STATEMENT OF FAITH
AUTHORITY OF STATEMENT OF FAITH
The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final
source of all that we believe. We do believe, however, that this statement of faith accurately
represents the teachings of the Bible and, therefore, is binding upon all members, staff, and
volunteers. All literature, whether print or electronic, used in the church shall be in complete
agreement with this statement of faith. All activities permitted or performed in any facilities owned,
rented, or leased by this church, or engaged in by any member of the church staff (volunteer or paid),
and all decisions of the administration of this church shall not conflict with the statement of faith. In
all conflicts regarding interpretation of the statement of faith, the pastor and church council, on
behalf of the church, have the final authority.
STATEMENT OF FAITH
A. Beliefs on Doctrine.
We believe in God who is revealed in the Holy Bible both in the new and old testaments. He is one
God existing in three separate yet equal persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe the Bible is
God’s written word. We believe the church is made up of all those who by faith have placed their trust
in Jesus Christ and that each believer should exercise faithful attendance and service to the church.
B. Additional Religious Beliefs
1. Marriage and Sexuality
a. We believe that the term “marriage” has only one legitimate meaning, and that is marriage
sanctioned by God, which joins one man and one woman in a single, covenantal union as
delineated by Scripture. Marriage ceremonies performed in any facility or space owned,
leased, or rented by this church will be only those ceremonies sanctioned by God, joining
one man with one woman as their genders were determined by anatomy at birth (and not
subject to change). Whenever there is a conflict between the church’s position and any
new legal standard for marriage, the church’s statement of faith, doctrines, and biblical
positions will govern. (Gen. 2:24; Eph. 5:22-23; Mark 10:6-9; I Cor. 7:1-9)
b. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside
of marriage as defined in (a) above. We believe that any other type of sexual activity, identity,
or expression that lies outside of this definition of marriage, including those that are becoming
more accepted in the culture and the courts, are contradictory to God’s natural design and
purpose for sexual activity. (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1: 26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9-
10; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)
c. We believe that God creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, unchangeable
genders together reflect the image and nature of God, and the rejection of one's biological
gender is a rejection of the image of God within that person. (Genesis 1:26-27)
2. Divorce and Remarriage
We believe that God disapproves of and forbids divorce except in cases of adultery. Although
divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the
church and be greatly used of God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the
offices of pastor or church council member, unless approved by the Church Council. (Mal.
2:14-17; Matt. 19:3-12; Mark 10:11-12; Rom. 7:1-3; I Tim. 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6; I Cor. 7:10-16)
3. Sanctity of Life
a. We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living
human being. Abortion is murder and constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of
unborn human life knowingly or intentionally. (Job 3:16; Ps. 51:5; 139:13-16; Isa. 44:24;
49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:36, 44)
b. We believe that an intentional act or omission that facilitates premature death, is
assuming a decision that is to be reserved for God. We do not believe that discontinuing
medical procedures that are extraordinary or disproportionate to the expected outcome
is euthanasia. (Ex. 20:13; 23:7; Matt. 5:21; Acts 17:28)
4. Love
We believe that we should demonstrate love for others, not only toward fellow believers, but
also toward those who are not believers, those who oppose us, and those who engage in sinful
actions. We are to deal graciously, humbly, gently, and patiently with those who oppose us.
God forbids the stirring up of strife, the taking of revenge, or the threat or use of violence as
a means of resolving personal conflict or obtaining personal justice. Although God commands
us to abhor sinful actions, we are to love and pray for any person who engages in such actions.
(Lev. 19:18; Matt. 5:44-48; Luke 6:31; John 13:34-35; Rom. 12:9-10; 17-21; 13:8-10; Phil. 2:2-
4; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; Titus 3:2; I Peter 3:8-9; 1 John 3:17-18)
5. Lawsuits within the Church.
We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits within the church. We
do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another
Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander. (1
Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32)
6. Protection of Children.
We believe that children are from the Lord and must be absolutely protected within the
church from any form of abuse or molestation. The church has zero tolerance for any person,
whether paid staff, volunteer, member, or visitor, who abuses or molests a child. (Ps. 127:3-
5; Matt. 18:6, 19:14; Mark 10:14)
7. Oak Chapel affirms its long-standing commitment to full opportunity for women to be
ordained to the ministry and to serve in any and all ministry and to serve in any and all
ministerial and leadership capacities. Where scriptural passages are unclear, they must be
interpreted in light of clear passages. Therefore, we believe that the overarching scriptural
message affirms this belief in full.