WHAT WE BELIEVE
THE LIFEPOINTE STATEMENT OF FAITH summarizes our beliefs as a church. Our theology is not innovative—anyone familiar with historic Christian doctrine will find that these statements fall in the center of evangelical theology (“evangelical” means theology derived from the evangel, or the Gospel; in other words, it is Biblical theology rather than speculative theology or theology rooted in tradition). We try not to be dogmatic about matters on which Bible-based believers have held divergent views. We want our core beliefs to be centered in Christ and His message as found in and supported by the clearest passages of Scripture. More obscure doctrine or teachings with less support are left to individuals to sort out on their own - we take no official position in these areas.
Words to Live By
THE FOLLOWING PAGES contain our Statement of Faith and Statement of Doctrinal Application. A few explanatory comments have been added to clarify and help apply these vital doctrines. As you read these statements, you will see they are rich with spiritual truth. Do not try to hurry through these pages, but read them slowly and thoughtfully. Ask yourself throughout, “What difference does this truth make in my life? If I did not know or believe this, would it matter?”
LifePointe Church Statement of Faith
The Bible
THE SOLE BASIS OF OUR BELIEF IS THE BIBLE composed of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe that Scripture, in its entirety, originated with God and that it was given through the instrumentality of chosen men. Scripture, thus at one and the same time, speaks with the authority of God and reflects the backgrounds, styles, and vocabularies of the human authors. We hold that the Scriptures are infallible and inerrant in the original manuscripts. They are the unique, full and final authority on all matters of faith and practice, and there are no other writings similarly inspired by God.
COMMENTS: Human reason is a powerful tool, but it is distorted by our finite and often self-centered perspective. Reason alone cannot figure out the meaning to life and cannot comprehend who God is beyond the simple awareness that He exists. If we are to have a relationship with God, we cannot get through our limitations to reach Him; He will have to break through and get to us. The Bible is the written summary of His attempts to do that. But the Bible is not just a record of His word; it is the Word of God in written form. It is revelation - truth expressed not by means of humans groping in the dark for the right way to say it, but truth given by God Himself as He “carried people along” in their writing. Their message was and is His message. Because God cannot lie, this written Word is completely reliable, so we must let it judge us instead of us judging it. Though other books, both modern and ancient, may contain helpful spiritual truth, no other writings are “God-breathed” in the way the Bible is - truth is mixed with error everywhere except in the Bible. That is why we base our beliefs on its teaching and submit all our thoughts and plans to its scrutiny.
SOME PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
We endeavor to regularly read and study the Bible, privately and publicly, to understand its message. We reject claims that any human or ecclesiastical intermediary is necessary for us to know and relate to God - we have His Word, and we are each individually responsible to learn what it says. All aspects of our life and conduct must be submitted to what the Bible teaches about that area - we must obey what we discover God has commanded. Messages given by LifePointe teachers must provide teaching supported by Scripture. We do not accept doctrines, no matter what is claimed as their source, if they do not square with what the Bible says; supposed “modern prophets”, “new revelation”, or any message - even if apparently given miraculously - must be tested by the Bible.
God
WE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ONE TRUE, HOLY GOD, eternally existing in three persons—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—each of Whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality. In the beginning, God created out of nothing the world and all the things therein, thus manifesting the glory of His power, wisdom, and goodness. By His sovereign power, He continues to sustain His creation. By His providence, He is operating throughout history to fulfill His redemptive purposes, all without compromising man’s free will.
COMMENTS: The Bible begins with the phrase, “In the beginning, God…” God has always existed - His nature and being are eternal. We also learn about God from His revelation to us that three distinct “persons” are called God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Because the Bible clearly teaches there is only one God (not three Gods), we understand that these three persons must fully share the one and only divine nature. We use the term “Trinity” as a label for the teaching that God has a singular nature but a plural personality. This creative God desired to share the “community” that always existed within Him, so He made a universe that would reflect His attributes. All that He created is dependent on Him - He made it out of nothing, keeps it together, can reshape it, and is Master over it. God crowned His creation with man and woman, fashioned in His personal image, with whom He could have a relationship, and who could relate to each other. They would reflect His nature by exhibiting unity in the presence of diversity, love in the midst of differences, ruling while remaining submissive - all at the same time. God has been involved in the affairs of His creation from the very beginning, and continues to play an active role in relating to mankind, specifically in rescuing us from our rejection of His love and His legitimate right to be glorified as our Creator.
