Our Beliefs

Any attempt to set down the beliefs of the churches of Christ must begin with the explanation that since we have no official creed or confession, individual Christians might honestly differ on what should be included in such a summary. With this in mind, the following are some common convictions.

The Lord God is Creator, Redeemer, and Father of all humanity. Jesus Christ is God's only Son and the Savior of mankind. The Holy Spirit is God's guide to truth and is the Comforter of Christians, in each of whom He dwells.

Sin is universal, but not hereditary. Each human being is accountable to God for his/her sin. The death, burial and resurrection of Christ is the only remedy for sin. The salvation thus made possible for all humanity comes as a result of God's grace and not human merit. In order for a person to be saved, he/she must believe that Jesus is the Christ, and must act on that belief by confessing it in a public way, repenting of past sins, and being baptized for the forgiveness of sins. Such baptism is by immersion in water, symbolizing Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.

Believers individually are known as saints, brothers and sisters in Christ, disciples, or simply Christians. Believers collectively are referred to as the household/family of God, a royal priesthood, or the body of Christ.

Individual congregations of Christians are autonomous, but the unity of all Christians is of utmost importance. Congregations are led by men variously called elders, bishops, pastors, or shepherds. These men are primarily concerned with the spiritual well-being of the members. Other leaders are called deacons. They give special attention to the congregation’s physical needs. Most congregations have a minister/preacher/evangelist whose main function is preaching and teaching.

Christian worship includes prayer, a capella congregational singing, the reading and preaching of Scripture, financial contribution to support the work of the church, and the weekly observance of the Lord's Supper. All Christians are to be active participants in worship and functioning members of the body of Christ, each one using his/her God-given talents to the fullest.

Christians are to lead holy, upright lives with regard to their families, their vocations, their sexuality, and their personal relationship with Christians and non-Christians alike. Christians are to respect human political institutions and pray for political leaders, while recognizing ultimate loyalty belongs to God.

On a number of important moral questions such as capital punishment or military service, individual beliefs vary. Whatever specific decisions are made, however, the general obligation to love one's neighbor must be fulfilled; for the love of neighbor is second in importance only to the love of God. Indeed, such love is to be the basis of all Christian living.

The world in which we now live will one day pass away when Christ returns and the final judgment occurs. God will create a new heaven and a new earth in which His saints will live to praise Him forever.