Articles of Faith

Of  The  Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men inspired by God; that it is truth without any of error whatsoever for its matter; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man; the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.

1.     By "The Holy Bible" we mean that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which, as written does not only contain and convey the word of God, but IS the very word of God.

2.     By "inspiration" we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired.

3.     We un-ashamedly hold the King James Bible (commonly known as the Authorized Version) up as the Bible version preserved by God for today's English speaking people. Make no mistake about it; the King James Bible IS the very word of God.

Psalm 12:6-7, Psalm 19:7-11; 119:89,105,130,160; Proverbs 30:5-6; Isaiah 8:20; Luke 16:31; 24:25-27,44-45; John 5:39,45-47; 12:48; 17:17; Acts 1:16; 28:25; Romans 3:4; 15:4; Ephesians 6:17; 2Timothy 3:16-17; 1Peter 1:23; 2Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:19,

Of  The  True  God

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.

Genesis 17:1; Exodus 20:2-3; 15:11; Psalm 83:18; 90:2; 147:5; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:30; John 4:24; 10:30; 15:26; 17:5; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 11:23; 1Corinthians 12:10-11; 8:6; 12:4-6; 2Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18; 4:6; Philippians 2:5-6; 1Timothy 1:17; 1John 5:7; Revelation 4:11

Of  The  Holy  Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God's purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of judgment and of righteousness; that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer.

Of The Devil, Or Satan

We believe that Satan was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels; that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be man's great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power behind all apostasy; the lord of the antichrist, and the author of all the powers of darkness - defeated at the cross by God's own Son, and destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels.

Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Matthew 4:1-3; 13:25; 25:41; 27:39; Mark 13:21-22; Luke 22:3-4; John 14:30; Ephesians 2:2; 2Corinthians 11:13-15; 1Thessalonians 3:5; 2Thessalonians 2:8-11; 1Peter 5:8; 2Peter 2:4; 1John 2:22; 3:8; 4:3; 2John 7; Jude 6; Revelation 12:7-10; 13:13-14; 19:11,16,20; 20:1-3,10

Of The  Creation

We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God's own image and after His own likeness; that man's creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that there is no gap in time between verses 1 and 2 in the first chapter of Genesis; that chapters 1 and 2 of Genesis are complimentary, not contradictory; that all animal and vegetable life were made directly by God, after which He decreed that they should bring forth only "after their kind."

Genesis 1:1,11,24,26-27; 2:21-23; Exodus 20:11; Nehemiah 9:6; Jeremiah 10:12; John 1:3; Acts 4:24; 17:23-26; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 10:6

Of  The  Fall  Of  Man

We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind are born with a sin nature; inherently evil and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse.

Genesis 3:1-6,24; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 1:18,20,28,32; 3:10-19; 5:12,19; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:1,

Of  The  Virgin  Birth

We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of a woman, and that He is both the Son of God, and God, the Son. Mary did not have sinless perfection and was in the need of the Saviour.

Genesis 3:15; Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 7:14; Matthews 1:18-25; Mark 1:1; Luke 1:35; Leviticus 12; John 1:14; Galatians 4:4; 1Corinthians 15:47; 1John 5:20; Luke 1:46-48; 2:21-23

Of  The  Atonement  For  Sin

We believe that the salvation of sinners is entirely of grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, Who by appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a complete atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner's place, the Just dying for the unjust, Christ, the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the cross by the shedding of His own blood; that, having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way qualified to be the suitable, the compassionate and the all sufficient Saviour.

Isaiah 53:4-7,11-12; Matthew 18:11; John 3:16; 10:18; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24-25; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 2:7-8; Hebrews 2:14; 7:25; 9:12-15,22; 12:2, 1 Peter 2:24

Of  Grace  and the New Birth

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that in the new birth, the individual is a new creature in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new birth is  brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.

John 1:12-13; 3:3,6-7; Acts 2:41; Romans 6:23; 2Corinthians 5:17,19; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 2:1; 5:9; Colossians 2:13; 1John 5:1

Of  The  Freeness  Of  Salvation

We believe in God's all sufficient grace; salvation is made free to all by the gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept it by faith; and nothing prevents the salvation of the sinner on earth but his own rejection of the gospel, thus dying in his sin and sealing his own condemnation.