SOME PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Knowing God is our highest priority - substituting any activity or allowing any passion to become stronger is idolatry. We treat creation as something wonderful that God has made; we neither abuse it, nor worship it; we seek to cultivate all that God has shared with us so it can be used to further His purposes, treating it as a stewardship from Him which must be preserved without becoming more important than the people He made to enjoy it. We cannot agree with any teacher or religious group which rejects God’s revelation of Himself as Trinity (as is common among most “cult” groups). We can count on God to be active throughout our lifetime; He will bring us good things, and He will turn evil things into some good; He works in our lives so we develop a vital relationship with Him based on deep trust that supersedes all other loyalties.
Salvation
THE CENTRAL PURPOSE OF GOD’S REVELATION in Scripture is to call all people into fellowship with Himself. Originally created to have fellowship with God, man defied God, choosing to go his independent way, and thus was alienated from God and suffered the corruption of his nature, rendering him unable to please God. The fall took place at the beginning of human history, and all individuals since have suffered these consequences and are thus in need of the saving grace of God. The salvation of mankind is, then, wholly a work of God’s free grace, not the result, in whole or in part, of human works or goodness, and must be personally appropriated by repentance and faith. When God has begun a saving work in the heart of any person, He gives assurance in His Word that He will continue performing it until the day of its full consummation.
COMMENTS: The common myth that humankind is basically good is not supported by the Bible. We were originally created good, but the first man and woman rebuffed God’s rightful place in their lives, so we are all now infected with the disease called “sin” and are spiritually separated from God. This condition is without remedy through any human effort. If God had left us to ourselves, all of us would continue in disobedience and rejection of Him. The good news is that He has provided a way out of our dilemma through the death of Jesus Christ, which paid the penalty for our sins. Those who personally appropriate the forgiveness that God offers will be restored to a right relationship with Him. This new life is a gift; it cannot be earned by our activities nor revoked by our failures - what God begins, He finishes. We live with the undeserved promise that the change He’s begun in His followers is only the beginning of a total transformation that culminates when we are taken into His very presence to live forever.
SOME PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Our message to seekers contains the call to turn from fruitless attempts to earn God’s favor and to cast themselves, without reservation, on the perfect and reliable provision of God in Christ. We live secure in the knowledge that the Christian life we live is a “thank you” to God for the salvation He has fully and completely provided; we neither think our obedience “enhances” His provision for us (as if we could add something to the death of Christ) or treat His grace in a cavalier way (as an excuse to live sinfully). Knowing we are all sinful, we will never naively assume we are immune to temptation or evil; though confident of being rescued from the penalty of sin, we prudently conduct our lives mindful of sin’s ongoing potential to misdirect us.
Jesus Christ
JESUS CHRIST IS THE ETERNAL SECOND PERSON OF THE TRINITY who was united forever with a true human nature by a miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father and voluntarily atoned for the sins of all by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone. He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died. He ascended into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of the Father, where He, the only Mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own. He shall come again to earth, personally and visibly, to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.
COMMENTS: Jesus is “the God-Man” who is unlike any person who has or ever will live. He is not part divine, part human - He is fully both; all of God dwelt in Him, and His humanity was complete. His birth evidences his humanity in that He was born in the normal way from a human mother, yet His divinity is established by virtue of the fact His mother was a virgin who conceived miraculously. In His humanity, He experienced every human limitation except sin; He was like us in every way except that He never disobeyed His heavenly Father. In His divinity, He was coequal with His Father and the Holy Spirit from all eternity. His death did not end His existence, but after He had paid for our sin on the cross, He arose from the dead on the third day. His resurrection not only shows His complete provision for sin’s effects; it also serves as a prototype of our future resurrection when our bodies will be remade in the same way to live in eternity. Jesus continues to possess both full humanity (though glorified) and full divinity. He is our ongoing mediator between us and the Father, ever mindful of our needs, always concerned for our well-being. His final words on earth included the promise to return to earth visibly and bodily for the purpose of consummating history.
