Evaluate and critique my churches belief statement
 

Its a modified version of what Global Network, Jabo Green, and Christ Church Nashville have. The godhead one was where i made a serious edit. I'm a one stepper apostolic (neo-PCI tradition if you were to label it). Anyone have any constructive ideas?

What We Believe
… in one God, revealed as Father in the creation of humanity, Son in the incarnation of Jesus and the indwelling Holy Spirit that empowers us.

… that our Lord Jesus Christ was begotten, not created, very God of very God, truly God, truly Man. He was born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died a vicarious and atoning death for the sins of the world, was resurrected bodily for our justification, and now reigns in glory until all things be put under His feet.

… in the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, given by the Holy Spirit, as He moved upon holy men of old. Furthermore, … that the church has no authority to establish doctrine or practice contrary to these same Scriptures, which were subsequently accepted as canon by the early Christian Church.

… that man was made in the image of God and is the crown of creation. He is now, by reason of his fallen nature, spiritually depraved and alienated from His Creator. Apart from God’s grace he has no ability to attain to his high calling.

… that justification is by grace through faith in our Lord’s sacrifice on Calvary.


… that all of God’s people are to be buried with Christ in the waters of baptism, subsequent to conversion. While we freely embrace those of contrary opinion, we feel that this rite is scripturally administered “in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

… that the Holy Spirit indwells all believers, conforming them to the image of Jesus Christ.

… that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is an enduement of powers subsequent to conversion, given by God to anoint the believer for sanctification and evangelism. It is our understanding that the supernatural charisms of the Holy Spirit are active within the body of Christ until the coming of the Lord. Furthermore, … the development of these charismatic gifts ought to be encouraged under the guidance of local church authorities.

… in the Holy Christian Church, imperfectly represented on Earth by the various Christian institutions. Her unity is spiritual, her culture diverse and transitional, her mission eternal.

… that the calling of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher are functional within the Body of Christ until the Lord’s return. Furthermore, these ministries are gifts to the church for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of ministry, that the Body of Christ be edified.

… the identity of the Body of Christ on the Earth is primarily perceived through the local church. While encouraging the voluntary association of local churches, and recognizing the need of consensus on matters of fundamental doctrine and conduct, we strongly confess the local church to be sovereign and autonomous.

… in the right of local churches and ministries to form temporal institutions to assist them in carrying out the work of God. At the same time, we reject sectarianism and divisiveness as great evils.

… in the priesthood of the believer. That is to say all people born of God have equal status before, and direct access to their Lord.

… in the spiritual unity of all who are born of God. We confess even those with whom we disagree, those who do not confess us, and others whom we exclude because of our unwillful ignorance.

… that those who are called by the name of Christ should depart from iniquity. Understanding that salvation from the penalty of sin only begins the process of redemption, we acknowledge that one work of the Holy Spirit is to create in us the character of Christ.

… in the literal second coming of our Lord, the resurrection of the regenerate to eternal life and the unregenerate to eternal damnation, and the ultimate victory of the eternal Kingdom of God

Re: Evaluate and critique my churches belief state
 

Ours is very similar, but we added a clause about marriage being for one man and one woman - just to prevent problems. Also, we added in a thing about tongues being the initial evidence of the Holy Ghost.

Re: Evaluate and critique my churches belief state
 

With this and non-Trinitarian statement, how is it that you cannot (or do not) claim to be Oneness Pentecostal?

Re: Evaluate and critique my churches belief state
 

evaluate and critique it?


Sounds good to me.

Re: Evaluate and critique my churches belief state
 

both are good ideas. thanks :)

Re: Evaluate and critique my churches belief state
 

I guess I just think labels are divisive and we removed ours years ago. I definitely consider myself Pentecostal at heart, although we don't call our church that. The worship is very Spirit filled and active - just no really crazy stuff happening (usually).

I would lean more toward oneness theology, but there are some things about the godhead that I just cannot explain or understand. We have people in our church who are died in the wool oneness and others who would explain the godhead from a totally trinitarian viewpoint. We all love each other, but we don't all agree on that. They all know how Eddie teaches and baptizes.

