every act of genuine love, every movement toward reconciliation, every expression of hospitality, every step of obedience, every work of mercy, every pursuit of justice, and every heart transformed by God’s grace becomes a small manifestation of His Kingdom in the present world. Yet the Kingdom has not yet been fully realized. Sin, suffering, injustice, death, and brokenness remain present within creation. We continue to live in the tension between what has already begun and what is still to come. Christians therefore live with hope—not because the world is already as it should be, but because Christ has promised to complete the work He has begun.

We believe Jesus will return to fully establish His Kingdom, judge evil, restore creation, and bring about the renewal of all things. 

“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’” — Revelation 21:5

For this reason, our hope is not ultimately placed in political systems, economic structures, technological advancement, social movements, institutions, charismatic leaders, or human progress alone. While these may sometimes contribute to human flourishing, none possess the power to fully heal the human condition or restore creation to its intended state. Our ultimate hope rests in Christ.

This future hope, however, does not lead us toward passivity or withdrawal from the world. On the contrary, because we anticipate God’s coming Kingdom, we seek to embody its values here and now:

We seek not merely to wait for the Kingdom, but to participate in its work.

We pursue worship because God is worthy of worship.

We pursue hospitality because the Kingdom welcomes the stranger.

We pursue reconciliation because Christ reconciled us to God.

We pursue stewardship because creation belongs to Him.

We pursue generosity because every good gift comes from Him.

We pursue justice because God’s heart is for righteousness.

We pursue humility because Christ humbled Himself for our sake.

We pursue discipleship because Jesus invited us to follow Him.

We pursue community because God’s Kingdom is relational rather than individualistic.

We pursue love because love stands at the center of God’s nature and His purposes for humanity.

For this reason, Anastara Acres exists not merely to provide housing, hospitality, education, healing, retreat experiences, connection with nature, or communal living. These activities may be important expressions of our mission, but they are not the mission itself. Our ultimate purpose is to seek first the Kingdom of God and invite others into that same pursuit.

We desire to cultivate a way of life that serves as a visible witness to God’s goodness and a foretaste of the restoration He has promised. Through shared worship, stewardship, discipleship, hospitality, meaningful work, fellowship, generosity, service, and love, we seek to participate in the quiet but transformative work of God’s Kingdom among us.

We recognize that we will often fall short. We remain imperfect people in need of continual grace, forgiveness, growth, and correction. Yet we trust that God continues to work through ordinary people who surrender themselves to His purposes. Ultimately, the Kingdom is not something we build through our own efforts. It is something we receive, participate in, and bear witness to through faithful obedience. God alone brings the Kingdom to completion.

Until that day, we seek to live as citizens of heaven, ambassadors of Christ, and stewards of the gifts He has entrusted to us, pointing beyond ourselves toward the coming King and the restoration He has promised.

“Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” — Matthew 6:33

For Those Who Hunger & Thirst

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM: ROOTED IN CHRIST, GROUNDED IN SCRIPTURE, OPEN TO ALL WHO SEEK HIM

In a world of constant noise and distraction, we offer a place to return to what is eternal. To store our treasures up in Heaven and let go of the lies that the world has taught us to believe in. Put your faith into the only Way, the only Truth, and the only Life, Jesus Christ. 

Whether you’re seeking renewal, gathering with us for discipleship, or discerning God’s leading, we invite you to reach out and begin the conversation.

You can also explore our blog posts and content to take a deeper dive into the understanding of God’s truth for our lives.

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