Scope
The NEN Minimum Standards are the doctrinal and ethical beliefs required for network membership, affiliation, and endorsement. These statements provide a broadly evangelical framework to foster global Church unity and collaboration, without contradicting historical creeds or most local church confessions. This standard is not a purity test for salvation (explained in section 7), but rather a minimum threshold for mature Christian belief and conduct while associating online and organisationally, enabling efficient vocational media networking with minimal centralised moderation. We welcome feedback to improve the 12 standards:
1. Bibliology (Knowledge of The Bible)
The 66 books of the Bible are the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God, not merely containing but being the Word of God, sufficient and clear for faith, practice, and doctrine. Scripture, God-breathed, reveals Christ as the interpretive center of His redemptive plan, guiding believers in truth and equipping them for every good work, with the New Testament affirming the Old Testament’s authority (2 Timothy 3:16-17; John 5:39; Luke 24:27; Psalm 119:105; Matthew 5:17,19). Its unity and authority stem from the Holy Spirit’s inspiration of human authors without error, requiring the Spirit’s teaching for true understanding, superseding all other claims, including tradition or perceived prophecy (2 Peter 1:20-21; Galatians 1:8-9; John 16:13; Psalm 19:1-7; Romans 1:20).
2. Ontotheology (Knowledge of The Being of God)
God is one in essence, three in persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—eternally sovereign, holy, and self-existent, each fully and co-equally God, distinguished but not divided. He is infinite, immutable, omniscient, and omnipotent, revealing Himself through creation, Scripture, and supremely in Christ, the exact imprint of His nature (Deuteronomy 6:4; John 1:1-2,14; Hebrews 1:1-3; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; John 10:30). His harmonious attributes, like justice and love, demand worship and obedience, as He alone is sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption (Exodus 34:6-7; Psalm 99:5; Isaiah 6:3; 1 Chronicles 29:11-12; Genesis 1:1; Ephesians 1:7).
3. Agapology (Knowledge of Love)
Love is self-sacrificial, pursuing God’s glory and others’ temporal and eternal good, exemplified by Christ’s atoning death and commanded as the summary of God’s law. It flows from God’s nature, unites believers, and compels forgiveness and service to all, including enemies, prioritising spiritual needs by calling all to repentance and faith to escape judgment. We are to prioritise our loves: first to God, then to ourselves, our relatives, especially our own household, The Church, the wider human community, even our enemies, and finally the rest of creation (1 John 3:16-17 & 4:8,20; Matthew 22:37-40; John 13:34-35; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; Romans 13:8-10; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Matthew 5:44-45; 1 Timothy 5:8; Mark 12:30-31; Ephesians 6:4; Galatians 6:10; Luke 10:25-37; 2 Timothy 3:2-5).
4. Theokanology (Knowledge of God’s Standards)
God’s unchanging standards, including creation mandates, moral law, apostolic prescriptions, and instructions, revealed in Scripture and fulfilled in Christ, call believers to holiness, justice, mercy, and compassion, opposing relativism and liberalisation. His standards reflect His character, are written on believers’ hearts, and promote human flourishing without meriting salvation. Sexual purity is required, with sexual activity intended for oneness and procreation solely within the confines of a biblically defined marriage. All prescriptive biblical standards are actively and continually valid for the conduct of believers today, unless explicitly abrogated by scripture chronologically after they are established (Leviticus 19:2; Matthew 5:17-18; Micah 6:8; Hebrews 10:16; Deuteronomy 10:12-13; James 1:25; Psalm 119:1-2; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Corinthians 7:2-3; 1 Corinthians 9:8-10; Hebrews 8:13; Genesis 1:28; 2 Timothy 3:10-11; Ephesians 5:3).
5. Diathekology (Knowledge of Covenants)
The historical, ancestral Adam, our first parent, as head of humanity under the first covenant, disobeyed God, subjecting creation and mankind to the curse of the fall. God’s redemptive plan unfolds through covenants, culminating in the new covenant in Christ, the second Adam, who reconciles sinners to God through His finished work. In this new covenant, God’s elect people are the Church, both Jew and Gentile, united by faith and cleansed by Christ’s blood for eternal life (Romans 5:12,17; Hebrews 8:6-12; Romans 5:15-19; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Genesis 12:2-3; Luke 22:20; Galatians 3:26-29; Ephesians 2:14-16; 1 John 1:7).
