CORE BELIEFS
It all comes down to a commitment.
The community who gathers together at West Main is a cross-section of individuals, from all kinds of backgrounds and places, with many different positions and opinions. As a community, we are sincerely trying to follow the Bible and its teachings. We choose to glorify God, rather than argue over non-essential issues. We are more interested in being known for what we stand for than what we are against. We do not claim to have all the answers, and agreeing with us completely is not a basis for membership.
As a community we do have some core belief statements written by our Shepherds that reflect what we believe and how we presently understand the Bible. Our salvation is based on what God has done for us through Jesus Christ, not on the ability to understand perfectly when it comes to matters of opinion. For the sake of unity and clarity, there are some essential issues where we believe the Bible speaks clearly. The following are some of our statements of Faith:
GOD THE FATHER
We believe in one true living God—the Creator of all things, holy, infinitely wise, perfectly just, limitlessly powerful, and full of unfailing love. He exists in a unified relationship of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. He made all things for his glory. Genesis 1:26-27, Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 55:8-9, Job 38:1-41:34, Matthew 3:13-17, John 3:16, Romans 1:19, 20, 11:33-36; 2 Corinthians 13:14, Ephesians 4:6
GOD THE SON
For our salvation, God came down from heaven and became fully human, in the form of Jesus Christ. He was miraculously born of a virgin, He lived a perfect life, died on the cross to atone for the sins of all people, rose bodily from the dead, and ascended into heaven where he reigns as King at the right hand of the Father and intercedes on our behalf. Matthew 1:23-25, 28:6, Mark 14:61-62, Luke 1:27-35, 24:39, Acts 1:9, 11, 2:33, Ephesians 1:20, Philippians 2:9-11, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 4:4, Colossians 1:19, Hebrews 1:31, 7:26, James 2:12, I Peter 1:17, 2:22, Revelation 20:12-13
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, is omnipresent for all eternity, dwells in every believer, gives every believer spiritual gifts for service, and by baptism unites all to Christ in one body. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. As Christians we seek to live under His control daily. John 14:16–17; 16:7–15, 1 Corinthians 6:19, Ephesians 2:22, 2 Thessalonians 2:7
THE BIBLE
We believe that the Bible is God’s infallible word, given to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Its main purposes are to reveal God, to equip believers to grow in spiritual maturity, and to enable them to participate in God’s mission for the world. All scripture is centered around and points to Jesus Christ. The Bible is inerrant, and absolute truth. Where it speaks, we listen and obey. Matthew 7:24-27, Romans 15:4, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 3:15-16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21
HUMANITY
We believe that all people are both tremendously valuable and inherently broken. God created us in his own image and we were intended to glorify and to have an intimate relationship with him. As a result of our sinful condition, we are spiritually dead and separated from him and from each other. This means everyone needs Jesus. Genesis 1:26-27, 2:17, 3:6, Psalm 8:3-6, Isaiah 53:6a, 59:1-2, Ephesians 2:1-3, Romans 3:23, 5:12-19, Ephesians 2:1-12, 1 John 1:8
MARRIAGE & SEXUALITY
We believe marriage is defined as one man, one woman, for life. We also believe that the intimate union of sexuality is a gift of God and intended by God to be celebrated only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. (Mark 10:6-9; 1 Corinthians 6:18; 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4) The marriage relationship is designed to reflect the relationship of Christ with his church – a relationship that is sacred, holy, and intensely loving. This covenant relationship is also designed to last a lifetime, calling us to faithfulness, honor, and purity. As such, we resist all forms of sexual perversion and pornography, choosing to remain faithful and resisting divorce. (Ephesians 5:22-31; Genesis 2:24-25; Matthew 19:1-6; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
SALVATION
We believe that the death and resurrection of Jesus are God’s mightiest acts of redemption toward humanity. Therefore, God alone has the power to restore us from our brokenness. Salvation is freely received by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. Eternal life with God begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ as Lord of his life as we are sanctified through repentance, confession, baptism, and a life committed to His service. John 14:6; Romans 6:3-6; Galatians 3:26-27; Ephesians 2:8-9; Acts 2:38, Titus 3:4-7, John 14:6
LORD’S SUPPER
Christ implemented communion as a means for His followers to regularly commemorate His sacrifice for us. We choose to observe this communion weekly each Sunday when we gather together. Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:26
ETERNITY
God made us eternal. People will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or exist eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is eternal death in Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life in Heaven. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence. John 3:16, 14:17; Romans 6:23; 8:17-18; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9; Revelation 20:15
COMMITMENT
We, the members of the West Main Church of Christ, will dedicate our time, energy, and treasure to making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We commit ourselves to living in obedient discipleship and to teaching others to obey the commands of Jesus. We commit ourselves to living out the Gospel by providing for the spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional needs of our brothers and sisters, friends, and neighbors. We will accomplish this by reaching out to and being involved with our neighborhood and community, through service and civil responsibility, to the glory of our God! We commit ourselves to answering the call of the Holy Spirit and following Him. We are committed to spreading the Gospel wherever He leads and with every means at our disposal to every, tribe, and nation.