Isaiah 55:1; Matthew 11:28; John 3:15-18,36; 5:40; 6:37; Acts 2:38; Romans 8:29-30; 10:13; 1Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 2:4-5; Colossians 3:12; 1Thessalonians 1:4; 1Timothy 1:15; Titus 1:1; 1Peter 1:2; Revelation 22:1

We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever; that since salvation cannot be gained by works, neither can it be lost by works, nor by any other means.  Once God has given salvation to an individual, He will not take it back. We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God's Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh.

John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 2:7; 6:22-23; 8:1. 38-39; 1 Cor. 1:4-8; 1 Peter1:4-5; Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13; I Timothy 6:19; Titus 1:2, 2:11-15; I John 2:25; Jude 1:21

Of The Preservation Of  The  Saints

We believe the Scriptures teach that such as are truly regenerate, being born of the Spirit of God, cannot utterly fall away and finally perish, but that genuine believers shall endure unto the end; that their persevering attachment to Christ, provoked by the Spirit of God, is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; and that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation.

Psalm 121:3; Matthew 6:20;13:19-23; John 6:39,66-69; 8:31-32; 10:28-29; 13:8; 15:16; 16:8; Romans 8:28,35-39; Philippians 1:6; 2:12-13; Colossians 1:21-23; Hebrews 1:14; 10:38-39; 13:51Peter 1:5; 1John 2:19,27,28; 5:13

Of  Justification

We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is Justification; that Justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of His righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done; but solely through faith in Jesus Christ's blood, His righteousness is imputed unto us.

Isaiah 53:11; Habakkuk 2:4; Zechariah 13:1; Acts 13:39; Romans 1:17; 4:1-25; 5:1-9; 8:1; Galatians 3:11; Titus 3:5-7; Hebrews 10:38

Of  Repentance  And  Faith

We believe that Repentance and Faith are necessary, and also brought about by the grace of God by the quickening of His Spirit; thereby, being deeply convicted of our sin, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with genuine sorrow for offending and dishonoring God by violating His holy Law; we plead with confession and supplication for forgiveness and mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Saviour.

Psalm 51:1-4,7; Isaiah 55:6-7; Mark 1:15; Luke 12:8; 18:13; Acts 2:37-38; 20:21; Romans 10:9-11,13

Doctrine of Faith

We believe the Scriptures teach that faith, inseparably united with repentance, is a solemn obligation and a grace wrought in our soul by the quickening Spirit of God; that it is an assent of the mind and a consent of the heart, consisting mainly of belief and trust, where the testimony of God in His word is accepted and believed as true, while Christ is unreservedly received for salvation; that through it the believer is brought into vital relations with God, as seeing Him Who is invisible, freely justified; that it reveals Christ to the soul as a willing and sufficient Saviour, and commits the heart and life to Him.

Acts 16:31; Romans 1:17; 3:22; 5:1; 10:3,9-13; Hebrews 11:1,6; James 2:23; Jeremiah 17:7; Psalm 34:22; 125:1; II Corinthians 5:7.

Of  The  Church

We believe that the true church is a local, visible congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel; said church being understood to be the citadel and propagator of the Divine and Eternal Grace; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; individuals have the responsibility to exercise their gifts in and through the authority of the local church.; that its officers of ordination are pastors and deacons whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the scriptures; we believe the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission: First, to make individual disciples; Second, to baptize them into the local church; Third, to teach and instruct as He has commanded.

We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only Head is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. We are independent, thus we are not "affiliated with" nor do we "belong to" any association or convention, in order that we might do as God pleases. The Lord Jesus Christ established the local New Testament church; and we do not believe that He established any convention or association to lord over the churches. It is our contention that a true church cannot scripturally join nor become affiliated with any outside religious organization.   

