Third Way
our posture
What We Mean by “Third Way”
A Third Way posture allows for certain theological differences.
In a polarized culture, churches are often pressured to choose between:
- conviction or compassion
- clarity or belonging
- truth or love
We believe Scripture calls us to hold these together. For us, that looks like living out a Third Way expression of Church.
Third Way means:
- We take historic Christian faith seriously.
- We teach Scripture honestly and responsibly.
- Many issues of faith are complex and require discernment.
- We remain committed to shared life together, even when agreement is incomplete.
- We trust that formation happens best over time, in community, under the Spirit’s guidance.
Third Way is not about avoiding truth. It is about practicing truth in a way that allows us to choose acceptance over fear and enables us to live in the freedom of trusting the Holy Spirit to guide each of us in our own convictions.
Where Third Way Applies — and Where It Does Not
Being a Third Way church does not mean everything is open for debate, or that we don’t hold to essential beliefs.
Settled Christian Convictions (Not Third Way)
There are core beliefs we hold clearly and teach consistently, including:
- The life, death, and physical resurrection of Jesus
- Salvation by grace through faith
- The authority of Scripture
- The call to repentance and new life in Christ
- The mission of the Church
These are foundational, not negotiable, and not treated as discernment areas.
Discernment Areas (Third Way Posture Applies Here)
There are limited areas where faithful Christians disagree in good faith, and where cultural pressure often distorts Christian witness.
In these areas, we intentionally practice a Third Way posture.
Examples include:
- Sexual ethics and identity
- Political engagement and public witness
- Certain church practices shaped by context and tradition
In these spaces, we prioritize unity in Christ, careful teaching, patient formation, and love for real people—not ideological sorting or reactionary stances.
What Third Way Is — and Is Not
To be clear:
Third Way is not:
- A political position
- A marketing strategy
- A refusal to teach or lead
- A claim that all viewpoints are equally true
Third Way is:
- A commitment to conviction with humility
- A refusal to weaponize doctrine
- A belief that acceptance can precede full agreement
- A trust that God forms people over time
This posture influences how we teach, disciple, and care for one another at CrossWinds. Rather than collapsing complex questions into single statements, we address them with prayer, Scripture, and pastoral wisdom.
