Statement of Faith Update

November 22, 2023

“Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”1

We are blessed to be part of a brotherhood that holds God’s Word in the highest regard and seeks to apply it daily in our individual lives and as a church. Our guiding principles include such biblical themes as “We believe the Bible is true, timeless, and inspired by God,” and “We, as a church, contend for the teachings of Jesus Christ and his Word.” Similarly, “We seek to be like Jesus in thought, action, and character, and to live the entire counsel of his Word.”2 The third pillar of our church mission calls us to preserve sound doctrine by “contending for the faith.” We are instructed to teach sound doctrine, rightly dividing the word of truth, so that the church remains the pillar and ground of truth.3 The Statement of Faith is a primary way by which we communicate and teach what we believe.

In 2020, the Elder Body began a process to review and update this important statement of our church’s beliefs. This was prompted by input and encouragement received from the brotherhood during the development of our purpose, vision, and guiding principles. We approach this with humility, recognizing that past and present efforts are those of humans. In meekness we recognize the need to refine and update the Statement of Faith with the same humble spirit in which our church leaders developed and updated this document through its various forms from the 1800s to the present. In the same spirit, we continue to hold in high regard the wisdom and importance of such weighty declarations of belief.

Given the importance of this document, a deliberate, biblically based approach has been taken that has involved the entire Elder Body, our ministers, and other brothers and sisters who have offered insights and suggestions. After many forum and conference discussions, drafting, editing, and review, we hope to finalize the updated version at the August 2024 elder conference.

The motivation and vision for such an effort is rooted in a desire to rightly divide the Word of truth and to preach and teach with clarity and doctrinal integrity.4 We are guided by the biblical principle of teaching the whole counsel of God, emphasizing the weightier matters and not neglecting any aspect of God’s Word.5 This has prompted thinking about each segment of the current document to clearly state foundational (core) doctrines and beliefs as well as biblical principles that guide application. It is our hope that the Statement of Faith will be used not only as a helpful guide for new believers, but also as part of our daily lives, as we have experienced with our purpose, vision, and guiding principles.

This comprehensive review has been a blessing as we considered the depth and impact of our beliefs. It has further increased our appreciation for the prior work and given us the opportunity to affirm those things which we hold to be true. The essence of the current Statement of Faith has been retained with some helpful additions and reordering. For example, where it became clear that additional emphasis would be beneficial, phrases were reworded and added to address important biblical themes—such as our need for the grace of God—more directly and completely. Some of the statements are being grouped in a fashion that flows in a more foundational and teachable order.

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We recognize that language is always changing, so we have adjusted some of the wording to make it clearer. For instance, we now use “Holy Spirit” instead of “Holy Ghost” because it is more common today and less likely to be misunderstood. Similarly, we use “mankind” in place of “man” to clarify the particular use of the word to mean all people, and we use “sin” instead of “transgression” to make the language more understandable for today’s readers.

We noted the wide range of potential readers, including those who may be new to our church, or even the gospel. This recognition drove a few edits to make the language warmer and more inviting. For example, we added “It is God’s desire that all will be saved,”6 to the biblical truth that “Both the saved and the lost will be resurrected: the saved unto eternal life and the lost unto damnation.”

In some cases, we have reordered sentences to emphasize the main truth while not losing an important related aspect of it. In the teaching about the assurance of salvation and the possibility of forfeiting it due to our free will, we now start with our belief that God’s gift of eternal life and assurance of salvation is a present possession of every true believer. We follow this with the accompanying truth that it can be forsaken and consequently forfeited.

We spent a lot of time thinking through which statements might be thought of as core doctrines—those essential elements of our faith that every believer affirms—and which are biblical teachings and principles. Some of these teachings may not be as explicit as others but are clearly biblical and to be applied diligently in every time and generation. We see the benefit of separating them for clarity and appropriate emphasis, and we also see the wisdom of keeping them together as we seek to follow the whole counsel of God. After much input and consideration, we have reached a settled and peaceful agreement to segment the various statements into the following categories within the overall Statement of Faith: 1) What We Believe, 2) How We Live, and 3) Role of the Church. Many of the statements will be linked to key elements of our purpose, vision, mission, guiding principles, and practices to help enrich our understanding and application of these important aspects of our walk of faith and as a church body.

The input and counsel received from across the brotherhood has been an invaluable and important part of this process. We are grateful for the many prayers that have been offered for the Holy Spirit’s direction throughout this process and trust that he will continue to guide us as a church as we reflect his love, grace, and truth in our lives.

