What We Believe
As the church of Christ we realize our high calling to stand firm in the midst of the spirit of the age. We ought not to be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds, if we hope to be a shining city on the hill for our Redeemer and King. The surest way of accomplishing this by submitting heart, soul and mind to the revealed will of God in Scripture. Moreover, our adherence to our reformed doctrinal standards should not only be a matter of theory, but also of practice, since the intent of all doctrine is to make us godly and pious. Nevertheless, in fulfilling our calling as Christ’s church in this world, we also consider it necessary to state our convictions regarding some contemporary issues clearly and succinctly:
Regarding the Word of God
We believe that we can only preach the Gospel and carry out the great commission if we stand firmly on the clear teachings of Holy Scripture. We therefore hold that the Biblical canon has Divine authority in its whole and its parts, and that we should carefully regulate our faith and lives thereby. We therefore also reject all teachings that seek to undermine either the Divine inspiration and authority, or the clarity and sufficiency of Scripture.
Regarding Creation
We do not believe that humankind is the product of evolution or that it stems from other forms of life. The Bible clearly states: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…” (Gen. 1:1). God created the universe in six successive days, each having an evening and a morning… and He created everything good. Sin and evil continue to intrude into God’s perfect world, and both of which will finally be destroyed at Christ’s return. God created the first man Adam from the clay of the earth and the first woman from man, so as to establish an intimate union between them both. All humankind descended from these first parents. Moreover, every creature was created according to its own kind to the glory of God. This view of our origin is essential for salvation, since Christ came into this world as the second Adam, to take away the curse that the first Adam had brought upon us, when he disobeyed God’s simple command in the garden. Therefore thanks to God, death and sin can no longer reign over us who believe, but only righteousness and life through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Regarding Gender Confusion
We believe that God wants us to address and worship Him as Father and Son, and that these masculine references do not stem from ancient Jewish culture, but from God’s own self-revelation, neither do they represent a cultural bias toward one gender over and against the other.
In the beginning, God created mankind, male and female, both bearing His image. Man and woman were framed, called and gifted for the purpose of fulfilling their unique roles in life, marriage, family and society. Disregarding these unique features of our identity, either as male or female in God’s image, is one of the root-causes of the tragic unraveling of the fabric of our society today. We therefore hold to the Biblical view that our sisters were not called by God to teach and rule in the congregation in the presence of adult brothers. This should however by no means inhibit them to serve, witness or pray where their brothers are present.
We also adhere with Scripture that homosexual desires and actions are the result of the fall and are sinful distortions of God’s will for humankind. Homosexual desires are no different from any other sinful desire. It must therefore be “put to death” through confession, repentance and the receiving of forgiveness. Whoever fails to do so will not inherit the Kingdom of God. The church must however seek to provide loving support to any who may struggle with these temptations, by ministering to them the Gospel of God’s forgiveness and transforming power in Jesus.
Regarding Abortion
We believe it is the Lord’s sovereign right, and only His, to give and to take life. We believe that God calls us to live chaste before and during marriage, and to ask of Him the gift of children, which are to be regarded as “a heritage of the Lord”(Psalm 127:3). The Bible teaches us that the unborn child is made in the image of God and precious in His sight since conception in the womb. Intentional abortion – except in the case of protecting the life of the mother – is therefore a brutal act of murder. As God’s people cherishing life, we are therefore called to do whatever we can to provide prayerful support to young ladies who are pregnant and in need.
