| Status of Topics Touching the Message of Salvation | | Chapter 1: Restatement of Doctrinal Statement |
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Article X THE GREAT COMMISSION
1 The Call to Evangelism We believe that all Christians, who have been saved by faith in Jesus Christ, are explicitly commanded to do the work of an evangelist (2nd Timothy 4:5), proclaiming the gospel message as ambassadors and witnesses to the world, and that this is our primary purpose in this world from now to the moment of our death (Matthew 4:19; Mark 1:17; John 4:35; Acts 1:8; 2nd Corinthians 5:18-20).
2 The Method of Evangelism We believe that the primary New Testament model for the spread of the gospel is discipleship and multiplication, committing the message of the gospel to faithful men who will be able to teach others also (2nd Timothy 2:2, Matthew 28:18-19; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48).
We note that seed that falls on shallow soil springs up immediately because it has no root, but that the very cause of its rapid growth is also the cause for its sure and certain collapse (Matthew 13:1-6, 20-21). Not surprisingly, we note that, throughout church history, doctrinally shallow "revivals" and church growth movements have started with a bang and ended with a whimper, invariably sliding downhill into works-based religions, secularism, corrupt doctrine, or empty churches. These lessons of history bear stark witness to the truth of Jesus' teachings. For seed to grow at a sustainable rate, it must have sufficient root to grow to maturity and sprout seed. Similarly, we believe that, for church growth to be meaningful and sustainable, new believers must be nurtured and discipled to a maturity of faith wherein they can multiply themselves by evangelizing and discipling another generation of believers. When a church is disproportionately focused on increasing its membership roles at the expense of imparting Christian doctrine and a knowledge of the gospel, each successive generation of "converts" becomes progressively less skilled in the Word, and more disposed to doctrinal confusion and error (Eph. 4:14). It is transparently obvious that when "converts" are not discipled, such "growth" is not sustainable, and that true conversion will rapidly give way to false professions, outward piety and religion among a growing number of adherents. Seed that cannot develop roots eventually dries up and withers in the sunlight.
We do not believe that one becomes a "Christian leader" by conducting "leadership training seminars," imagining themselves to impart to others skills which they themselves lack. Neither does one become a "Christian leader" by simply by securing a position of authority within a church, such as a committee chairperson or "team-leader." Neither does one become a Christian leader by securing a position of visibility within the church, such as performing in front of the assembly with the "drama team" or the "worship team." We believe that Christian leaders are, first and foremost, men and women capable of skillfully handling the Word of God, and of imparting this skill to others (2nd Timothy 2:2).
To this end, we believe that an ongoing program of evangelism and church growth can only take place in an environment where Christian leaders are developed at a rate equivalent to the evangelism of new believers. Accordingly, we believe that an evangelistic program should be fueled by discipleship and multiplication. This is not only evidenced by Scripture and common sense, but also by the mathematics of exponential growth and multiplication.
3 The Market Driven Church
Because the lost, as well as immature believers are, as a rule far more intent on satisfying their baser needs than feeding on the pure words of eternal life (John 6:26-27, 67-69), we note that they are particularly susceptible to those who would prey upon their immaturity. We note that many of today's "mega-churches" are pastored by men with little or no formal theological training, no apparent knowledge of Bible doctrine (1st Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:7), and who are therefore incapable of discipling men and women to any real maturity in Christ. Without a real knowledge of Scripture, such "pastors" can appeal only to the baser needs of lost sheep and young believers, with messages of hope, prosperity, and simple formulas for "success," or by pastoral cheerleading, cultivating an ongoing sense of anticipation, excitement, or purpose about what God is "doing" in their midst based simply on increasing numbers in weekly attendance or building construction programs. Not surprisingly, the congregants of the Market Driven Church, when questioned about their testimony of Christ, far too often demonstrate the lack of even a rudimentary understanding of the gospel.
We further note that a disproportionate percent of those having any theological maturity within the Market Driven Church came to a knowledge and a maturity in Christ somewhere else. By failing to disciple congregants into Christian leaders of sound doctrine at the rate proportional to its growth in raw numbers, the Market Driven Church can only sustain itself nominally within the framework of evangelicalism by siphoning mature believers from other church backgrounds. As a consequence, the Market Driven Church of the late 20th and 21st century consumes more than it produces. Any entity that consumes more than it produces is, by definition, bankrupt.
