Philosophy
Statement of Faith
Tokyo Christian Institute is founded on the Biblical, historical and orthodox rule of faith, which was consistently revealed in both the Old and the New Testaments, expressed in the Ecumenical Creeds of the Ancient Church, and proclaimed in the Reformation. In response to various challenges, including those stemming from certain aspects of the Enlightenment and liberal theology, contemporary Evangelical faith has endeavored to defend this historical faith and to practice the piety of belief. The articles which are the basis of this Evangelical faith are the following:
- The Bible, which consists of 66 books of the New and Old Testaments, was written by each writer under the perfect inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Thus in the original writings there is no error, and it contains all that God desires to reveal to human beings concerning salvation. The Bible is the single and absolute standard for faith and practice.
- The living and true God is one, who is eternally existent in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- God created all things, visible and invisible from nothing, the same being subject to His absolute sovereignty.
- Adam was created in the image of God in right relation with God, but was tempted by Satan and sinned against the will of God, thereby incurring both the pollution and punishment of sin with the result of both spiritual and physical death. All human beings are therefore born with a sinful nature being sinners in thought, word and deed.
- The Lord Jesus Christ is true God and true man. He was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, died on the cross for the sins of the world, was buried, and was raised again on the third day according to the Scripture. He ascended to heaven and sits at the right hand of God where he executes his ministry as high priest for us.
- Because of the substitutionary death of our Lord Jesus Christ, all who believe in Him are forgiven of their sins and justified by faith and redeemed from the penalty and dominion of sin. There is no other way to salvation.
- The Holy Spirit is a person whose ministry is to convict and regenerate sinful human beings, making them children of God, empowering them for a life of holiness and service, and conforming them to the image of Christ.
- The church universal is the body of Christ, and all who are born again by the Holy Spirit become members thereof, Christ being the head. The church on earth, in a manner befitting Christ its head, should maintain purity of faith and life; and according to His command, should preach the Gospel to every creature.
- Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is coming again personally, bodily and visibly. He will raise bodily the just and the unjust, one to everlasting blessedness and the other to everlasting punishment, after which He will renew all things and deliver the kingdom to God the Father.
Foundational Principles
Providing practical theology education to foster workers of world mission standing on protestant evangelical faith, serving the church and society of the 21st century across denominations.
1. Evangelical
Tokyo Christian University (TCU) is a theological educational institution with the purpose of educating ministers and lay workers (clergy and laity) to be well equipped with historical, orthodox theology, which stresses the evangelical view of the Bible as the infallible Word of God and as the only rule for faith and life. Upon this stance, TCU embraces its statement of faith, prepares a wide-ranging curriculum with theological depth, and aims at sending talented human resources well-grounded in orthodox theology out to evangelical churches.
2. Interdenominational
TCU was founded through the cooperation of three previous schools, each of which has made distinctive accomplishments in interdenominational education. TCU will create a greater potential by combining the talents previously dispersed among the three schools, and it expects to contribute to the service for and the development of both domestic and foreign churches trans-denominationally.
3. Practical Theological Education
While providing interdenominational theological education to serve diverse churches, TCU aims to respond individually and practically to the needs and expectations of evangelical churches and organizations since the areas of service have become more diverse today. Therefore, TCU aims to provide practical theological education based on biblical faith in order to foster an attitude of service to the church combined with a capacity for effective leadership, thus producing students who with brave and warm hearts exemplify the gospel in their personal lives.
4. Commitment to Global Missions
In response to the Great Commission of the Lord of Mission, Jesus Christ, TCU places world missions within its educational vision. It builds relationships with evangelical churches and theological institutions worldwide, in Asian countries in particular, contributing towards the eventual sending of missionaries and dedicated workers with an international spirit to the various fields home and abroad. By so doing, it will, in a positive manner, be involved in the precious task of building up of the Church as the Body of Christ that supersedes national and ethnic boundaries.
Philosophy and Mission of Tokyo Christian University
1 Commitment to Christ
TCU aims at bringing out the abilities and gifts of students and to strengthen their vision to serve Christ. We support each student in discovering the meaning of life and his or her individual calling, and in finding a specific field of service.
2 Christian Worldview
TCU emphasizes the importance of a liberal arts education based on a Christian worldview. We examine every discipline under the sovereignty of Christ, acquire a critical perspective, pursue the truth through study of every other academic discipline, beginning with theology, and thereby glorify God.
3 Passion for Mission
With the motto “Christ is all,” and comprised entirely of evangelical students, faculty, staff, and board and council members, TCU nurtures “missions servants possessing a global perspective” towards realizing our vision to spread the gospel “throughout the world from Chiba.”
4 Intercultural and Interpersonal Understanding
While experiencing Christ’s gospel, which breaks down the “wall of separation” built by race, nationality, gender, age, and other differences, we aim to experience unity and reconciliation through focusing on language education and providing a variety of international exchange programs.
5 Nurturing Church Ministers and Lay Leaders
TCU aims to nurture church and society leaders who possess cultural literacy and ethical standards based on a Christian worldview, and who are marked by love of neighbor and a broadly-based calling and sense of responsibility to contribute to society. In particular, we will promote the education and training of professionals in the fields of missions, education, and social welfare, which the world greatly needs in the twenty-first century.
6 Character Education through Small Groups
TCU offers “small group education” that fosters enriched personal fellowship among students and faculty, and “dormitory education” that enables residents to experience “living together as those made free in Christ.” We strive, hereby, to train evangelical Christians who act from the spirit of charity and challenge, and for whom Christ’s love and righteousness are the grounds of every decision.
7 Communal Theological Education
TCU will contribute to the church as it spreads throughout the world, and to the society in which it is rooted, through providing education, research, information, and ideas that promote the church’s mission and service. TCU will be opened to the regional community and contribute to regional culture.
Standards of Student Conduct
International students should also review TCU’s Standards of Student Conduct.