STATEMENT OF BELIEFS
(Adopted 05/25/2023)
SALEM COMMUNITY CHURCH operates in accordance with the following Christian beliefs. Because these beliefs are foundational to our ministry (Matthew 7:24), everyone involved in our ministry is expected to act in a manner that promotes and supports these beliefs.
There is only One True God revealed in three persons … Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (commonly known as the Trinity). We Believe in one Almighty, Holy God who is the Creator of all things. We believe that Jesus is the Christ who is the only true Son of God. We believe in the Holy Spirit who lives within us. We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth and sinless life, and in the sin pardoning value of Christ’s bloodshed and death on the cross, His bodily resurrection from the tomb, His ascension to glory, and His personal and visible return to Earth. The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation and provides guidance in doing what is right.
Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4, 33:27; Isaiah 44:6, 45:22, 46:9-10, 48:16; Matthew 1:22-23, 5:38, 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:4; Colossians 1:16-19, 2:9-10; 1 John 5:8, Luke 1:37; Ephesians 1:9-11, 13-14
Bible
The Bible is God’s gift to us. We value the Bible as God’s authoritative Word, study it together, and build our lives on its truth. We believe the original writings of the Old and New Testaments are fully inspired by God and are completely trustworthy and authentic. We believe God has faithfully preserved His Word throughout all generations. It is our ultimate written source of truth for Christian beliefs and living.
2 Timothy 3:16-17, 4:4; Luke 24:27; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 5:18; 1 Corinthians 2:13-16; Psalm 119:105, 160
Salvation
Every day we turn away from God in any number of ways to pursue what we think is best. This turning away from God’s plan for our lives is what the Bible calls sin — missing the goal or falling short — and results in a void that can only be filled by God through faith in his Son, Jesus Christ. We believe that faith in Jesus results in personal salvation and is a free gift from God brought to us by His grace. Everyone must personally accept this gift of grace through confession of sin, repentance (turning away from sin and toward God), and committing to live our lives for Christ. The gift is free, but salvation will change the way we have been living. Jesus said in Luke 9:23 – If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. Denying ourselves and following God’s way is hard but the rewards are beyond description — God’s forgiveness of our sins, the gift of God’s Holy Spirit living in us, a peace that the world cannot provide and heaven as a reward for following God on earth.
Luke 9:23, 13-5; Romans 5:8, 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-10, 4:22-24, John 1:12, 5:24, 10:27-30; Galatians 5:16-23; 1 John 8-10; John 14:6; Romans 3:23, 5:12, 10:9; Acts 17:30
Marriage & Family
Marriage was instituted by God as a loving, committed, covenant relationship between a man, a woman, and Himself. For this reason, the Church must resist all attempts to alter marriage from what the Bible has revealed about it. The purpose of marriage is companionship between a man and a woman in permanent relationship. The marriage relationship reflects the relationship between Christ and His Church. It is out of the marriage relationship that God intended for children to be produced and nurtured.
As such, ministers serving Salem Church, classified with the authority to conduct weddings, shall only participate in weddings and solemnize marriages between one genetic, biological man and one genetic, biological woman. Facilities and properties owned and used by Salem Church shall only host weddings between one genetic, biological man and one genetic, biological woman.
Mark 10:8, Matthew 19:1-10; Genesis 2:18-24
Human Sexuality
We believe that God has wonderfully created each person as male or female. These two distinct and complementary genders together reflect the design of God. We believe that rejection of one’s biological gender is denying God’s perfectly created design within that person. We believe that God intended for sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other, as described in Scripture at the beginning; any other form of sexual activity is sinful and contrary to God’s good design for marriage and the family. As a church, we require that pastors, teachers or individuals in leadership roles affirm and adhere to these Biblical values regarding human sexuality.
Genesis 1:26-27, 2:18-24; Psalm 139:14; Matthew 15:18-20, 19:4; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 6:9-10, 18, 7:2-4; Hebrews 13:4; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Timothy 1:9-10; Revelations 22:15
Church
We believe that the church is made up of all people who trust and worship Jesus. The purpose of the church is to glorify God by loving Him and carrying out His work. The church allows followers to worship, fellowship, study, pray, and be a witness in this world for Jesus Christ.
Matthew 16:18, 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27; John 16:7; Acts 1:8, 2:1-14, & 47, 5:23-25; Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:11-16; Romans 16:5
Eternity
We believe people were created to exist forever — either eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is to be condemned and separated from God’s love. To be eternally in union with him is eternal life. Eternal life begins the moment one receives the free gift of Jesus Christ into their life by faith.
Matthew 25:46
Baptism and Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion)
We believe the Bible clearly teaches that followers of Christ be baptized by water as a symbolic act of their commitment to Christ. We believe the symbolic nature of baptism allows for it to be done by sprinkling, pouring or immersion.
We believe the Lord’s Supper should be practiced regularly by followers of Christ. We believe the bread symbolizes the body of Christ and the juice symbolizes the blood of Christ.
We believe that both the Lord’s Supper and baptism are holy sacraments of obedience and expressions of our love for Christ. The Lord’s Supper is open to all believers who have examined themselves before taking communion and asked for forgiveness.
1 Corinthians 11:23-34; Matthew 26:26-29, 28:19; Acts 2:41, 8:31-38
Spiritual Gifts
We believe God gives every believer at least one spiritual gift that, along with a person’s passion and natural abilities, allow followers of Christ to effectively serve others and share the message of Jesus in our communities and the world.
1 Corinthians 12:7
Tithing and Giving
Believers are called to use their resources (time, ability, finances) as faithful stewards and a matter of obedience to God.
Matthew 23:23, Genesis 28:20-22; Proverbs 3:9, Luke 6:38
Eternal Security, Free Will, and Social Issues
We believe God made mankind to have a free will to follow God and receive Jesus as their Savior or to reject God and follow their own desires. The decision to follow Jesus is made by each individual. Obedience to God’s Word and a desire to please God characterizes the life of every Christian. The goals for every believer are to love God and love others as they grow in faith. Those who trust in Jesus for the payment of their sins are forgiven and receive eternal life.
We believe the Bible addresses many of the social issues and ills of our contemporary society. We believe God’s Plan and His spoken Word as recorded in the Bible are for all times and all generations.
Psalm 54:6, 119:1-8; Ephesians 1:5; Galatians 5:1; Proverbs 16:9; Joshua 24:15; Hebrews 11:6; Luke 16:14-17; Deuteronomy 11:18-21; Matthew 5:17-22, 15:1-9, 23:2-4,13-15