What we believe about...

Missions

International Missions: Christ commands His Church to make disciples of all nations by preaching His gospel, and to establish disciples as strategically multiplying local congregations that extend to support the same work among every language, people and nation in the world.

This command is reflected in Christ Church’s mission: to glorify God by loving God, loving others, and making disciples of all nations. To fulfill this mission, we must work to establish or identify key global partners carrying out the mission in other nations. This term "nations" does not refer to political boundaries but to ethno-linguistic groups with their own distinct identity scattered among all the countries of the earth. This biblical idea of “nations” represents all of the terms from Revelation 5:9: tribe, language, people, and nation.

Local Missions: As a local expression of the body of Christ, we believe that the mission of God calls the Church to be actively engaged in proclaiming the gospel in both word and deed (Matthew 28:18–20; Acts 1:8). In faithfulness to Christ’s command to love our neighbors (Mark 12:31) and to seek the welfare of our city (Jeremiah 29:7), we affirm the importance of partnering with local ministries and organizations that work for the common good, reflect gospel values, and serve the vulnerable and marginalized.

We recognize that no single congregation can fully embody the breadth of Christ’s ministry alone (1 Corinthians 12:12–27). Therefore, we commit to fostering collaborative relationships with like-minded local ministries that align with our primary theological convictions and mission. These partnerships are expressions of the unity of the Church (John 17:21) and a visible witness to the reconciling power of the gospel in our community.

Through these partnerships, we seek to extend the love, mercy, and justice of Christ beyond our walls, equipping and empowering others to experience the transforming grace of God. We want these relationships to not only bear fruit in our city but also bring glory to God as we labor together for His kingdom (Micah 6:8; Matthew 5:16).

Assimilation & Church Membership

We believe in the importance of serving the body of Christ by offering clear paths for people to start and develop healthy and growing relationships with others in the church body. We value an intentional plan to help every interested person enjoy godly relationships in the church. Church membership is a byproduct of people growing in Christ and grasping the importance of serving the Lord by using their gifts to serve others in the local church. We urge all who regularly attend Christ Church to pursue becoming members.

Baptism & Communion

Baptism and communion are the two ordinances required in the church. We believe that Christian baptism by immersion in water is a public identification with Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.

Although baptism is not required for salvation, it is commanded of all believers and is for believers only (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38, 41; Acts 18:8). Scripture shows that a person was baptized after personally receiving forgiveness of sin through putting their faith in Jesus Christ. The waters of baptism symbolize the spiritual reality of our death, burial, and resurrection to newness of life that happens when we become new creations in Christ (Colossians 2:12; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:1-4).

We hold a spiritual presence view of communion. We believe Christ is genuinely present in the Lord’s Supper—though not in the bread and wine themselves—by the Holy Spirit, so that believers truly feed on Him spiritually and receive His grace through faith. Communion is taken using bread and grape juice in our services. Communion should be only taken by those who are faithful followers of Christ, and who have undergone self-examination (Acts 2:41; Romans 6:3-6; 1 Corinthians 11:20-29).

Church Planting

The church exists to glorify God through the fulfillment of the Great Commission and in the spirit of the Great Commandment (Matthew 28:19-20, Matthew 22:37-38). The Great Commission is fulfilled as disciples of Jesus Christ are made and grow in their relationship with Him and likeness to Him. God is glorified as we manifest His presence as we do His work (2 Timothy 2:2; 1 Corinthians 10:31).

In seeking to act upon the church’s purpose, we recognize the extraordinary value in multiplying the reach of His ministry by planting local churches and by associating with existing, like-minded local churches. God is glorified when Christ Church and other like-minded churches associate to foster relationships that edify, protect, encourage, support, and admonish.

Care & Counseling Philosophy

We believe that counseling is an essential ministry of the church and a natural outworking of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20). Life in a fallen world brings both suffering and sin, and every person’s greatest need is the redeeming work of Jesus Christ. We offer care and counsel with compassion and love, pointing people to the hope of the Gospel and the power of God’s Spirit to bring true change.