We believe that men who pastor great congregations while being devoid of knowledge of the gospel message but abundant with methods of "church growth" and "leadership training" are, at best, self-deceived about their abilities and value to the church (Romans 12:1-3). They typically exhibit narcissistic personality traits, viewing the people of God as an audience created to mirror back to them their self-perception of their own grandiosity. At worst, such men are intentional deceivers and ravenous wolves. We believe that such false prophets can be known by their fruit, both in the way of their own doctrine, and in the doctrine of the "disciples" whom they produce as the fruit of their ministry (Matthew 7:15-25). We deny that such men should be held up as shining examples of Christian leadership, and are, in fact, unfit to preach, or to pastor a church (Matthew 11:12, 20:24-28; 23:1-11).
Article XI CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP AND THE GOSPEL
1 The First Duty of Christian Stewardship Because all stewardship is predicated on faithfulness to the Savior, we believe that it is the first duty of every Christian to grow at the outset of their conversion to faith in Christ, into a mature knowledge of the doctrine of salvation, including the biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone, and that it is the duty of every believer to then do the work of an evangelist to advance the gospel message (Ephesians 6:10-17). Accordingly, we believe that it is the first duty of every pastor to formulate a program of education and discipleship that provides this instruction, both in doctrinal truth, assurance of salvation, and in lifestyle evangelism.
2 Tithing and The Gospel Message
(a) We believe that there are eternal rewards for Christians who sacrificially give of their finances (Matthew 6:1-7; 6:19-20), personal resources (Matthew 10:40-41) labors (Matthew 10:42), and their life (Matthew 16:25) in support of those ministries and Christian workers who faithfully and accurately proclaim the gospel message (3rd John vs. 3-8).
(b) We believe, however, that it is the duty of every Christian to avoid supporting, either financially, or through any other resource, those pastors, churches and ministries that distort the gospel (2nd John vs 7-11). We believe God holds accountable, believers who, out of ignorance of the gospel that is clearly set forth in Scripture, support ministries that do not abide in the pure doctrine of Christ. Accordingly,
(i) We believe it is the duty of every Christian to make diligent inquiry into the doctrine of a church or ministry, particularly with respect to the doctrine of soteriology before financially supporting it.
(ii) We believe that those Christians who tithe or support doctrinally aberrant ministries are partakers of the evil deeds of those teachers and "evangelists" (2nd John vs. 11).
(iii) We believe that the eternal rewards that God gives for sacrificial tithing (Matthew 6:1-4; 6:19-20), will be diminished or lost when those tithes and offerings supported ministers or ministries that are not straight with the gospel (2nd John vs. 8).
In view of the clear teaching of Scripture on this subject, we regard it as a tragedy that Christians should be willing to sacrificially tithe, while they are unwilling to put forth the effort to grow to a pure understanding of the gospel message to learn where to tithe, lest they forfeit, at the judgment seat, part or all of the reward that they should have received. We further believe it is a tragedy that the money and resources of God's people should be squandered on advancing teachers and ministries that are not faithful with God's word.
3 Pastoral Selection and The Gospel Message In view of the biblical requirement that a pastor have the theological maturity both to recognize false doctrine, and to refute false doctrine (Titus 1:7; 2nd John vs. 10), it logically follows as the duty of Christians who have a solid grasp of Christian doctrine, particularly in relation to the gospel, that they to seek zealously to serve on pastoral search and selection committees, and ensure, as within their ability, that any man to whom a call to the pastorate is extended is sound and accurate in his understanding of salvation, and faithful in his proclamation of the gospel.
4 Christian Unity and The Gospel Message Scripture teaches the unity of the church as one of the highest goals toward which the church should aspire (Ephesians 4:3). We believe, therefore, that not every theological dispute merits separation. For example, whether the church of Galatia was located in North Galatia or South Galatia is a valid question, and one that has been explored and debated by theologians, but it is certainly not a question over which fellowship should be broken.
We believe, however, that any area of doctrine even remotely affecting the integrity of the gospel is inherently serious (Galatians 2:11-14), that Scripture calls us to draw the line at the earliest point, and to yield not one inch on matters that jeopardize the integrity of the gospel, a compromise that jeopardizes the eternal life of every man, woman and child on this planet who has not yet heard the gospel message (Galatians 1:6-9, 2:5).
5 Christian Service and The Gospel Message In view of the above statements, we believe that it is the duty of Christians who are clear on the gospel to use whatever spiritual gifts, positions of authority, finances, and other resources available to them, to defend and advance the clear gospel in its purity and clarity (Philippians 1:7, 17).
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Chapter 1: Restatement of Doctrinal Statement |
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