SOME PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
We are Christians (not merely “Godians”) because our message is about Christ—His work, His divinity, and our need to follow Him; any message that does not center on Christ, including His full humanity and divinity as well as His forgiveness for all sin, is not the Gospel. Because our salvation was secured by a perfect sacrifice of a perfect person, we live knowing that we are totally and unconditionally forgiven from sin now, rather than hoping we will be forgiven at some future point; we are secure in the grace of God through Christ. Knowing that Jesus will return some day, we hold on loosely to the things of this world, counting on the new heavens and earth to be our permanent home.
The Christian Life (The Holy Spirit)
THE ESSENTIAL ACCOMPANIMENT of a genuine saving relationship with Jesus Christ is a life of holiness and obedience, attained by believers as they submit to the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity. He was sent into the world by the Father and the Son to apply to mankind the saving work of Christ. He enlightens the minds of sinners, awakens in them recognition of their need for a Savior and regenerates them. At the point of salvation, He permanently indwells every believer to become the source of assurance, strength and wisdom, and uniquely endows each believer with gifts for the upbuilding of the body. The Holy Spirit guides believers in understanding and applying the Scripture. His power and control are appropriated by faith, making it possible for the believer to lead a life of Christ-like character and to bear fruit to the glory of the Father. He makes available the resource of a spiritual language to every believer for edification, transcendent prayer, and authentic worship. He also equips believers with spiritual gifts, or spiritual endowments that supernaturally support His plan in the earth.
COMMENTS: The Holy Spirit is God, not just a force. Scripture describes Him with personal pronouns and reveals He has personal attributes. He works “behind the scenes” to prepare people to hear the Gospel and then applies the merits of Christ to them at the point of regeneration. Jesus promised the Spirit’s presence to all His followers, assuring us He would actually indwell us in a permanent union. His ministry in us includes: helping us understand the Bible, making us aware of things we do that do not please God, assuring us we are God’s children, empowering us for witness, gifting us to uniquely serve others in the church, helping our prayer life through interceding for us, and producing in us the kind of character that makes us credible, persuasive representatives of Jesus Christ.
SOME PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
As saved people, we are continually striving to be more like the One who saved us; we are not content just to be forgiven; we want to exemplify Christ-like behavior in every area of life - we will never give up the fight to resist sin and be like Him in word and deed. The Christian life is more than just “being good” - we need the Holy Spirit to bear His fruit in us; therefore, our daily lives must be yielded to the Spirit in a moment-by-moment surrender or our self-improvement efforts will be useless. When we share Christ with others, the message we present is effectual, not because of our superior reasoning or irresistible presentation, but because of the Spirit being free to work through us and in the heart of the person we are talking to; therefore, we depend ultimately on His invisible activity through our limited understanding of what will reach the person. Because the Spirit is resident in us, we will listen for His promptings, anticipating He wants to direct us and will do so if we are open to Him.
Human Destiny
DEATH SEALS THE ETERNAL DESTINYof each person. For all mankind, there will be a resurrection of the body into the spiritual world and a judgment that will determine the fate of each individual. Unbelievers will be separated from God into condemnation. God’s judgment will reveal His justice in consigning them to perpetuate in eternal retribution their own rejection of God. Believers will be received into eternal communion with God and will be rewarded for works done in this life.
COMMENTS: There are no “second chances” after we die. Our relationship to God for eternity is set by how we respond to Him in this life. God has not only saved our souls, but (as He did for Jesus) God is going to resurrect our bodies in a form that will be suited to the environment of the eternal life we will inherit. The only hope for spending eternity with God will be to claim the merits of Christ. Any attempt to hold out one’s good deeds as sufficient for God’s approval will discover that those behaviors were not enough, and that one’s misconduct was far more serious than anticipated (now that it is brought into the searing light of a holy God). Because we are made in God’s image and have the mark of his handiwork on us, He does not destroy us after we die - He is the God of the living, “for all live to Him,” said Jesus. Rather, He fixes our eternal condition based on our life preferences: heaven and hell are simply the fulfillment of our spiritual aspirations as manifested in life. If we welcomed His presence and cooperated with Him in our earthly life, He is pleased to continue that relationship for all eternity. If, on the other hand, we looked for ways to avoid Him and sought to live in behavior He condemned, He will allow us to continue unbothered by His presence and commands forever. Hell is God’s provision for those who have longed for Him to stop interfering with their plans and who wish He would leave them alone. There, they will be “protected from God” forever, while those in heaven, whose highest delight in life was God, will be able to enjoy forever the One who gave them pleasure on earth.