Our philosophy of care rests on the sufficiency, authority, and relevance of God’s Word. Scripture, applied by the Holy Spirit through the ministry of God’s people, provides all we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Through prayer, encouragement, exhortation, admonition, comfort, and the ministry of presence, we help one another grow in faith, obedience, and love (Colossians 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:14).

The church is uniquely equipped to address the struggles of life that flow from the realities of sin and suffering. Our aim is not merely to solve problems but to lead people to Christ, who alone transforms hearts and produces lasting fruit.

Biblical counseling occurs whenever and wherever God’s people engage in conversations anchored in Scripture, centered on Christ, grounded in sound theology, dependent on prayer, and oriented toward sanctification. Our passion is to walk with one another in love, truth, and grace—helping each other become more like Christ and building up His church in unity (Ephesians 4:15–16).

Creation, Evolution, & God's Sovereignty

We believe God created the universe “ex-nihilo,” meaning literally from nothing, and before He created the universe, nothing except God existed (Genesis 1; Exodus 31:17; Psalm 33:6-9; Acts 17:24; Hebrews 11:3; Colossians 1:16). God chose to create the universe and all that is in it to reveal His glory, divine nature, eternal power, infinite wisdom, and supreme authority (Isaiah 43:7; Psalm 19:1-2; Jeremiah 10:12; Romans 1:20; Revelation 4:11).

In understanding the origins of life and humanity's unique creation, we deny the theory of evolution, which states that nonliving substances gave rise to the first living material, reproduced and diversified to produce all living creatures. We believe that God created Adam and Eve uniquely and fully as His creation's ultimate and culminating act, all to His glory. Humanity is set apart from the rest of creation in that we bear the very image of God (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:7; Genesis 2:21-22; 1 Corinthians 11:8-9). The fall of Adam and Eve infected all people with sin and death, but the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ allowed all to receive God's gift of eternal life (Romans 5:18-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22). God rules over His creation and cares about and is involved in the lives of individual people (Job 12:10; Acts 17:25; Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:13; Ephesians 4:6).

Eternal Security of the Believer

It is God’s divine decision to save a person, and it is God’s kindness, forbearance, and patience that lead that person to repentance (Romans 2:4). All glory for the salvation and security of every believer belongs to God alone (Romans 3:21-31; Ephesians 1:7-9; Ephesians 2:8-9, Jude 1:24-25). We believe that everyone born again by the Spirit through Jesus Christ is eternally assured of salvation from the moment of conversion. This assurance relies on God's decisive grace rather than on the works of the Christian. Obedience, good works, and fruit-bearing do not earn or retain the believer's salvation but indicate the reality of the person's love of Christ and profession of faith (Luke 6:46; John 14:21; James 2:17-18).

Eternal security in salvation relies on the Lord’s guarantee of each believer’s adoption as His son or daughter (Galatians 4:4-7), His seal of the believer by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:13-14), and the conviction that God gives the Holy Spirit to each believer as a down payment toward future bliss in heaven (2 Corinthians 1:21-22). A person who professes genuine faith in Christ immediately becomes His possession (Luke 23:42-43; Acts 2:40-41; Acts 16: 30-34), and nothing can snatch that person out of His hands (John 10:27-29). Having been bought with the price of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion as complete payment for sin, Christians are not their own. They are Christ’s possession (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). This assurance is certain, reserved in heaven, protected by God’s unlimited power (1 Peter 1:4-5).

Process of Sanctification & Maturity

A person committed to a relationship with Christ focuses on knowing Him, worshiping Him, working for Him, and witnessing for Him. A fruit of that walk is continual growth and change to be more like Christ. This is known as progressive sanctification. Sanctification means we are being transformed into the likeness of Christ and growing in our relationship with Him, with the goal of being presented ‘complete in Christ’ (Colossians 1:28). We are committed to multiplying the godly characteristics of leaders’ lives into others (2 Timothy 2:2). This multiplication of ministry is key to the healthy growth of the church. We believe the disciples of Jesus Christ should minister to one another in the local church rather than one or a small number of professional pastors bearing total responsibility to care for the entire congregation. God has given all of His people spiritual gifts to provide mutual ministry in the context of the healthy and strong local church (Ephesians 4:11-12).

