Doctrinal Overview - Churches of Christ

This is an undenominational church in fellowship with churches of Christ throughout the world. We believe the Bible to be the word of God and that the New Testament provides a perfect pattern for the faith and practice of the church.

Here are some things we believe:

• The Scriptures are the verbally inspired word of God.

• Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died for our sins, and was resurrected from the grave.

• Salvation is by grace through faith in keeping with Bible instructions, which include belief, repentance, confession of faith, and baptism.

• The church is the body of Christ. It has no earthly headquarters; Christ is the head.

• Christians should live a pure lifestyle, shunning moral perversion and upholding decency and integrity.

• Worship should be pleasing to God, according to New Testament teaching, without additions.

• The Bible affirms the Second Coming of Christ, the end of the world, judgment, and eternity in heaven or hell.

          Doctrinal Commitment:

We are committed to the ideal of the restoration of New Testament Christianity. In seeking to follow apostolic faith and practice, we believe the Scriptures contain a pattern for the church, which determines how we should worship, what we should teach, the service we should provide, and how the congregation should be organized. Using today's terminology, we are a "conservative" church.

Of first importance is that we should be a sincerely loving church family. "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men" (I Thessalonians 3:12). We want this love to show itself in friendship and kindness, in weeping and rejoicing, and in encouraging one another in the Christian life. An attitude of kindness, thoughtfulness, and love should also be shown to those who are outside the church. Our opposition to sin and error should never appear to be arrogant, hateful or uncaring. Every person, both in the church and out, should be respected as a soul for whom Christ died.

There are certain issues, positions and practices, which are often of concern as people come to present-day churches of Christ. The following points are intended to clarify some typical issues. Of course these are not the only issues of importance, but these are some about which people are often concerned. Further explanation on these and other points can be provided as needed.

·         We believe the Bible is the inspired, infallible and inerrant word of God. This includes acceptance of the Genesis account of creation and the rejection of contrary theories, such as macroevolution.

We believe in the amazing grace of God that has provided pardon for our sins through the blood of Jesus. We know we are not perfect as a church or as individuals. We strive to please God to the best of our ability and trust his grace to save us. This is not say that grace covers disobedience, hypocrisy or rebellion, "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin" (I John 1:7).

·         Penitent believers who have been baptized in order to be saved, according to biblical teaching, are recognized as members of the Lord's church.

·         We are committed to fellowship and cooperation with other faithful churches of Christ. At the same time we realize that some congregations are moving away from scriptural practices. We do not endorse participation in questionable activities nor those congregations that sponsor them. At the same time we realize that there are differences in judgment over what is expedient.

·         We believe in cooperation among congregations to support worthy works in evangelism and benevolence, such as homes for needy children (i.e., Southeastern Children's Home).

·         There are five avenues of worship: Singing, praying, giving, preaching, communion. (Communion only on the Lord's Day.) We encourage modest dress and orderly conduct in the worship assembly.

·         Our singing in worship is acapella and congregational. This means that everyone participates equally in our singing together.

·         Only men lead in our worship assemblies. Women teach children and other women and have various other responsibilities in the work of the church.

·         The elders are the overseers of the congregation and, under Christ, have authority to direct the church. The deacons have delegated responsibilities, serving under the elders.

·         The unified true church follows the New Testament pattern. The church of Christ is not a “denomination”, a term which implies divisions. 

·         Anyone who practices immoral conduct has no place in the fellowship of the church.

·         While it is a severe measure, we believe the church should practice corrective discipline even to the point of withdrawing fellowship when necessary.

Human beings differ in their viewpoints and opinions. It is unreasonable to expect that every person's private notions will be in agreement. We recognize, therefore, that there may be differences of opinion, that some may be less informed than others, and that some hold personal issues of conscience. It is expected, however, that such things should not be urged upon others so as to create problems in the church. Our attitude should be: "In matters of faith, unity; in matters of opinion, liberty; and in all