Statement of Faith and Values
Statement of Faith
- I believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. I believe that it was uniquely, verbally and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and that it was written without error (inerrant) in the original manuscripts. It is the supreme and final authority in all matters on which it speaks.
- I believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- I believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
- I believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
- I believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
- I believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
- I believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of my beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that I believe.
Marriage as Designed by God
I believe that the institution of marriage is a sacred covenant designed by God to model the love of Christ for His people and to serve both the public and private good as the basic building block of human civilization. Marriage is intended by God to be a thriving, lifelong relationship between a man and a woman, never between the same sex, enduring through trials, sickness, financial crises and emotional stresses.
I believe God hates divorce. Therefore, reconciliation of a marriage should be encouraged and divorce discouraged. I also believe that God allows for divorce in certain situations, not because He wills it, but because of the hardness of people’s hearts. I believe the Bible teaches that God allows for divorce in the case of adultery and in the case where an unbelieving spouse has chosen to abandon the commitment of marriage.