Spiritual Warfare

Satan and his demonic servants viciously oppose the work God performs in and through His people

 (1 Peter 5:8; Genesis 3:1-7; Ephesians 6:12). God, who by His nature is infinitely more powerful than Satan, will in due time have complete and total victory over him (1 John 4:4; Revelation 20:1-10). The Scriptures teach the Christian to combat Satan by:

  • Humbly drawing near to God, knowing that He will give grace, mercy, and strength (2 Corinthians 12:7-9; Hebrews 4:15-16; James 4:8; 1 Peter 5:6-10).

  • Resisting Satan’s temptations (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9).

  • Rightly apply the Scriptures' truth (Matthew 4:1-11; John 8:44; Ephesians 4:24-27).

  • Forgiving offenses (2 Corinthians 2:10-11).

  • Putting on the armor of God’s truth, righteousness, readiness to share the Gospel, faith, salvation, and prayer (Ephesians 6:11-20).

  • Demonstrating faithfulness to the Lord by enduring trials (Revelation 2:10; 2:13; 3:9-10).

Inerrancy & Versions of the Bible

We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are God's revelation of Himself to humanity –His very words, given so that we might know Him and His redemptive plan (Titus 1:1-3; John 5:46-47). These 66 books were written by human authors, each using their own style and personality, yet all were inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21). This means that every word of Scripture is literally “God-breathed” and is fully true and without error in the original writings (2 Timothy 3:16). We believe God has faithfully preserved His Word throughout history and that the Scriptures remain enduring, trustworthy, and unchanging (Psalm 119:89-105, 160-176). The Bible is complete and sufficient and stands as the final and supreme authority in all matters of life, doctrine, and godliness (Matthew 5:17-18; Jude 3).

Therefore, Spirit-filled believers who apply themselves to study the Bible in its literal, historical-grammatical context can accurately understand God’s will and the unfolding of His redemptive purposes (Romans 15:4; John 10:35). While most modern translations bring benefit, we believe Bible versions which translate God’s Word more literally into modern English (known as “formal equivalence” or word-for-word) are preferred, such as the NASB, ESV, and NKJV. Versions that are more “functional” or "balanced," such as NLT, NIV, NET, and others, are certainly beneficial and may be a bit more readable. Still, they represent a “thought-for-thought" approach that relies more heavily on the translators' inputs and interpretations. Currently, we use the ESV in our church services and would recommend that version.

Marriage, Gender, & Sexuality

Because humanity bears the image of God, we believe all human life is to be treated with dignity, kindness, and respect (Genesis 1:27). God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. Therefore, rejection of one's biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person. We affirm that the term "marriage" has only one meaning: the one-flesh union of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive covenantal union, as delineated in Scripture (Genesis 2:18-25). The Bible makes clear that sexual intimacy is only between a natural-born man and a natural-born woman who are married to each other (1 Corinthians 6:18; 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4). God has also commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage between a man and a woman. When a person puts their full faith and trust in Jesus for salvation, Scripture makes clear they are a new creation (2 Cor 5:17), and their new identity is in Christ. Therefore, we reject contemporary theological distortions and accommodations that attempt to normalize or affirm homosexuality and transgenderism in the church. The Bible makes clear any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God (Matt 15:18-20; 1 Cor 6:9-10). 

With this, all persons employed by Christ Church in any capacity, including members who serve as volunteers, shall agree to, abide by, and affirm this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality to preserve the church’s witness to its members, the community, and to the world. This is also for the safety of those the church ministers to (Matt 5:16; Phil 2:14-16; 1 Thess 5:22). We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19-21; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 6:9-11). We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31). Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of Christ Church.

Women in Ministry

At Christ Church, we believe that men and women are created in the image of God and are equal in dignity, value, and worth (Genesis 1:26–27). Both are essential to the life, mission, and maturity of the church, and we encourage men and women to use their God-given gifts to build up the body of Christ (Romans 12:4–8; 1 Corinthians 12:4–27).

