STATEMENT OF FAITH

[Note: each of us has in our mind a statement of faith about what we believe to be true. It may be unwritten, yet it is a pattern which we use as we evaluate and compare events and hopes for the future. It may be thought of as a motto rather than a creed. But it is basic to what we see as our relationship to God. RDI]


STATEMENT OF FAITH
Rhoderick D. Ice

In 1979 there were two congregations in a northern city. Both contained students from the Big University. One was "mainline." The other "renewal." Joint talks were held to explore the possibility of joining forces as one congregation. These are some topics of discussion. As part of this discussion, a joint Sunday evening service was held, with the "renewal" group leading and structuring the worship. Eventually a Statement of Faith was drawn up to investigate "Who We Are."

*. "We are not the only Christians, but we are Christians only." As members of the Lord's church, we do not intend to write a creed nor a test of fellowship. We feel a need to put something down on paper as to the general identity of this congregation. Certainly, each Christian may answer only for himself/herself, since our personal faith must be in Christ Jesus Himself. The church cannot be a substitute for Christ Jesus; nor the Bible a substitute for The Holy Spirit.


1. Who we are.

a) We are members of the church - the Body of Christ which includes every saved person. Our obedient faith in Jesus - His Doing & Dying & Rising Again - has brought us into the Family of God (Colossians 1:13). It is our intention to reach back through the ages of time to recapture the simple vibrant faith and life of the believers we see described on the pages of the New Testament. We want to use the freedom of each congregation and each Christian to deal with those areas which are not directly matters of faith, but of opinion and expediency (note Romans 14).

b) We share an association with the "Restoration Movement" through our historical roots (Churches of Christ; Christian Churches; Disciples of Christ). We share some attitudes in common with conservative religious people known as "Evangelicals," (and with others). It is the Lord Himself who draws lines of demarcation (2 Timothy 2:19). The Lord knows who His People are! We do not want to be sectarian nor denominational in our thinking.

c) While we do stand united in Christ Jesus, we know that some diversity existed in the first century church. Some differences in Christian thought and lifestyle existed - even though they did "speak the same thing" and were united in mind and purpose. We want to widen our horizons to the extent we see the Apostles doing, and to be a church marked with Christian love, freedom, and mutual tolerance.


2. Other "churches."

a) Campbell disliked using the word "church," because of its sectarian connotations. "Church" in the Bible is the Kingdom, the spiritual congregation of the saved. Christ is the King of the One Kingdom. Not "one kind of Kingdom" with "branch locations" in various places. The Kingdom is the stone cut out without hands of Daniel 2:34,44,45 - which filled the earth! We identify with all those past, present, and future, who have responded to God's call (John 6:44-45), by taking Jesus as the Lord of their lives ["obeying the gospel"]. God has added these to the one church; "...brought us safe into the kingdom of his dear Son." Note the Enormous Crowd of Revelation 7:9-12.

b) Paul shows the diversity in unity which exists (compare 1 Corinthians 9:19-23; also Acts 21:20-25) in the church of the first century. Each generation, then, must rethink the Eternal Verities which God has given in the Bible. As we try to face this challenge, we affirm our freedom in Christ to believe and practice according to our knowledge of the Christian faith, as The Spirit gives us help (compare 1 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 8:26-27).


3. The Bible.

a) God has spoken to us in a Book. The Bible is a "magic door," a time tunnel which permits us to listen to the people who walked and talked with Jesus. The Holy Spirit guided these Bible writers so that they wrote what God wanted written. God Acted in History through Christ Jesus. The message of the Bible centers around God the Son: His humanity and divinity, His atoning sacrifice, His righteousness and His victory over sin and death.

b) We affirm the Bible has authority over our lives. Not, as a written code of laws, but as a friendly guide, pointing us always to Jesus the Christ and instructing us how we are to live by faith in Him. God forbids sin and commands righteousness and justice. God shows His love and His wish for all to come to Him and live eternally.

c) We recognize the Bible must be interpreted. The Old Testament develops type, symbols and figures which help explain the role of Christ Jesus. In fellowship with others, we make decisions as to the meaning of the Bible, and just how the Bible applies to present Christian life as we live daily in this world.

We recognize that the Bible arose as God worked in and through the church, and should be understood and interpreted in the broad context of Christian community. It is right to learn from the experience of the past.

d) We understand that the Bible is a complex book. Our knowledge can never be "complete." Yet surely God does intend us to understand the Bible. We dare not permit human sin and ignorance to conceal the glory of God. We therefore invoke The Spirit of God to call our lives into question, and to deepen our grasp of the will of God. (Note Romans 12:1ff).


4. Fellowship.

a) We accept our uniqueness, within the framework of Scripture, which can be a source of growth and strength. Each member is called upon to exercise a greater degree of tolerance and understanding. (Note Romans 14:12-13).

b) While recognizing our human variety and diverseness, we also maintain the fundamental unity of basic Christian Faith and the Eternal Verities. We do our best to preserve the unity which The Spirit gives by the peace that binds us together (Ephesians 4:3).

c) We intend to help each person develop and serve to his/her full potential according to ability and "calling." We wish each to find fulfillment in the life of the local church.

d) We wish each member to seek to aid, encourage, and challenge each other in Christian discipleship (see 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Timothy 1:7). We want to extend the Lordship of Christ Jesus into all aspects of our lives. [But we do not intend any cultic tendencies.]

e) We desire to be a fellowship of mutual service to one another, in which each person's needs are a concern of the others (note Acts 6:1).


5. Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

a) We believe every believer should be baptized according to the command of Jesus and the practice of the first century church. The meaning of baptism in the New Testament is associated with beginning the Christian life (Acts 22:16; Matthew 28:19). We view faith, repentance, baptism, forgiveness of sins, and God's gift, the Holy Spirit - as a package deal. We believe that every person upon coming to faith in Jesus Christ will be immersed according to the New Testament example. And so we practice as a church.

Long standing believers who enter our fellowship must make their own decision as to the validity of their past baptism. David Lipscomb, a gospel preacher of the last century, believed faith in Christ and a desire to please God were the essential prerequisites to baptism, with remission of sins being one of the results, also the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; 5:32). Status and acceptance must to some degree rest upon one's personal convictions about his/her faith and obedience to Christ.

b) We believe the Lord's Supper - the Holy Meal - was a vital part of the worship and Christian community of the first century church. This Holy Meal is central to the church's understanding of her life and mission. In the Lord's Supper we call to mind that we have been summoned into a common life with Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 10:16-17). We share in this Holy Meal each Sunday when gathered for worship. We neither invite nor forbid any to share in this with us. All believers are free to 'judge themselves' and join in this participation.


6. Our Ministry of Service.

a) We wish to be a community of fellowship centered around the historical act of God in Christ-on-the-cross. We wish to show the love of God to this world by our actions (Matthew 5:16; 25:31-46). We realize that we cannot perform all ministries and fulfill all needs that might exist around us.

With what resources we have:

1) we wish to teach and share the message of Christ with those who do not yet believe.

2) we want to care for and heal persons whose lives are broken by evil or unfortunate circumstances.

3) supply where we can for the needs of the poor.

4) speak and work for the right in our jobs, neighborhoods, cities and nation.

* The unanimous confession of the first century Christians was: Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior!!!