STATEMENT OF FAITH
While a bit wordy, we believe that it is an accurate assessment of the major essential doctrines of the Christian faith as put forth in the Bible. Note: Each point is followed with Bible references. We encourage you to look up the Bible verse so you can see for yourself what the Bible has to say on each of these statements.
1. The Word of God
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
2. The Trinity
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
3. God the Father
We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of all people, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:19-20; John 17:3)
4. Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth. Matthew 1:18-2:12; Hebrews 1:6)
5. The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide. (1 Corinthians 12:13; John 16:8)
6. Salvation
We believe that all people are sinners by nature and by choice and are sinners and are hopelessly lost. We believe that those who turn (repent) from their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord will be saved. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; the saved to eternal life with God; the lost to eternal separation from God. (John 5:24; Romans 3:23)
7. The Church
We believe in the universal Church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible confession of faith, and associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:42)
8. Lifestyle
We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well-being of others; that their conduct should be blameless before the world; that they should be faithful managers of their possessions; and that they should seek to realize for themselves and others maturity in the Christian life. (1 Corinthians 10:31)
9. The Ordinances
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water into the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32)
10. The Last Things
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal living of the righteous with God, and the endless suffering of the wicked apart from God. (Acts 1:9-11; Revelation 20)
Note: In the interest of unity, it is important that all members shall refrain from advocating doctrines that are not included in this Statement of Faith in such a way as to cause dissension or divisiveness. As an independent local church body affiliated with the Columbia Baptist Conference, Woodhaven Community Church also realizes that other churches may have more in-depth and detailed statements of faith. While we applaud our brothers and sisters of other bodies and denominations for their efforts to articulate sound biblical beliefs, it is intentional on our part to "major on the majors" and "minor on the minors" when it comes to issues of church doctrine.
Faith and Practice
Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. This church recognizes that it cannot bind the conscience of individual members in areas where Scripture is silent. Rather, each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord, to who he or she is ultimately responsible.
We believe all truth is God's truth and we believe that the Bible is true in all it says. We also believe there is truth to be found outside of the Bible. However, prior to embracing those truths, we pass them though the discerning grid of Scripture - keeping what is right and rejecting what is not.
Some Practical Applications
What Scripture teaches, we embrace. Beyond that, no person, organization or writing have authority to dictate our beliefs. No person has the right to dictate the beliefs of another person; we submit to God's authority through His Word (the Bible)- it stands over and judges all of us, including our leaders. We do not take stands on controversial issues about which the Bible is silent; individuals are left to their own conscience before the Lord rather than depending on the church to tell them what to do.
We are free to express our own opinions among our brothers and sisters, but we don't ever want to harm the church by gathering a following around ourselves or an interpretation of a controversial issue to create a splinter group. Also, in the interest of maintaining unity in the church, we value the well-being of Christ's body (the church) above our desire for self-expression; though no authority has a right to police our thoughts, we agree not to speak with unwarranted conviction when our views differ from this Statement of Faith.