Re: Evaluate and critique my churches belief state
 

translation:

We don't really have a firm belief in anything..

Re: Evaluate and critique my churches belief state
 

?????????

Re: Evaluate and critique my churches belief state
 

?

Re: Evaluate and critique my churches belief state
 

In other words, why do you say this? Give examples or something to explain where you come up with the statement you made.

Re: Evaluate and critique my churches belief state
 

Friend, if you can't figure it out, I don't know that I can help you but I will try.

If a person truly believes there is a right way of doing something, regarding salvation...then any other formula would be wrong.

Re: Evaluate and critique my churches belief state
 

Ohhh, (need a head slap smiley guy) I just noticed that you highlighted one statement in bold. :smack Now I get it. :blush

Before, I thought you just posted a quote of the whole thing and then said they didn't really believe anything. I wondered what you meant, and NOW I get it. LOL (I am the slow one on this forum. :sad )

Re: Evaluate and critique my churches belief state
 

Toof, our statement of faith has basically this same phrase in it that you bolded. It doesn't mean that we "don't believe anything"! It means that we see scripturally that we are to baptize in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that's the ONLY way we will do it in our ministry/churches. But that does NOT mean that we think everyone is lost and headed to hell.

Hope that explains it a little better to you!

Re: Evaluate and critique my churches belief state
 

Agreed.

I was just talking to a UPC friend the other evening who's a old bible college friend. Hes far more into the UPC than I and is a strong 3 stepper and holds to the UPC Identity distictives. In the end we agreed that its 99% semantics between the libs and cons... people believe, repent, get baptized in Jesus and recieve the fullness of the Spirit. Happens in both types of churches when done properly.

On one hand: I've seen dry conservative churches that preach the message but don't do outreach and they don't have people get the holy spirit no matter how much they beat up the same people every week to invite their friends. I've seen liberal churches who forget they came from the Pentecostal branch of the Christian tree and throw it away to become Willow Creek.. but not as good.

On the other hand I've seen churches like Grace Church of Humble, Spring Tabernacle, and even one UPC church in So. Cal that has gone to jeans and guitar and have folks who aren't yet "cleaned up properly" get involved in ministries as they are learning that have powerful services. Folks get right, get baptized, and get filled with the Spirit. I've also seen conservative churches that are on fire, reach out, and alotta folks get saved because they can attach to that flavor of worship, structure, and approach.

And thats just the white churches for the most part, the black (PAW), mexican & south american (Apostolic Assemblies), jamacian/islander(both UPC and Independent), and inner city metro churches all have their little things different about them too.

Many of the hard core folks on the right haven't spent much time outside their culture... and they can't separate culture from sola scriptura. If they would take the time to fellowship with their PAW, Independent, and Apostolic Assemblies brothers even in the same area they would see at times where each is both more "liberal" and more "conservative" (PAW cuts hair but is very very very much into preacher submission, spiritual covering, and church discipline/respect) (Apostolic Assemblies could care less about TVs usually but they wear head coverings, pastoral submission like crazy, and their ministry is very much control from the bishops down... their politics makes UPC look like childs play).

Re: Evaluate and critique my churches belief state
 

Sherri,

With all due respect, this makes absolutely no sense.

Sorry for the elementary example but that's about the same as saying 2+2=4 but if you say it equals 5 then it is right also.

Re: Evaluate and critique my churches belief state
 

I disagree. We feel that because of what we see in the Word, that we are to baptize in Jesus' name, and we won't do it any other way. No way, no how. But if other pastors/churches don't understand it that way, that's between them and God. But I certainly wouldn't say they're lost. I just know that we have to obey what we see from the Bible. Makes perfect sense to me!

BTW, we just baptized ten more today in Jesus' name. That makes right at 100 for the year so far. :thumbsup

Re: Evaluate and critique my churches belief state
 

We will agree to disagree.

If one way is right then any other way is wrong.

Re: Evaluate and critique my churches belief state
 

I've agreed to disagree with people for years. You're still my AFF friend.

Re: Evaluate and critique my churches belief state
 

why, thank you.