SOME PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
We reject the teaching of reincarnation - we must make good choices with the one life we have and urge others not to count on some later incarnation to work out their problems. Knowing that our eternity is infinitely longer and more significant than our 70 or so years on earth, we order our lives here so that they take into account this eternal perspective; we choose our activities and priorities based on God’s pleasure, recognizing that His approval supersedes every other consideration. Though we know good works cannot earn heaven, we are taught that our obedience pleases God and will be rewarded; we serve Him diligently, not only because it brings Him glory, but because He has assured us the future age will make all earthly difficulties fade by comparison. The message of the Gospel brings life to those who would perish eternally without Christ; we therefore seek to present His saving message publicly and privately as often as we can (being sensitive to our listeners’ needs as well as communicating naturally through our own evangelistic “style”). As we relate to people throughout life, we see them as the “eternal beings” that they are and accord them due respect; we have never related to an “average” person - everyone matters to God and deserves to be treated lovingly.
The Church
THE COROLLARY OF UNION with Jesus Christ is that all believers become members of His body, the Church. There is one true Church universal, comprised of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Scripture commands believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, the teaching of the Word, the observance of Baptism and Communion as the sacramentarian ordinances established by Jesus Christ, fellowship, service to the body through the development and use of talents and gifts, and outreach to the world. Wherever God’s people meet regularly in obedience to this command, there is the local expression of the church. Under the watchcare of elders and other supportive leadership, its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the one ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ.
COMMENTS: The Church is first and foremost an organism, not an organization. It is the living body of Christ, made up of all people everywhere who are His followers. It is not defined by the limits of any particular denomination but includes all true believers. The local expression of this body is found wherever His children gather in His name. Scripture describes some of the activities of a church, but it is Christ in our midst that makes us His church, not anything we do.
SOME PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Non-Christians can belong to an organization, but making us members of the Church is something Christ does; our Participating Membership system recognizes this invisible work of Christ as distinct from the flexible, human-controlled membership in a local fellowship. We are an interdenominational church, emphasizing that all true believers are one with Christ and each other, regardless of denominational background. Every gathering of believers is a gathering of the Church; every small group is, in fact, the Church meeting together in its smallest unit. All believers must have opportunities to learn about and develop their spiritual gifts; we structure our ministry to implement this value so that everyone can participate in some aspect of the church based on their passion and surrender to Christ. Disunity hurts the body of Christ and His cause. We guard our unity and diligently seek to honestly confront and work through differences in God honoring ways that both respect the individual (made in God’s image) and preserve the oneness in Christ we need to manifest.
Faith and Practice
SCRIPTURE IS THE FINAL AUTHORITY in all matters of faith and practice. This church recognizes that it cannot bind the conscience of individual members in areas where Scripture is silent. Rather, each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord, to whom he or she alone is ultimately responsible.
COMMENTS: Truth is found in the Scriptures - but truth is not found ONLY in the Scriptures. The Bible is sufficient for our spiritual lives, but many other beneficial things can be learned through other means. We embrace whatever we can learn from whatever legitimate source, always passing it through the discerning grid of God’s unerring Word. What Scripture teaches, we embrace. Beyond that, no person, organization, or writings have authority to dictate our beliefs.
SOME PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
No person ever has the right to dictate the beliefs of another person; we submit to God’s authority through His Word—it stands over and judges all of us, including our leaders. We do not take stands on controversial issues about which the Bible is silent; individuals are left to their own conscience before the Lord rather than depending on the church to tell them what to think or do.