The doctrine of an invisible universal (catholic) church/body is unbiblical; the universal church cannot exist until the Lord Jesus Christ personally gathers all believers together in one place and at one time. That said, the local church is distinguished by a conviction regarding the practical nature of church membership. Believers are to obey the admonition of not to forsake the assembling of the church. The local church takes seriously the duties and responsibilities of church membership. In other words, membership serves a doctrinal purpose in local New Testament churches; it is the members duty and responsibility to learn doctrine. There ought not to be a great disparity between Sunday morning and evening and mid week services. The same membership is expected to be at all the services of the church. It is impossible to share in the life of the church in the manner which God intended while one is willingly absenting their self from its public gatherings. We recognize that few churches would make such a demand, but biblical church membership presupposes such a commitment to God and to your brothers and sisters in Christ.

We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a professing, born-again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. This ordinance is administered in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, under the authority of the local Bible believing church. Baptism presents a solemn and beautiful emblem of our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Saviour. We reject all baptisms as administered by churches not of like faith. Baptism does not save an individual; upon baptism, you become a member of the local assembly; Baptism is prerequisite to the privileges of the local New Testament church and participation in the Lord's Supper; The Lord's Supper is restricted in the local New Testament church to its members. The sacred use of unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine is presented to commemorate the dying love of Christ and is symbolic of the body and blood of Christ; preceded always by solemn self-examination. Conversely, all other forms of communion are unbiblical and detrimental to the unity of the local church.

Matthew 3:6; 3:16; 28:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-5; 1Corinthians 11:23-28; Colossians 2:12

Of  The  Righteous  And  The  Wicked

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that the righteous are justified only through faith in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God; that the wicked are those that continue in unbelief and are thus under the curse, and destined for hell. We believe that hell is the literal place of torment prepared for the devil and his angels, where the wicked shall also suffer the vengeance of eternal fire.  At the end of all ages, the wicked will be resurrected to stand before the Lord God in judgement and then cast into the lake of fire for ever and ever.

Genesis 18:23; Proverbs 11:31; 14:32; Malachi 3:18; Matthew 7:13-14; 25:34; Luke 9:26; 16:25; John 8:21; 12:25; Acts 10:34-35; Romans 1:17; 6:16-18,23; 7:6; 1Corinthians 6:9-11; 15:22; Galatians 3:10; 1Peter 4:18; 1John 2:7,29; 5:19; Revelation 20:11-15.

Of Earthly Authorities

 We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: (1) the home, (2) the church, and (3) the state. Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are accountable to God and are governed by His word. We believe that those in authority are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed, except in matters opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and has balanced those responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the church, and the state are equal, sovereign and complimentary in their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God.

Exodus 18:21-22; 2Samuel 23:3; Psalm 72:11; Daniel 3:17-18; Matthew 10:28; 22:21; 23:10; Acts 4:19-20; 23:5; Romans 13:1-7; Ephesians 5:22-24; Philippians 2:10-11; Titus 3:1; Hebrews 13:17; 1Peter 2:13-14,17

The Return of Christ

We believe in that blessed hope, the personal, imminent return of Christ, Who will gather all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ prior to the seven-year tribulation period, also described as Daniel's seventieth week.  At the end of the Great Tribulation, the Lord Jesus Christ will personally and visibly return with those saints that were caught up prior to the start. The Lord Jesus Christ will establish His earthly Messianic Kingdom which was promised to the nation of Israel.

Psalm 72:8; Psalm 2; Psalms 89:3-4 Isaiah 11:4-5;; Daniel 2:31-45, 9:24-27; Zechariah 14:4-11; Matthew 24:27,42; Matthew 28:6-7; Mark 16:6,19; Luke 1:32; Luke 24:2-6,39,51; John 14:3; John 20:27; Acts 1:9,11; 1Corinthians 15:4; Philippians 4:20; I Thessalonians 1:10; 4:13-18; 2 Thess. 2:1-12; 1Timothy 2:5; Titus 2:13;Hebrews 2:17; 5:9; 8:1; 9:28; 12:2 Rev. 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6;

The Resurrection of Saved and Unsaved

We believe that the souls of those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, shall, at death immediately pass into His presence. There shall they remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at His coming, when spirit, soul and body, reunited, shall be associated with Him forever in glory; but the souls of unbelievers remain after death in conscious torment until the final judgment of the Great White Throne at the close of the Millennium, when soul and body reunited shall be cast into the Lake of Fire. These unsaved souls shall not be annihilated, but be punished with everlasting torment from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.