We hold to a complementarian understanding of church leadership. In God’s design, men and women share equal worth but have distinct, complementary roles (Genesis 2:18–24; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 5:22–33). The Scriptures teach that the office of Elder/Pastor—responsible for shepherding, oversight, and doctrinal authority—is reserved for qualified men (1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9). Scripture also instructs that women not teach or exercise spiritual authority over the gathered congregation of men (1 Timothy 2:11–14).

We joyfully affirm the significant and necessary ministry of women at Christ Church. Women are encouraged to lead, teach, disciple, serve, and steward their gifts in every ministry role not restricted by Scripture (Acts 2:17–18; Romans 16:1–7; Titus 2:3–5; Philippians 4:3). Women play a crucial role in shaping the spiritual life of our church—teaching the Scriptures, leading teams, discipling others, contributing to worship, administration, missions, and more (Ephesians 4:11–16; 1 Peter 4:10–11).

This conviction is not about value or capability but about God’s wise and good design for His church (Galatians 3:28; 1 Peter 3:7). We desire a church where men and women joyfully partner together, fully using their gifts to advance the gospel and make disciples.

Worship

The chief purpose of humanity is to glorify God by loving Him with the entire heart, soul, mind, and might (Deuteronomy 6:5; Isaiah 43:7; Matthew 22:37). All believing men, women, and children are to glorify God and thus fulfill the purpose of their existence. Worship glorifies God through adoration (Psalm 95:6), praise (Psalm 99:5), prayer (Daniel 6:10-11), thanksgiving (Nehemiah 12:46), and a complete yielding to Him (Romans 12:1). Worship declares His worth, pays Him homage, and celebrates Him in a life of devotion. We seek to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth (Exodus 15:1-21; 2 Samuel 6:14-16; Psalm 5:7; John 4:23-24; Revelation 4:11; 5:12).

Several tenets guide our worship. We seek to:

  • Lift high the name of Jesus Christ (John 4:22-26; John 12:32; John 14:6).

  • Lead God’s people to lift their hearts and voices to Him, giving Him praise and thanks in music and lyrics (Nehemiah 12:45-46; Psalm 66:1-4; Psalm 95:1-2).

  • Prepare hearts to hear the Lord speak through the proclamation of Scripture (Psalm 95:6-9; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42).

  • Emphasize fresh and contemporary expressions while retaining traditional elements that recognize the richness of our heritage in the faith (Deuteronomy 32:7; Psalm 33:3; Isaiah 46:8-9; Ephesians 5:19; Revelation 5:9).

  • Pursue excellence in worship, knowing that God is worthy of our best (Exodus 12; Deuteronomy 17:1; Psalm 33:3; 1 Timothy 4:14-15; Hebrews 11:4).

Expression of Spiritual Gifts

We believe the Holy Spirit equips every believer with spiritual gifts to build up the church and advance the Gospel (1 Corinthians 12:7; Ephesians 4:11–13; 1 Peter 4:10–11). These gifts, given by grace, are for service, unity, and love—not personal status (Romans 12:3–8; 1 Corinthians 13).

While believers differ on whether certain gifts have ceased, we see no clear biblical basis for cessation. The Spirit distributes gifts as He wills (Hebrews 2:4). Gifts such as tongues, healing, miracles, and prophecy were expressed in a more normative way in the apostolic age and often served to confirm the gospel message (2 Corinthians 12:12). While the church has to be careful to avoid misuse, we believe God still grants them for a variety of purposes.   

All gifts—whether expressive or ordinary—must be practiced with humility, love, and under biblical authority (Romans 12:6–8; 1 Corinthians 12:8–10, 28–30; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 4:10–11). The authenticity and usefulness of all gifts need to be carefully assessed in community. They must align with Scripture and serve to edify (1 Corinthians 14:1, 3, 12, 26, 33, 40; 1 Thessalonians 5:19–21; 2 Timothy 3:16–17).

Our aim is to be a Spirit-filled, Scripture-anchored church that uses the gifts Christ provides for His glory and the good of His people.