The Church consists of those of every race, every land and every age who have been chosen by God the Father before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4), purchased by Christ’s blood (Acts 20:28; Eph. 2:13; 5:25; Heb. 9:12; 1 Pet. 1:18-19), united in one body in Christ (1 Cor. 12:12-31; Eph. 1:22-23; 2:11-22), and sanctified by the Holy Spirit (1 Pet. 1:2).
The Church consists of those of every race, every land and every age who have been chosen by God the Father before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4), purchased by Christ’s blood (Acts 20:28; Eph. 2:13; 5:25; Heb. 9:12; 1 Pet. 1:18-19), united in one body in Christ (1 Cor. 12:12-31; Eph. 1:22-23; 2:11-22), and sanctified by the Holy Spirit (1 Pet. 1:2). The Church is not a building or organization, but the company of those who have received the Holy Spirit by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:9; Acts 11:17), or those who have been born again of God’s Spirit (John 3:5-8). We affirm that the Church is God’s chosen instrument for working out His divine plans and purposes for the world and for the elect.
The Pillar All believers are members of the same Body (1 Cor. 12:4-27; Eph. 1:23; 5:30; Col. 1:24); and, therefore, individually members of one another (Rom. 12:5). We constitute together the people of God, called out to be a chosen race, a royal priesthood and a holy nation (1 Pet. 2:9-10). We are sheep of the same flock (Heb. 13:20; Acts 20:28). We are citizens of the same kingdom (Phil.3:20; Heb. 11:16, 12:28; Rev. 21:2-3; Eph. 2:19). We belong to the same family or household (Eph. 2:19; Gal. 6:10; Heb. 10:21). Fulfilling the implications of this relationship involves regular fellowship with the brethren in a local church (Acts 2:42-47; Heb. 10:24; 1 John 1:3,7), caring for one another (Gal. 6:10; 1 John 3:16,17), accepting the family discipline (1 Cor. 5:12-13; Heb. 13:17), maintaining spiritual unity (Eph. 4:2-3; Phil. 2:1-2), and even offering together the spiritual sacrifices of our spiritual priesthood which are acceptable to God by Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 2:5)—e.g. praise (Heb. 13:15), thanksgiving (Ps. 50:14, 107:22), prayer (Ps. 141:2), the dedication of our bodies to Him by living pure and consecrated lives (Rom. 12:1; 1 Cor. 8:1-5, 9:6-14), doing good, sharing what we have with others (Heb. 13:16) and giving to the work of the local church. The local church is God’s tool for bringing His people to maturity in Christ (Eph. 4:11-13). For this reason, the local church is not to be despised by the Christian (1 Cor. 11:22). Every believer must heed the instruction not to neglect meeting together (Heb. 10:25), and must even strive to excel in building up the local church (1 Cor. 14:12). The church is a loving community that thrives in an atmosphere that allows personal interaction, which God can use to address physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. By close association with one another, Christian love is able to find the positive and practical expression it needs (John 13:35). Moreover, through church membership, we are able to disciple one another, strengthen one another (Luke 22:32), restore one another when we fall (Gal. 6:1), bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2), and exercise our spiritual gifts to the benefit of our brethren (1 Cor. 12:24-28).
The Practice
Dynamics of Church Life: a. Proclaiming the Gospel of Christ The purpose the Lord Jesus Christ had for the Church from the beginning was the preaching of repentance and forgiveness of sins in His name to all nations (Luke 24: 47; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8). Christians are to declare the wonderful deeds of Him who has called them out of darkness into His marvelous light by a careful and complete explanation of the saving Gospel of Christ, and by displaying the genuine change which their conversion has produced in their lives (1 Pet. 2:9). The local church is the means of sounding forth the Word of the Lord in the area where she is located (1 Thess. 1:1, 8). Hence, it is hoped that the corporate life of the church would provide a powerful testimony to the community so that she can be used in calling the elect unto salvation and adding to the number of His people (Acts 2:42-47). b. Preserving the Purity of the Gospel The faithfully taught local church is one means God uses to preserve the pure teaching and preaching of the Gospel (2 Tim. 2:2). The church will therefore make a conscious effort to avoid the temptation of padding our messages with stories, anecdotes, and clever outlines in place of solid Biblical content with deep substance and sound doctrine. c. Studying the Scriptures The Bible alone is able to give believers the wisdom that leads to salvation, and adequately equip them for every good work (2 Tim. 3:15-17). Thus, believers are commanded to meditate on Scripture day and night (Josh. 1:8; Ps. 1:2); to let it fill their hearts and lives at all times (Col.3:16; Deut.6:6-9); to study it diligently and handle it rightly (2 Tim. 2:15). The members of the Church must endeavor to grow in their knowledge of God’s Word. By doing so, they will develop discernment and therefore be enabled to also fulfill their duty of preserving the purity of the Gospel. d. Fellowshipping with the Saints Because of the fellowship they share with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ (1 John 1:3- 4; 1 Cor. 1:9), the members of the church participate in a common life characterized by devotion to the work of the Gospel, sacrificial service to one another and a love for holiness. It is expressed in the following ways:
Confessing sins to one another (James 5:16)
Forgiving one another (2 Cor. 2:6-8; Col.3:13)
Bearing one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2)
Loving one another (1 John 4:7; 1 Pet. 1:22)
Encouraging one another (1 Thess. 4:18, 5:11)
Building up one another (Rom. 14:19; 1 Thess.5:11)
Admonishing one another (Rom. 15:14; Col.3:16)
Praying for one another (James 5:16)
This is all made possible by the grace of God, the saving work of Christ and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. e. Maturing of Disciples The work of the church is to make disciples of every individual who has come to a saving knowledge of Christ. Through their membership in the discipleship cells, we shall teach them to observe all that Christ has commanded (Matt. 28:20), so that they may be brought to full maturity as members of Christ’s Body (Col. 1:28). Furthermore, the church shall endeavor to train and equip them to disciple and reproduce themselves in the lives of others.