1 1 Tim. 4:1
2 Guiding Principles B, G, & H
3 1 Tim. 3:15, 2 Tim. 2:15
4 2 Tim. 2:25
5 Acts 20:27
6 1 Tim. 2:4

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Alway thankful

October 21, 2026

As we approach the end of fall and the harvest season, we often focus our attention on Thanksgiving Day. We are fortunate to live in a land that recognizes the need to pause and give thanks to our great God for the many blessings he bestows upon us. However, the Bible calls us to be thankful in all times and circumstances – not just once a year. “O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good.” [i] “In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” [ii] These two verses are similar and yet can be interpreted differently if quoted in isolation. Thanking God for his goodness seems an easy commandment to obey; however, some circumstances are more difficult to appreciate. Giving thanks or being thankful is referenced over one hundred times in scripture. And naturally it can seem easier to give thanks when circumstances are pleasing. It is easier to thank God when a loved one repents. It is easier to thank him when we are sitting in church, listening to his Word, worshipping in song, surrounded by faithful believers. It is easier to recite 1 Thess. 5:18 when the trials of life are light and well-spaced. But what happens when life is not going well, circumstances seem impossible, or difficulties seem to pile up? Can we have thankful posture in dire situations or through sad experiences? It is clear in the Bible that by God’s grace and with intentional effort, we can have a thankful spirit and respect toward God even when the load is heavy. Scriptures in Job provide an excellent Old Testament example. After hearing a series of devastating reports about his family and possessions, Job was able to say “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” [iii] After being struck with sore boils from the sole of his foot to his crown and having been ridiculed by his wife for retaining his integrity, Job said “Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” [iv] Job did not minimize the pain of the evil he was experiencing, but in the midst of the devastation he focused his attention on the goodness and faithfulness of God. Likewise, the disciples in the New Testament were often faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles as they spread the Word of God. Yet they looked upon their afflictions as a privilege. After being beaten and commanded to not speak in the name of Jesus, “They departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” [v] At the same time, when Stephen was stoned, they grieved deeply at the devastating loss, yet trusted in God’s grace and goodness to see them through and somehow redeem the worst of circumstances. -----------------CONTINUED PORTION BELOW-------------------- Remembering the Lord's graciousness and track record of bringing good out of evil can help us maintain a thankful heart despite the challenges we face. Whether amidst hard circumstances or easy, we can focus on the goodness and faithfulness of God. Without intentional focus, we can tend to overlook gratitude when life is good because the very simple and basic needs of life are so easily realized. An abundance of material blessings can lead us to take basic needs for granted. However, being grounded in a thankful spirit can help carry us when sometimes things do not seem abundant. Simple disciplines or practices can help us foster this thankful spirit. Taking the time to pause and write a list of all we have received from God, giving him thanks for his goodness can help us turn from an entitled mindset toward a thankful mindset. Remembering God's goodness can be especially helpful when life is hard. The practice of gratitude journaling helps us remain focused on God above all during these overwhelming times. Beyond the physical needs that can be so easy to count, he also provides many spiritual blessings. In time of need, he provides us with an abundance of grace that gives us love we do not deserve and helps us serve him in ways far beyond what we could do of our own ability. God’s wisdom and his compassion assure us that he will provide for all our needs, and yet he will also withhold what is harmful if we will allow him to do so. He knows our needs and in his infinite wisdom he will supply all our needs. A practice of worshipping God can also help grow our spiritual life and encourage grateful hearts. God’s truths can be engraved into our minds as we sing and praise him, no matter the circumstances. In addition, our church body encourages us to connect, travel, and grow together as believers, helping one another during both joyous and hard times in life. This spiritual connection with others is a spiritual blessing that can easily be forgotten. Finally, many of us have been born into families where we were taught the truth of God’s Word, being exposed since we were young to the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ and the knowledge of our great and loving God whom we can call Father. This thankful spirit is often born out of knowing the Father, whose image we carry. Having a clear vision and understanding of God’s character and attributes can help us develop a thankful spirit. Among the many reasons to thank God are his power, his grace, and his mercy. We thank him for the love he showed when he sent his only begotten son, allowing us to have forgiveness of our sins and victory over death through repentance, confession, and faith in his name. He provides his Word, giving us a perfect source of wisdom and direction for our lives. His Holy Spirit provides believers with comfort, conviction, and guidance toward all truth. In addition, there are many other attributes of God to consider such as his goodness, presence, sustenance, protection, and many more. The implications for our lives of the many attributes in this list, which could be much longer, are beyond human comprehension but worth contemplating more deeply as we practice a life of gratitude. Whether you are in a joyous time of life or a time when life is difficult, may the remembrance of these many truths provide a new understanding to the Scripture’s challenge to, “In every thing, give thanks.” [vi] May this Thanksgiving holiday remind you of our great and good God, the loving sacrifice of Jesus, and the faithful presence of the Holy Spirit who has come to guide us not only in the good, but also in the difficult of life. And may this testimony of thankfulness greatly affect our own lives and the lives of those around us. [i] Psalm 107:1 [ii] I Thess. 5:18 [iii] Job 1:21 [iv] Job 2:10 [v] Acts 5:41 [vi] I Thess. 5:18