Philosophy
The philosophy of Mulberry Theology and Seminary International, Inc. is rooted in Reformed Theology. Reformed is the systematic theology formulated by thinkers in the Reformed tradition during and after the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries as rightfully stated in the Westminster Confession of Faith along with its catechisms and the Three Forms of Unity. It is a continuation of the catholic (universal) and orthodox (biblically sound) theology that the church has confessed since its earliest days. It was officially endorsed by the Reformed synods and assemblies of the seventeenth century. God’s covenant is an overarching concept in Reformed theology. In fact, it has been rightly noted that Reformed theology is simply covenant theology. The redemption of the elect is rooted in the Covenant of Peace or redemption (i.e., the pactum salutis). The Reformed doctrine of the covenant of works (or life) informs the relationship between the law and the gospel as it relates to justification in the post-fall condition under the Covenant of Grace. The Covenant of Grace is the means by which God saves sinners through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. Reformed theology structures its understanding of worship, the sacraments, the church, and eschatology in light of the covenant of grace. It teaches that God rather than man is sovereign in the salvation of sinners, and it seeks to present the biblical teaching about God, man, sin, Christ, and salvation in one coherent system of doctrine. We are a non-denominational institution that serves the church without walls. Our faculty and staff facilitate this development by educating from a biblical worldview which promotes the sovereign rule of Christ over the universe.
statement of faith
We believe the Bible or Holy Scripture, consisting of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, to be the only inspired, infallible, authoritative, inerrant Word of God. (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Luke 16:29; Eph. 2:20; Rev. 22:18). The books comprising the Bible, or the Word of God written, are now contained in the Books of the Old and New Testaments.
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We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14).
We believe in God the Father whose love was exemplified in that He gave His only begotten Son for the salvation of men (John 3:16; Eph. 1:3).
We believe in the Deity of the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. When coming to earth He never ceased to be God and that His humiliation did not consist of laying aside His Deity. As a man, He was miraculously begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. By his death and resurrection, He accomplished the redemption and justification before God of all who truly believe in Him and accept Him as Lord (Isa. 7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:35; Gal. 4:4-5; Phil. 2:5-8).
We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and during this age to convict men, regenerate the believing sinner, indwell, guide, instruct, comfort, sanctify, seal, reprove and empower the believer for Godly living and service (John 16:7-8; Rom. 8:9; Eph. 1:13-14).
We believe Satan is an angelic being who rebelled with other angels against the authority of God. Satan was given temporary rule over the earth for an age to deceive as many of mankind as he is able (Job 1:6-7; Isa. 14:12; Matt. 4:2-11; Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10).
We believe that God created the heaven and earth, including all life, by direct act, and not by a process of evolution, in six literal, 24-hour periods (Gen. 1:1-2:3; Ex. 20:11).
We believe God's grace provides salvation and eternal life through Christ's death, burial and resurrection to every individual who repents and receives Him as Savior and Lord. Salvation is based solely upon faith in God's promise (John 1: 12-13; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 1:7, 2:8-9; Gal. 2:16, 2 Cor. 5:21).
We believe that Christ arose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, where He intercedes for the believers as our High Priest. We believe in His personal return for His Church. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation (Acts 2:22-36; Rom. 3:24-26; 1 Peter 2:24; Eph. 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Acts 1:9-11; Heb. 9:24, 7:25; Rom 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2; Matt. 25:46; John 5:28-29, 11:25-26; Rev. 20:12-15).
We believe that the family is ordained by God as the basic unit of His plan for all human society. The institution and union of marriage between one man and one woman as created and defined by God provides the foundation and definition for the family. We believe, the preservation and edification of the family, and restoration of those broken by family relationships to be an act of obedience to God (Gen. 2:24, 19:5,13; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1:26-32; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; 1 Thess. 4:3; Heb. 13:4; Mal. 2:14-16; Rom. 7:1-3; Matt. 19:3-6; 1 Cor. 7:10-16).
We believe in the sanctity of all human life. This life should be protected, nurtured, and helped from the moment of conception, when life begins, until death occurs naturally. (Ps. 139:13-16; Isa. 44:24, 49:1,5; Jer. 1:5; Luke 1:44).
We believe that God determines the biological sex of a person at conception and not the person themselves. Therefore, one’s biological gender at birth should be acknowledged, celebrated, and thus serve as a means of thanksgiving unto God who made them in such a manner. Anyone seeking to alter, hide, or deny their biological gender is acting in rebellion to God their Creator and conducting themselves in a manner contrary to the Moral Law as revealed in Natural Law, the Decalogue, and Scripture. All who engage unrepentantly in this behavior are deserving of ecclesiastical censure and discipline as are all who engage unrepentantly in fornication, adultery, or pornography. (Ex. 20: 14; Deut. 22:5; Rom. 1:16-32, 13:13; 1 Cor. 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:3).
