What We Believe at PCC

WHAT WE BELIEVE

We believe in one God who is the Father and Creator of all things; in the Holy Spirit as both the person and agency in conversion and indweller of the believer’s life; and in Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God and the world’s only Savior. We accept the miracles of the Virgin Birth and the bodily resurrection to be true.

We hold to the Bible as God’s inspired, inerrant, Holy Word, and the sole guide for the Christian life. Where the Bible speaks, we speak, where it is silent, we are silent. (II TIMOTHY 3:16-17 & HEBREWS 4:12-13)

We believe in Jesus Christ as the only “creed” prescribed in the Bible for our adherence. Thus, we do not consider man made creeds necessary or sufficient. (MATTHEW 16:16, ACTS 4:12 & 8:36, HEBREWS 13:8 & I JOHN 5:1)

We believe that it is important to use Bible names for Bible things, in order to transfer God's intent with accuracy (i.e. we call sin, sin, not an alternate choice; a baby in the womb is a baby, not a fetus). Thus, we call ourselves Christians only, but do not consider ourselves to be the only Christians). We name our meeting place, “Christian Church,” because we are called simply “Christians” in God's word, (LUKE 1:41-44, ACTS 11:26, I PETER 4:16, ROMANS 16:16, I CORINTHIANS 1:2 & EPHESIANS 5:23-24)

We believe the forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life are available to those who submit to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Jesus wants all people to believe in their hearts, repent of sin, confess their faith in Him, be baptized into Him, and be His disciple. (JOHN 3:3-21, MATTHEW 28:18-20, ROMANS 10:8-10, II PETER 3:9)

WHAT WE PRACTICE

BAPTISM by immersion of believers into Christ as commanded – as was practiced by the church of the New Testament, for the remission of sins and the reception of the Holy Spirit; for the putting on of Christ; and as the personal obedient act of the humble believer receiving God’s saving grace. Also serving as the believers union and identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. (MATTHEW 28:18-20, ACTS 8:12 through ACTS 22:16, ACTS 2:38, GALATIANS 3:27, ROMANS 6:1-14, COLOSSIANS 2:12, TITUS 3:5, I PETER 3:21)

THE LORD’S SUPPER as an observance for any and all who belong to Jesus. We believe the elements or emblems are symbolic of Christ’s broken body and shed blood and serve as a memorial of His sacrifice and as a communion with Him. We practice an open communion, inviting all who believe in Christ to share with us. (LUKE 22:19, I CORINTHIANS 11:23-30, ACTS 20:7 & ACTS 2:42)

“PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS” - We recognize no special class known as the clergy, believing all should be involved in the work and ministry of the church. (MATTHEW 23:8-12, EPHESIANS 4:7-13, I PETER 2:9, ROMANS 12:1-8, I CORINTHIANS 12 & HEBREWS 10:19-25)

POLITY OF THE CHURCH - The church is congregational and independent in local church government. The polity of the church is functional, governed by elders, locally selected, and served by deacons with the approval of the congregation. Since this pattern makes no allowance for a headquarters or hierarchical system of outside government, the local congregation is free and self-governing under Christ. (I TIMOTHY 3:1-13, HEBREWS 13:7, I PETER 5:2-3, ACTS 6:1-6 & 15:22 ff)

TITHES AND OFFERINGS - We support the church in its mission and ministry to all peoples by our tithes and offerings. That mission should be as Jesus modeled it; to the total person, to the moral, intellectual, and physical needs of people. We give freely, without formal commitment. (MATTHEW 25:31-45, JAMES 1:27 & 2:14-26, I CORINTHIANS 9:7-14 & 16:2, II CORINTHIANS 9:6-10, GALATIANS 6:6-10, ACTS 20:35, 2:42-47)