LifePointe Church
STATEMENT OF DOCTRINAL APPLICATION
Beliefs are not worth much unless they are translated into actions. Based on what the Bible teaches, we feel very strongly about the following seven practices:
“The Just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17
The Bible teaches that every Christian should have a lifestyle of faith. We accept the Bible’s teaching that while God is Sovereign, He has given man free will to choose to believe and receive what He has promised. Rather than “trusting” whatever happens as being God’s will expressed, we firmly trust what God has said in His Word knowing, “According to your faith be it done unto you.” This faith is not simply for an event, but a lifestyle attitude that permeates every area of the believer’s relationship with God! (For further insight and study, receive “Winning Through a Lifestyle of Faith” audiocassette series).
“…and they all began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:4
We believe that speaking in a spiritual language is available to every believer and is beneficial in multiple and various ways. We accept Paul’s admonition to be sensitive to the unbeliever and the unlearned by either giving a full explanation of our expression or by speaking quietly whereas not to scare or threaten the seeker or inexperienced person. Services that are geared for the unbeliever are Sunday morning worship services. In our believers’ services, which are in the evenings, we allow and encourage a full expression and display of charismatic gifts without a concern due to the nature of the services. (For further study about spiritual languages, receive the book, The Beauty of a Spiritual Language by Jack Hayford).
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15
It is the responsibility of every Christian to share the Good News with those with whom God brings us into contact. We practice personal sharing about Christ and inviting friends to church.
“Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses.” Matthew 8:17
Healing is for the physical ills of the human body and is wrought by the power of God through prayer of faith, and/or by the laying on of hands and/or by the supernatural gifts of the Spirit. It is provided for in the atonement of Christ, and is the privilege of every member of the Church today. (For further study and answers to why some do not receive their healing, consider the “Winning Through a Lifestyle of Faith” audiocassette series).
“This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day and night; that thou mayest observe to do according to everything that is written therein. For then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and thou shalt have good success.” Joshua 1:8
It is God’s ultimate desire for all of His children to enjoy success, prosperity (defined as growing or increasing rather than a numerical destination) and blessing. Though all of God’s manifold blessings are conditional, it is His desire that we grow into fully mature stewards of all that He entrusts us with. The goal of this blessing is for influence and entrance into the unbelievers’ world, reaching them for Christ. We do not judge or accept people based on their position of life economically. We do recognize and “remember the Lord thy God who gives you the power to get wealth so that He may establish His covenant in the earth (Deuteronomy 8:16).” While the end of God’s provision is abundant, the focus of our responsibility is retaining personal and physiological health, and fulfilling our purpose on earth. All prosperity is established through the spiritual disciplines of frugality, sacrifice, stewardship and provision given for complete surrender to Christ - and offsets unhealthy spending and narcissistic tendencies that many people have developed over time.
“In the last days…I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh…and your daughters shall prophesy.” Acts 2:17-18
We strongly embrace the Scriptures’ admonition towards all gifts, including women’s, being utilized in our local body. Our desire is to yield to the best gifts and graces whether they are treasures in males, females or children. A much longer study cannot be contained in this short area. (For further study, consider the resource, Can Women Teach? by Charles Trombly).
“Christ is the head of His Body, the church. He is the source of the Body’s life...” Col. 1:18 (GN)
Christ is the recognized head of our church, not any person, group, or religious organization. While recognizing the value of associating and cooperating with other groups of Christians, we believe every local church should be self-governing and independent from any denominational control. In relating to any potential “daughter churches” that we sponsor, we encourage each congregation to determine its own strategy, structure, and style.
We believe these Statements of Faith and Doctrinal Application to be an accurate summary of what Scripture teaches. All members shall refrain from advocating doctrines that are not included in the Statement of Faith and/or Doctrinal Application in such a way as to cause dissension.
COMMENTS: We believe what is said in this Statement of Faith and Doctrinal Application is not teaching of our own design, but an accurate reflection of the Bible’s main theme; true for all people, at all time, and in every place. This final statement simply asks that everyone in our fellowship agree that, even if they have differing opinions, there be no divisiveness.
SOME PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
We are free to express our own opinions among our brothers and sisters but we do not want to ever harm the church by gathering a following around ourselves (or an interpretation of a controversial issue) to create a splinter-group. We value the well-being of Christ’s body above our desire for self-expression. Though no authority has a right to police our thoughts, we agree not to speak with unwarranted conviction when our opinions pertain to nonbiblical matters or when our views differ from this Statement of Faith or Statement of Doctrinal Application.
