We believe a local church is a number of persons of a locality (Acts 8:1) voluntarily united (Hebrews 10:25) because of a common nature (2 Corinthians 5:17) and interest (Philippians 1:5), and voluntarily (Romans 12:1) situated in an organization (Romans 12:4-8) devised by Christ to represent Him on earth (Matthew 18:17-18; Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 1:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:20), whose operations—government (Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 6:4; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; 5:17), teaching (1 Timothy 4:6; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Titus 2:1), discipline (Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 6:4), and methods (2 Corinthians 10:4)—bring greater glory to God (1 Corinthians 10:31; 2 Corinthians 9:13) by producing greater Christ-likeness in its members (Ephesians 4:11-16), greater good works by its members (John 13:35, 14:12; Ephesians 2:10; Hebrews 10:24), and a greater number of converts (Acts 2:46- 47) than could be obtained by individualistic efforts (Romans 14:7). Its Purpose We believe the purpose of a local church is to glorify God (Romans 15:6; 1 Corinthians 6:20; Colossians 3:17; 1 Peter 4:11; Revelation 15:4) through evangelization—preaching the gospel of salvation to reconcile the willing to God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 16:15; Luke 4:18- 19; Romans 10:15; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Galatians 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 2:4; 2 Thessalonians 2: 14; 2 Timothy 1:10); edification—improving the mind in knowledge, morals, faith, and holiness to prepare the willing for Christ’s use on earth (Romans 12:2, 14:19; 1 Corinthians 14:12, 26b; 2 Corinthians 12:19; Ephesians 4:11-12, 4:16, 4:23; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; 2 Timothy 2:21); and ministration—ministering one to another within the church to unify the members, and to those outside the church to demonstrate the truth of the Gospel (John 10:37; 2 Corinthians 9:13; Galatians 6:10; Titus 2:14, 3:8a, 3:14; Hebrews 6:10, 13:1, 16; James 2:17; 1 Peter 2:12, 3:8). Its Commission We believe God has commissioned believers (Matthew 28:18-20), as ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20), to individually, corporately, aggressively, and sacrificially proclaim the gospel (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8) to all nations (Luke 24:45-48) so that there will be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 7:9- 10). Its Government We believe that local churches have authority from God to administer the order, discipline, and worship which Christ has appointed; and that its officers are bishops (pastors) and deacons (Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1, 8, 5:17; 1 Peter 5:1). Its Independence We believe local churches may fellowship and cooperate with one another in contending for the faith and furtherance of the Gospel when such efforts are wholly in accordance with the Bible and do not organizationally link them together (2 Corinthians 8:1-4); that local churches may take advantage of the knowledge and expertise of other entities in order to excel in their endeavors (Philippians 1:9- 10a) if they are not organizationally linked together (2 Corinthians 6:14); and that, as organizations authorized by God for their existence (Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 10:32; 1 Thessalonians 1:1), local churches may not submit themselves to other powers for their right to exist. Its Ordinances We believe Christ commanded the local church to keep two ordinances (1 Corinthians 11:2), baptism (Matthew 28:19) and the Lord’s supper (1 Corinthians 1:23-25); and that neither has inherent power to change the participants so as to make them acceptable to God (Ephesians 2:8-9). Baptism—We believe Christian baptism is the immersion of a professing believer in water (Mark 1:9- 10) in the name of the Triune God (Matthew 28:19); that Christ set the example for believers to follow Him in it (Mark 1:9); that He had His disciples perform it (John 4:1-2), that its fundamental meaning is willing identification of the believer with the message of the Gospel and the person of the Savior (Romans 6:3-5; Acts 8:36-38); that the early church considered it important (Acts 2:41, 8:12-13, 10: 47-48a); that it is a foundational doctrine (Hebrews 6:1-2) symbolizing important theological truths (Romans 6:1-10; Galatians 3:27; 1 Peter 3:21); and that believers who were baptized as unbelievers should be re-baptized (Acts 19:1-5). Lord’s Supper—We believe the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ as a memorial (1 Corinthians 11:24); that it proclaims His crucified body and shed blood (1 Corinthians 11:26); that it is an assurance of His return (Matthew 26:29; 1 Corinthians 11:26); that it is a time of fellowship restricted to Christ and His people (1 Corinthians 10:21); that there is no prescribed frequency for conducting it (1 Corinthians 11:25); that unrepentant believers under church discipline are excluded from participating in it (1 Corinthians 5:11-13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 11-15); and that it should be taken only after careful self-examination of one’s walk with Christ (1 Corinthians 11:27-31). Its Support Routine Support—We believe churches are to be routinely supported by the tithes and offerings of their members (Acts 4:36-37; 1 Timothy 6:17-19) and by such other lawful means as opportunity and wisdom permits (Matthew 17:27; Acts 20:34); that gifts are to be made as unto the Lord without consideration of material reward (Matthew 6:19-21) or worldly recognition (Matthew 6:1-4); that church members have a solemn obligation to support their church, especially the Pastor (1 Timothy 5: 17-18); that all rights to direct the use of the gift are relinquished once it has been made (Acts 4:35); that—because: (1) it is unethical to receive the benefits a local church provides without contributing to the support of its operations (Jeremiah 22:13; 1 Corinthians 9:9-13), (2) the precedent of the tithe occurred before the law was given (Genesis 14:18-20), (3) the tithe was the minimum established by God to support the operations of the temple when He founded the nation Israel (Deuteronomy 12:5- 6), (4) no New Testament passage nullifies the precedent of the tithe or establishes a different amount for the support of the local church, (5) church members, as children of God who live not under the law but under grace, ought to exceed the requirements of the law (Matthew 5:20; Luke 6:38),—the most biblical answer to the question, “How much should I give to support the operations of my church?” is, “At least a tithe of your gross income.” Special Support—We believe churches may voluntarily engage in special projects requiring them to solicit support above the amount necessary for routine operations (2 Corinthians 8:1-4); that the administration of special projects requires particular care (2 Corinthians 8:20-21); that those who are given the opportunity to participate in special projects are free to refuse to participate or, if they choose to participate, are free to determine the extent of their participation (2 Corinthians 9:7a); that those who participate in special projects are to perform their commitment (2 Corinthians 8:11) willingly and cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7), knowing that a special promise attaches to such giving (2 Corinthians 9:8) and that they are following the lead of their Savior in a special way (2 Corinthians 8: 9). |
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701 Kossuth Avenue Utica, NY 13501 Paul Bannister II, Pastor 315/732-2091 info@lighthousebaptistutica.com |
Lighthouse Baptist Church, Utica, NY
| Spreading the message of Christ in Utica and the Valley since 1996 |