f. Exercising of Spiritual Gifts The church will encourage and create avenues for the exercise of spiritual gifts among her members (1 Pet. 4:10). God has endowed believers with spiritual gifts for the glory of God and for the building up of the Church. Hence, it will be to the benefit of the church to assist each member in discovering, affirming, honing and exercising his spiritual gifts — i.e., speaking and serving gifts (1 Pet. 4:11). The church’s or each member’s failure to do so may eventually hurt the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12). g. Relating to Leadership The flock of God gathers together under the leadership of the under-shepherds whom the Chief Shepherd (Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 2:25), Jesus Christ, has appointed (1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11-12). God designed the church with positions of leadership that are to be filled by Biblically qualified men and women who are called to establish order, and tasked to steer the church in the direction that God has called her to take (1 Tim. 3; Titus 1:6-9). Our members must recognize the leaders God has raised up, and accord them the proper respect, love, submission, and support (Heb.13:7, 17; 1 Thess.5:12-13; 1 Tim. 5:17). h. Confronting One Another in Love Indeed, it is a common misconception that Christ-like love never confronts nor admonishes an individual of his sin and error. The Bible tells us that confronting someone with the truth is actually one of the fullest ways we express our love for the brethren (Prov. 27:5-6). (It is hoped that those confronted will be open and humble to accept correction when necessary.) This is the Biblical way of fostering and preserving unity in, and maintaining the purity of, the church and the Gospel, as sin and unresolved conflict are primary obstacles to these (Matt. 18:15-17). The church shall endeavor to establish an atmosphere conducive to Biblical confrontation as we believe that this will exalt Christ. i. Submitting to Church Discipline As the church endeavors to establish and maintain the practice of Biblical holiness, it is likely that some of her members will fall into serious error and sin. The objectives of the discipline are threefold: to bring the person to genuine repentance and full restoration as a member of the church; to protect the Body of Christ from infection by warning the members to avoid evil; and to keep the demarcation line between the world and the church wide unmistakable. The church shall undertake the discipline of her members out of a heart of love and concern (Matt. 18:15-17; 1 Cor. 5; Rom. 16:17-18; 1 Tim. 1: 20, 5:19-20; Titus 3:10-11). j. Praying in the Church Prayer is a major and permanent fixture in the church. Through the exercise of prayer, the Holy Spirit empowers, sanctifies and sustains the church in the face of various challenges. The members must be encouraged not to pray merely for their personal needs, but to commit themselves to pray for the church’s concerns (Eph. 6:18; 2 Thess. 3:1; Col. 4:12), for all men without distinction of race, nationality, or social position (1 Tim. 2:1-2), for governments and rulers (1 Tim. 2:2), and for missionaries or workers laboring in the field (Rom. 15:30-31; 2 Cor. 1:11). These prayers must be led by the Holy Spirit, who will allow us to pray with a Biblical perspective (Eph. 6:18; Jude 20). The church encourages the practice of private prayer (e.g., through a regular and daily period of communion with God) and corporate prayer (e.g., during Sunday services, discipleship cell meetings, prayer meetings and retreats). k. Obedience to the Ordinances Ordinances are practices in the New Testament that are to be observed by the church, everywhere she exists, until the Lord Jesus returns. They are permanent and trans-cultural. Jesus has ordained that the church baptize believers and observe the Lord’s Supper. We emphasize however that neither ordinance has any saving merit, nor is any grace imparted in the mere physical act of being immersed in water in baptism, or partaking of the bread and the cup of the Lord’s Supper. Baptism: This ordinance uses water as the visible external sign, to the believers being baptized, of God’s invisible operation within him: his union with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection (Rom. 6:3; Col. 2:12); his being clothed with Him (Gal.3:27); the forgiveness of his sins (Mark 1:4; Acts 22:16); his regeneration (Tituss 3:5-6); and his giving up of himself to God through Jesus Christ to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4-5). The Lord’s Supper: The Lord’s Supper enables the church to fulfill Christ’s command to remember His death and its meaning (1 Cor. 