Luke 16:19-28; 23:43.  II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; II Thess. 1:7-9. Jude 6,7. Revelation 20:11-15.

Of Missions

The command to give the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable. This Great Commission was given in and through the authority of the local church.  Only those ordained by the local church are authorized to carry out the work of a missionary. The local church is the sole authority for the training, ordaining, sending, and supervising of missionaries

There are two elements of missions: the planting of a church and the edification of an established church.  Conversely, mission boards are generally not under the direct authority of a local church, and are therefore unscriptural and detrimental to this work.  To allow any organization other than the local church to perform any of the functions that God has assigned to the church is to step outside of the bounds of the Biblical pattern.

Christ draws an analogy between the church, the body, the family and the sheepfold for this reason.  Just as a child cannot be a member of two households, an organ cannot be in two bodies, and a sheep cannot be in two flocks, so a missionary cannot be under the authority of two or more churches.  Deputation places a missionary under too many authorities.  Modern day deputation is unbiblical; it is not the duty of a missionary to raise funds, but to win souls.  There may be a need for the missionary to apply a trade to support him and his family.

Missionary readiness to send out to the field, is synchronized by the Spirit of God speaking to the church and the individual(s) called.   Because churches are begotten after their own kind, the missionaries will carry with them the same doctrines of faith. 

Matthew 28:18-20. Mark 16:9, 15.  John 20:21.  Acts 1:8, 13:1-4, 14:21-23,18:3 Romans 10:13-15; Philipians 4:10-13,17,19; 2 Thessalonians 6:15; 3 John 7; Revelation 2:6,15

Of The Grace Of Giving

Scriptural giving is based on faith.  We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God's wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local church financially.  We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving, but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully for the support of the church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel.  We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made.

Under grace we give, and do not pay, the tithe. We do not give our tithes and offerings legalistically, but give out of love for the Lord. Giving is not a matter of bondage to a believer in Christ nor is it given as an investment.  We are commanded to bring our tithes and offerings into the storehouse (common treasury of the church) on Sunday, the first day of the week.  We follow the scriptural pattern of collection using a treasury box for believers to honour the LORD.

Genesis 14:20; Leviticus 27:30; 1 Samuel 15:22; Proverbs 3:9-10; Malachi 3:10; Matthew 5:17; 6:2; 23:23; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 8:8; 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Ephesians 4:28; 1 Timothy 5:17-18; Hebrews 7:2,4;1 John 3:17

Of Separation

We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Saviour and Lord. God commands His people to separate from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations; and to refrain from all immodest appearances, piercings and voluntary bodily markings.

Genesis 35:4; Isaiah 3:16-23; Romans 12:1-2; 14:13; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11; Leviticus 19:28; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

Of Unbiblical Present Day Practices

In addition to our beliefs of faith and practice, we believe it necessary in our generation to clarify our position on present day issues which we scripturally understand are inconsistent with God's word.

1. The Ecumenical Movement- This movement seeks to bring all religions together to work in harmony by disregarding doctrine. We cannot agree or fellowship with religions and/or organizations that support visions, traditions, or philosophies of men regarded as equal to or greater than the scriptural standard of God's word.  There should always be an emphasis of doctrinal distinctions. (Matthew 4:4; 16:1-12 15:1-9; Acts 1:21-26; 20:26-31; Ephesians 5:11; Galatians 5:7-9; 2 Timothy 4:2-4; Revelation 21:14)

2. The Charismatic Movement- This movement, displayed in many different churches, religions, and organizations, seeks to promote a false concept of the Holy Spirit and His work, through tongues, visions, healings, and non-Biblical revelations.  We disagree wholeheartedly with their doctrinal positions and practices.   We believe the Apostolic gifts took place only during the time of the apostles, and were used by God to verify His word.  Once the word of God was completely revealed, the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit ceased and the office of Apostle is now obsolete thus rejecting any "Apostolic succession." (Mark 16:17-20. Acts 1:15-26; 3; 8:6; I Corinthians 13:8-10)

