United Methodists Believe (English and Tongan)

We believe that God is understood in three distinct forms. Father, Son and Holy Spirit are commonly used to refer to the threefold nature of God. Sometimes we use other terms, such as Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer.

`Oku tau tui `oku mahino`i `a e `Otuá `i he fotunga kehekehe `e tolu. Ko e Tamai, `Alo mo e Laumālie, pea `oku fakamatala`i ‘aki ia `a e natula ‘e tolu `o e `Otuá. Ko e taimi `e ni`ihi `oku tau ngaue`aki `a e ngaahi Huafa kehe hangé ko e `Otua `o e Fakatupú, Koelí, mo e Taukapo.

We believe in one God, who created the world and all that is in it. We believe that God is sovereign; that is, God is the ruler of the universe. We believe that God is loving. We can experience God’s love and grace.

`Oku tau tui ki he `Otua tofu pē `e taha, na`a ne fakatupu `a māmani pea mo e me`a kotoa ‘oku ‘i aí. `Oku tau tui ko e `Otuá `oku fakaleveleva; pea ‘okú ne pule’i ‘a e ‘univeesí. `Oku tau tui ko e `Otuá ko `Ofa ia, pea te tau lava ke a’usia ‘a e ‘ofa mo e kelesi ‘a e ‘Otuá.

We believe that Jesus was human. He lived as a man and died when he was crucified. We believe that Jesus is divine. He is the Son of God. We believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and that the risen Christ lives today. We believe that Jesus is our Savior. In Christ, we receive abundant life and forgiveness of sins. We believe that Jesus is Lord and that we are called to pattern our lives after his.

`Oku tau tui ko Sīsū na`e hoko ko e tangata. Na`a ne mo`ui ko e tangata pea ne pekia `i hono kalusefaí. `Oku tau tui ko Sīsū na’a ne ma’u ‘a e haohaoa faka-`Otuá. Ko e `Alo ia `o e `Otuá. `Oku tau tui na`e fokotu`u `e he `Otuá `a Sīsū mei he pekiá, pea `oku lolotonga mo`ui `a Kalaisi Toetu`u `i he `ahó ni. `Oku tau tui ko Sīsū hotau Fakamo`uí. ‘Oku tau ma`u `a e mo`ui `oku lahi `aupito pea mo e fakamolemole `o `etau angahalá `ia Kalaisi. `Oku tau tui ko Sīsū ko e `Eikí ia pea ‘oku ui kitautolu ke tau fa’ifa’itaki ki he‘ene to’onga mo’uí.

We believe that the Holy Spirit is God with us. We believe that the Holy Spirit comforts us when we are in need and convicts us when we stray from God. We believe that the Holy Spirit awakens us to God’s will and empowers us to live obediently.

`Oku tau tui ko e Laumālie Ma`oni`oni ko e `Otua `i hotau lotolotongá. `Oku tau tui ko e Laumālié `okú ne fakanonga kitautolu `i he taimi `o `etau ngaahi fiema`ú pea ne valoki`i kitautolu `i he taimi `oku tau mavahe ai mei he `Otuá. `Oku tau tui `oku fanguna kitautolu ‘e he Laumālie Ma’oni’oní ke tau `ilo `a e finangalo `o e `Otuá pea `oku ne fakaivia kitautolu ke tau mo`ui talangofua.

We believe that God created human beings in God’s image. We believe that humans can choose to accept or reject a relationship with God. We believe that all humans need to be in relationship with God in order to be fully human.

`Oku tau tui na`e ngaohi `e he `Otuá `a e fa’ahinga ‘o e tangatá mo e fefiné `i hono `imisí. `Oku tau tui `oku `atā `a e toko taha kotoa pē ke fili pe te ne tali pe fakasitua’i ‘a ‘ene fetauhi’aki mo e `Otua. ‘Oku tau tui ko e toko taha kotoa pē ‘oku fiema’u ia ke fetauhi`aki mo e `Otuá ka e toki hoko ko e fefine pe tangata kakato.

We believe that the church is the body of Christ, an extension of Christ’s life and ministry in the world today. We believe that the mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

`Oku tau tui ko e Siasí ko e Sino-Hā-Mai ia `o Kalaisí, pea `okú ne fakaa`u mai `a e mo`ui `a Kalaisí mo `ene ngāue fakalotú ki māmani he `ahó ni. `Oku tau tui ko e Taumu’a Ngaue ‘a e Siasi ko ‘ene ngaohi tisaipale ma’a Kalaisi ke nau liliu a māmani.

We believe that the church is “the communion of saints,” a community made up of all past, present and future disciples of Christ. We believe that the church is called to worship God and to support those who participate in its life as they grow in faith.

`Oku tau tui ko e Siasí ko e “fakataha`anga `o e kau ma`oni`oni,” ko e sino `oku kātoa ai `a e kau tisaipale `a Sīsū mei he kuohilí, lolotongá ní, pea mo e kaha`ú. `Oku tau tui `oku ui `a e Siasí ke lotu ki he `Otuá pea mo tanumaki `a e kakai `oku nau kau ki he mo`ui `a e Siasí `i hono fakatupulekina `enau tuí.

We believe that the Bible is God’s Word. We believe that the Bible is the primary authority for our faith and practice.

`Oku tau tui ko e Tohitapú ko e Folofola ia `a e `Otuá. `Oku tau tui ko e Tohitapú ko e tefito`i mafai ia ki he`etau tuí pea mo hono ngāue`í.

We believe that Christians need to know and study the Old Testament and the New Testament (the Hebrew Scriptures and the Christian Scriptures).

`Oku tau tui kuo pau ke `ilo mo ako `e he Kalisitiane `a e Fuakava Motu`á pea mo e Fuakava Fo`oú (Tohitapu faka-Hepelu mo e Tohitapu `a e Kalisitiane).

— Adapted from “What Every Teacher Needs to Know about Theology,” copyright 2002, Discipleship Resources.