11:23-26). The church shall carefully observe this ordinance with our duly-recognized members as a vital part of fellowship (Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 10:16-17). l. Preserving Unity The common life Christians have in Christ brings a common care for unity (Phil. 2:1-2). Hence, no effort is to be spared to hold fast to the bonds of love, peace, and unity, which the Holy Spirit has established (Eph. 4:2,3). This will require the members to manifest the qualities of hopefulness (1 Cor. 13:7), graciousness and humility (Eph. 4:31-32; Col. 3:12-15), prayerfulness, mutual submission (Eph. 5:21), servanthood (Phil. 2:7); and to involve themselves in the church’s activities and programs. Such unity however must not be preserved at the expense of Biblical or doctrinal truth. m. Giving to the Church Giving is an act of worship in response to God’s saving grace and goodness. Moreover, giving affirms our understanding that everything we possess truly belongs to God and that we are mere stewards who will someday give an account to Him. The church must especially ensure that the financial needs of her workers are met so that they can devote all their time and labors to the work of the ministry (1 Cor. 9:6-14; Gal. 6:6; 1 Tim. 5:17-18). We are to teach and encourage our members to give:
Willingly and cheerfully, not grudgingly or as a result of pressure (2 Cor. 8:12; 9:7)
Joyfully (2 Cor. 8:1-2)
Thoughtfully (2 Cor. 9:7)
With a perfect or pure heart (1 Chr. 29:17)
Mercifully (Ps. 37:21)
Unselfishly (2 Cor. 8:13-24)
Generously (Rom. 12:8; 2 Cor. 9:6,12)
Sacrificially (2 Cor. 8:2-3; Luke 21:1-4)
Secretly—not necessarily anonymously, but not to flaunt the act of giving to others (Matt. 6:1, 3-4)
Systematically (2 Cor. 9:5,7)
Proportionately (2 Cor. 8:12) and
Regularly (1 Cor. 16:2)
While we affirm that the New Testament does not explicitly command believers to give the tithe (10% of their gross income), we do urge our members to view this percentage as the starting point of their giving. The amount given to the church may, of course, be increased as the Lord prospers, or as He leads the giver. It is also up to each individual member to prayerfully apportion his offerings among the duly-recognized vocational pastors and ministers and the general fund of the church. n. Awaiting Christ’s Return The return of Christ and the presentation of the Church to Him as His bride is the ultimate end in view of this church. The members of Christ’s body must always be reminded that Christ loves the Church and that He will demonstrate that love before the enemies of the Church (Rev. 3:9; 2 Thess. 1:5-10). No matter how hopeless the situation for the Church may seem to be, the Bible tells us that she shall ultimately triumph and the powers of hell will not prevail against her (Matt. 16:18). In the end, the Church will be gathered from every part of the earth, with none of the elect missed, at Christ’s return (Matt. 24:31; Mark 13:27; Luke 21:28). The Church’s destiny is to be presented glorious before Him at the last (Eph. 5:27)—spotless, holy, and blameless (2 Cor. 11:2; Rev. 21:2; Eph. 5:25-27). The promise of Christ’s return thus provides an impetus to the believers’ holiness and devotion to Christ (1 John 3:2-3; 2 Pet. 3:10-14).
The Parameters
Leadership in the Church must not degenerate into authoritarianism (1 Pet. 5:2-4).
Duly-recognized leaders must affirm the exercise of spiritual gifts and all ministerial functions. Every member desiring to serve must have met the Biblical requirements set by the church before embarking on any official ministry.
While we encourage the members to exercise their spiritual gifts for the edification of the body, the duly-recognized leadership of the church maintains the right and responsibility to suspend any of her workers from active ministry duty when the situation warrants it. This procedure will be carried out in accordance with principles taught in Scripture (e.g., Matt. 18:15-17; 1 Tim. 5:19-20).
Confronting brethren in love must not be based on perceived attitudes or motives but on actual observable conduct and/or speech explicitly forbidden in Scripture. Believers must not confront on the basis of mere preference or even a principle inferred from Scripture. Believers must likewise refrain from judging the contents of another’s heart (Rom. 14:4; 1 Cor. 4:5).
As we strive for unity, we must be careful not to confuse this with uniformity. We recognize our unity with the universal body of believers in Christ, and we do not stand as separatists or isolationists by design. Yet we shall endeavor not to obscure or compromise our critical doctrinal views for the sake of organizational unity (Jude 3-4; 2 Tim. 1:13-15; Titus 1:9).