What we believe
God
We believe in the only true God (John 17:3), the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20). He created all things (Revelation 4:11) and upholds all things by the Word of His power (Hebrews 1:3). In Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). He is a God of truth and without iniquity. He is just and right (Deuteronomy 32:4), and He shall judge the world (Psalm 9:8).
We believe that the Godhead eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, having precisely the same nature, attributes and perfections, and are worthy of precisely the same homage, confidence, and obedience (Mark 12:29; John 1:1-4; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 4:3-4).
Jesus Christ
We believe in the total deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe He is the manifestation of God in the flesh. We believe He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. We believe Him to be true God and true man (John 1:1, 1:14, 1:18; John 14:8-9; 1 Timothy 3:16).
Holy Spirit
We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:14). The Holy Spirit regenerates the sinner upon belief in Christ, baptizing the believer into one body, of which Christ is the head. The Holy Spirit indwells, guides, instructs, fills, comforts, and empowers the believer for godly living (Mark 13:11; John 14:26;John 16:13; Romans 5:5; 1 Corinthians 3:16). The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, of God's righteousness and of coming judgment (John 16:8-11).
Scriptures
We believe the Scriptures of the Old Testament and New Testament are verbally inspired by God and inerrant in their original writings. We believe the 66 books of the Old Testament and the New Testament are God's complete and sufficient revelation and therefore carry God's authority for the total well-being of mankind (Psalm 119:97-104; Psalm 119:160; Matthew 5:18; John 5:46-47; John 10:35; 2 Timothy 3:15-16).
Man
We believe man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntarily transgressing, fell from his sinless and happy state. Consequently, all mankind is sinful. All people are sinners not only by inheritance, but also by their own choice and therefore are under just condemnation without defense or excuse. We believe that without exception every man and every woman is totally depraved and needs a Savior (Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 3:10-19;Romans 1:18, Romans 1:32).
Salvation
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice. We believe that each person who by faith receives Him as personal Savior is justified on the basis of Jesus Christ's shed blood on the cross. Each person who receives Christ as personal Savior is born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby becomes eternally secure as a child of God. We believe the Holy Spirit baptizes each believing person into the body of Christ at the moment of salvation and that there is no second baptism of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:37-39; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 12:13).
Resurrection
We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord Jesus Christ, His ascension into heaven and His present life for us as High Priest and Advocate (Acts 1:3; Acts 1:9; Hebrews 7:25-26).
Heaven, Hell, and the Return of Christ
We believe in the blessed hope: the personal, premillennial return of the Lord Jesus Christ. His return has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost. The saved are raised to eternal, conscious bliss in heaven (Matthew 25:34;John 14:2; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Revelation 2:7). The lost are raised to eternal torment in hell in conscious separation from God (Matthew 8:12; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 13:49-50; Mark 9:47-48; Luke 12:5; Revelation 21:8).
Spiritual Traditionalism
We believe spiritual traditionalism is a dangerous trap that leads our focus away from a relationship with God and directs our attention to trying to please God and others through outward displays. Spiritual traditionalism teaches extra-biblical rules and regulations that dictate specifics concerning dress, behavior, and conduct. While God desires that we live holy lives (1 Peter 1:15-16), He has also made each of us unique. God has given certain guidelines for dress and behavior (1 Timothy 2:9, Galatians 5:16-26); however, he leaves us with great freedom and individuality in how we will obey those commands. Spiritual traditionalism insists on a "cookie cutter pattern" in which every Christian under its influence looks the same.
Same style hair cut. Same style dress. Same version of the Bible. Same style of music. Same style of this. Same style of that. Same style of nearly everything.
These philosophies of spiritual traditionalism lead to pride, arrogance, and a feeling of haughty superiority (from looking down on those who are not exactly the same); while covering up the heart (inside). Those who are most concerned about making a public show struggle to share their true heart, confess faults, admit personal errors, and apologize when wrong; thus providing a facade where people are free to masquerade as the "perfect Christian." Although people may be impressed by this outward show, God is not impressed. Faith is what pleases God; not man made traditions.
The sad thing is that this leads people away from a relationship with God, because people pleasing and duty keeping takes center stage. In many cases, pride rises in the heart of the spiritual traditionalist as he thinks he has reached the pinacle of Christian maturity through his outward displays. In the meanwhile his heart has grown cold and his relationship with God has dwindled to a shell of what it used to be.
What are the warning signs of Spiritual Traditionalism in Churches and Ministries? (This is worth checking out before joining any church or ministry!)
1. Everyone dresses the same.
2. The only books in their bookstore are authored by people within their institution. They do not allow books authored by those outside of their denomination or group.
3. Members are expected to follow without question.
a.) Questions like: "Is that Biblical?" are frowned upon.
We believe Spiritual Traditionalism is a dangerous trap. It is easy to fall into. Many of us like traditions. We hate change. The problem occurs when we promote traditions that are not Biblical and we refuse change when it is Biblical. As much as we hate change, there are some "good changes." Everything modern is not sinful. Every new trend is not wrong.
The key to avoiding Spiritual Traditionalism is seeking the be Biblical above all else. When that is our chief desire, we will seek change when necessary, and allow others to seek to live Biblically in a way that is unique to them and yet still God honoring.