6. Anthropology (Knowledge of Humanity)
Humans are created only male or female in God’s image, with ontology, biology, and gender identity immutably united from conception. Any spiritual afflictions or natural and artificial abnormalities from the fallen world, or sin nature, may cause perceived incongruences with identity or sexuality, but God’s created order remains unchanged, and Christ can still save and sanctify. All humans are finite, unique and distinct, and have inherent dignity and a duty to steward creation, but are totally depraved due to the curse of the fall under Adam, guilty before God, and need regeneration to glorify God. Life begins at conception; abortion is murder. Marriage is only between one man and one woman, with the husband to lead lovingly and the wife to submit respectfully, like how Christ is the head of the church and the church submits to his rule. Nations and tribes are intentionally and uniquely made distinct in the image of God, to reflect His beauty and purposes in different ways. They are therefore ontologically equal in value, even if there are temporal or natural differences or disparities between peoples. Upon salvation, all Christians are spiritually one in Christ, regardless of innately less but still important natural distinctions (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:23; Psalm 8:4-6; Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:24; Psalm 139:13-14; Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 5:12; Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:3; Genesis 2:21-25; Ephesians 5:21-33; 1 Peter 3:1-7; Acts 17:26-31; Deuteronomy 32:8; Genesis 11; Colossians 3:11-12; Titus 1:12-13; Revelation 7:9).
7. Soteriology (Knowledge of Salvation)
Jesus Christ, fully man and fully God, virgin-born, lived a sinless life and taught with infallible authority (John 1:1,14; 1 Timothy 3:16; Luke 1:27,31-35; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Through His substitutionary death on the cross, He atoned for sin, propitiating God’s wrath (Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:2; Isaiah 53:5). Sinners’ guilt was imputed to Him, and His righteousness is imputed to believers, justifying them by grace alone through faith alone (Romans 4:5-8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:8-9). The Holy Spirit draws sinners to the Father, regenerates them, and grants faith (John 6:44; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8). In response, believers repent and trust in Christ, receiving justification and adoption as God’s children (Acts 3:19; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5). The Spirit seals and sanctifies believers throughout their lives, culminating in glorification at the resurrection, secured by God’s sovereignty (Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:29-30; John 10:27-29; Hebrews 7:25; Philippians 1:6).
8. Kubernesology (Knowledge of The Governments)
God ordains distinct administrations under His sovereignty for specific purposes: individuals are responsible to God for their faith (Romans 14:12; Hebrews 4:13); families make and disciple the next generation (Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Ephesians 6:4); nations, as extensions of families, work together toward God (Acts 17:27; Colossians 3:23-24); churches administer Word and worship (1 Timothy 3, Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25); and states maintain order and justice (Romans 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:13-14). Each dominion must strive for faithfulness to Christ, and all are accountable to God’s ultimate authority (Psalm 2:10-12; Daniel 2:21).
9. Ecclesiology (Knowledge of The Church)
The universal Church, with Christ as the only Head, includes all redeemed, born of the Spirit, and justified by faith, new covenant believers in Christ. It is expressed locally through worship, fellowship, missions, preaching, pastoring, teaching, discipling and evangelising under biblically qualified male leadership. It administers baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which convey no regenerating grace or sacrificial substance, upholds the true gospel, and disciplines for holiness, with no state authority interfering with its worship or sacred practice (Ephesians 4:4-6; Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Timothy 3; Acts 2:42; Hebrews 13:17; Matthew 16:19; Hebrews 12:22-23; Romans 16:4-5; Acts 15:2-3,30-31; Luke 22:19; Matthew 3:15).
10. Latreuology (Knowledge of Worship)
Worship is a whole-life response to God’s glory, through public corporate, family and personal devotion, liturgy, and vocational service, aligned with Scripture and exalting Christ. It flows from a regenerate heart, empowered by the Spirit, with various orderly spiritual gifts, avoiding manipulation or chaos, glorifying God alone. Fathers are to lead their families in worship (Romans 12:1; John 4:23-24; Colossians 3:17; Psalm 29:2; 1 Corinthians 14:33,40; Hebrews 12:28; John 3:3-5; Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Ephesians 6:4; 1 Corinthians 12 & 13).
11. Missiology (Knowledge of Missions)
The Great Commission mandates proclaiming Christ’s death and resurrection to make disciples of all nations through evangelism, church planting, and discipleship, reflecting God’s heart for the lost and His global reign, with urgency for His glory. Nations, biblically defined, are distinct people groups, not just geopolitical entities, so missional efforts must focus on bringing the gospel, and advancing the Kingdom, to every tribe and tongue in order to glorify God (Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Psalm 96:3; Acts 1:8; Revelation 7:9-10; Matthew 24:14; Psalm 117).
12. Eschatology (Knowledge of The End Times)
Christ will return bodily in glory at an unknown time to judge all, resurrecting believers for eternal life and blessedness in the new creation and condemning the unrighteous to final judgment, satisfying God's justice and wrath, and consummating God’s kingdom. His imminent return motivates holiness, ecclesial purity, evangelistic urgency and missional success (Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7,21:1-4; Matthew 25:31-33,46; Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 2 Peter 3:11-13; Luke 14:14).