3. Dispensational Salvation - This belief that salvation is obtained by different means at different times, is heretical.  Such teachers tend to disregard certain books. We believe that salvation has always been and always shall be by God's grace alone through faith in His word.  Although there are doctrinal distinctions between Israel and the church, there is still wisdom to be gained through all books of the Bible concerning doctrine.. All books of the Bible are written for every believer and are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. ( Gen 15:6;Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 4; 10:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

4. Women In Leadership - We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained separate and distinct spiritual functions for men and women in the home and in the church.  The husband is to be the leader of the home, and only men are eligible to be the leaders (pastors and deacons) of the church.  Conversely, women cannot have have wives and are therefore not qualified for these offices. We also believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society.  The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church.  The wife is to submit herself to the scriptural leadership of her husband as he and the church submit to the headship of Christ.  (Genesis 1:26-28; Exodus 20:12; Deut. 6:4-9; Psalms 127:3-5; Proverbs19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; Mark 10:6-12; I Cor. 7:1-16; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4, Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 2:8-15; 3;12; Hebrews 13:4; I Peter 3:1-7)

5. Divorce and Remarriage - We believe that God forbids divorce and intends marriage to last until one spouse dies. The Lord declares that divorce occurs due to the hardness of one's heart. Remarriage is regarded as adultery.  Those that are divorced may hold positions of service in the church and be greatly used of God. Divorced men are disqualified from the office of pastor or deacon.  (Malachi 2:14-17; Matthew 19:3-12; Rom. 7:1-3; 1 Timothy 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6)

6. Human Sexuality - We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be practiced outside of a monogamous marriage between a man and a woman.  We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God's gift of sex. We believe that God forbids any attempt to alter one's gender by surgery or appearance.  We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman.  We believe that on the part of a Christian, the marriage relation should be entered only by those of like precious faith. (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Psalm 139:13-16; Amos 3:3; Rom. 1: 26-29; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Corinthians 7:10;  2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Eph. 5:22-231 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)

7. Public School - Children are a blessing from the Lord.  It is the responsibility of both the parents and the local church to train children. Parents are responsible for teaching their children spiritual and moral convictions. They lead them by consistent biblical practices.  It is a parent's responsibility to apply appropriate discipline, including scriptural corporal correction.  The government is given no biblical authority regarding the education of children. Public school is unbiblical, and it is a sin to place one's child under the counsel of this world system. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Judges 13:8;  Psalms 1; Proverbs 22:6; Matthew 22:21; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:42-47; Romans 13:1-7 2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14-17..)

8. Abortion - We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being.  Abortion constitutes the unjustified, inexcusable taking of human life.  Abortion is murder.  Any teaching promoting abortions for the reasons of rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the physical or mental well being of the mother are unbiblical and unacceptable  That said, we are also obligated by the laws of God to respect the lives of the abortion providers themselves.  The only means we have to stop abortion is the preaching of the Gospel.  (Job 3:16; Psalms 51:5; 139:14-16; Proverbs 16:6; Isaiah 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jeremiah. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44)

9. The Generic Christ -There are many who profess a faith and a belief in Jesus Christ.  The true question is, "Do they have the correct Jesus?"  The Bible warns that there will be many false Christs.  There is a counterfeit Jesus Christ being preached, taught and believed upon in this present age. The doctrine of who Jesus Christ is, defines one's faith.  We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ of the Bible is not the same as the one taught of the following : Roman Catholicism, Pentacostalism, Mormonism, Islam, Jehovah Witness, Judaism, Christian Science, to name a few.  We believe that English speaking individuals who are not taught of Jesus Christ from the King James Bible are at great risk of having trusted on a different Jesus Christ.  Our doctrine of Christ comes from the Bible.  However, apostate modern versions have created a false Christ through corrupt manuscripts, deceptive, translations and mis-interpretations.  Many are trusting on a false Jesus : the Jesus that cannot secure one's salvation; the Jesus that is not deity; the Jesus that is sacrificed in a bloodless sacrifice; the Jesus that is not of the triune Godhead; the Jesus that was switched at the cross; the Jesus that was Lucifer's brother; the Jesus that did not rise physically from the dead.  This is clearly a matter of separation.

10. Exaltation of Scholastic Aptitude -  The fear of the Lord and the understanding of one's own native language are all that are necessary to understand the word of God. Other helpful topics  to enhance the study, is the knowing of arithmetic and geography.  However, we do not believe that a college education or a knowledge of the original languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek) are necessary for a person to understand scripture.  The Spirit of God gives all understanding. 

There is no teaching that is limited to a specific group within the local church.  This creates doctrinal division and Nicolaitanism, a scholastic hierarchy.  Rather, the Bible clearly states that doctrine must be taught to all in the body to ensure unity. It is the responsibility of every member of the body to seek the same level of understanding of Biblical doctrine. Degrees of so called "higher learning" have been replaced by modern day churches as the qualifications of leadership in the church.  This deception has opened local church to wolves in sheep's clothing. Those with a specific calling should be given opportunity to exercise what they have learned and receive the proper amount of provoking and admonishing as may be required to ready the individual for the calling.  

The responsibility for equipping men for the ministry rests scripturally and squarely upon every Bible-believing Baptist church, and upon those whom God has placed in leadership, the pastors. This fact is made clear from Ephesians 4:11,12 - "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." There is no other organization or individual - outside of a church of the Lord Jesus Christ - that has the Biblical mandate to engage in the training and preparing of men and women for the Lord's work.

The "Great Commission" of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, was given to His churches, and that this involves the evangelizing, baptizing, and discipling of individuals. We believe that only New Testament (Baptist) churches have the scriptural authority to ordain God-called men as pastors - and to send out those whose objective it is to establish other churches of like faith and order. This being the case, there really is NO Biblical basis or rationale for the training of such men to be received in any other setting or under any other authority than the institution the Lord established for that purpose.

From a SCRIPTURAL standpoint, a pastor must be "apt to teach" (I Timothy 3:2). Each church is the "pillar and ground of the truth" (I Timothy 3:15), and its pastors and evangelists (missionaries) are charged with the responsibility "the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (II Timothy 2:2).

From a PRACTICAL standpoint, there is no better place for any man to learn firsthand the order, operation, and ethics essential to the leadership of a church than by being actually involved in one. There is no need to send your best workers away to be trained by others and serve in another church.

From a PERSONAL standpoint, a close working relationship with one's own pastor(s) - rather than professional academics - allows tremendous opportunities for insights and evaluation not found in any other setting. Training a man is much more than lectures and book learning (as important as they are); it requires that a preacher share his heart, his vision, his burden, etc., with the preachers-in-training God has given him. Consider II Timothy 3:10,11a in this light.

The apostles and those that followed them continued the pattern established by our Lord in the training of His disciples. It must be the same pattern we endeavor to follow, by God's grace, to equip the saints for the work of the ministry.

(Genesis 40:8; Nehemiah 8:8; Proverbs 1:7; 9:10; Isaiah 34:16; Daniel 2:28; Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 21:15, 24:27,45; John 7:15, 14:26, 16:13-15;  Acts 2:42;4:13; 1 Corinthians 6:1-5; 2 Cor 3:1; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter 3:5, 4:11; Rev 13:18)

11. Euthanasia - We believe that the direct taking of an innocent human life is a moral evil, regardless of the intention.  Life is a gift of God and must be respected from conception until natural death.  Thus we believe that an act or omission, which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering, constitutes a murder contrary to the will of God.  However, discontinuing medical procedures that are extraordinary or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be a legitimate refusal of over-zealous treatment.  (Exodus 20:13, 23:7; Matthew 5:21; Acts 17:28)

12. Love - We believe that we should demonstrate love for others, not only toward fellow believers, but also toward those who are not believers, those who oppose us, and those who engage in sinful actions. We are to deal with those who oppose us graciously, gently, patiently, and humbly.  God forbids the stirring up of strife, the taking of revenge, or the threat or use of violence as a means of resolving personal conflict or obtaining personal justice. Although God commands us to abhor sinful actions, we are to love and pray for any person who engages in such sinful actions. (Levitcus 19:18; Matthew 5:44-48; Luke 6:31; John 13:34-35; Romans 12:9-10; 17-21; 13:8-10; Philipians 2:2-4; 2 Timothy 2:24-26; Titus 3:2; 1 John 3:17-18)