Separation From Worldliness
We believe that in Christ the believer has been given perfect and complete liberty (Gal. 4:1-7 [show]Galatians 4:1-7
[4:1]I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, [2]but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. [3]In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. [4]But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, [5]to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. [6]And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" [7]So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. (ESV)
; 5:1). We therefore believe that no man or group of men have the right to make rules and practices that are contrary to the freedom that the believer has been given in Christ, the clear teachings of the Scriptures, and the authority that God has established through individuals in the home, church, and state. At the same time, we are fully aware that God’s Word informs us that certain pursuits in this world will lead to a decline in spirituality on the part of the Christian. In view of this fact, we must caution God’s people against improper relationships (II Cor. 6:14 [show]2 Corinthians 6:14
[14]Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (ESV)) and the pursuit and excessive indulgence in innocent amusements which so often become the barrier to spiritual vitality and the cause of spiritual decline (Jas. 1:5; Mark 4:19 [show]Mark 4:19
[19]but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. (ESV)). We encourage our membership to be discreet in the watching of movies, whether these be in the home via television or videos, or attendance at the theater. We further oppose all indecent literature, modern worldly dancing, and such games that are frequently associated with gambling. All of these are antagonistic to spiritual vitality and further promote worldliness and the breakdown of ethics and morality. We further encourage our members to be careful about that which they choose to eat or drink, believing that a poor diet and gluttony are harmful to the body (I Cor. 6:12-20 [show]1 Corinthians 6:12-20
[12]"All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. [13]"Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food"--and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. [14]And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. [15]Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! [16]Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will become one flesh." [17]But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. [18]Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. [19]Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, [20]for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (ESV); Prov. 23:21 [show]Proverbs 23:21
[21]for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,
and slumber will clothe them with rags.; Matt. 6:25-34 [show]Matthew 6:25-34
[25]"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? [26]Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? [27]And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? [28]And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, [29]yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. [30]But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? [31]Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' [32]For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. [33]But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
[34]"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (ESV); Phil. 3:19 [show]Philippians 3:19
[19]Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. (ESV); Titus 1:12-13 [show]Titus 1:12-13
[12]One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." [13]This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, (ESV)); that the excessive use of strong drink is foolish and forbidden in the Scriptures (Prov. 20:1 [show]Proverbs 20:1
[20:1]Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.; 23:29-35; I Cor. 6:9-10 [show]1 Corinthians 6:9-10
[9]Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, [10]nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)); and that the use of tobacco is unbecoming of a Christian and inconsistent with our Christian profession (I Cor. 3:16-17 [show]1 Corinthians 3:16-17
[16]Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? [17]If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. (ESV); 6:12). We are fully aware that when God first saves an individual, it might take a lengthy period of time to be set free from these and other vices. However, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the potential for complete freedom from any sinful habit is possible for the Christian and progress should consistently be realized through the process of daily sanctification.
Secret Oath–Bound Societies
We believe it to be highly inconsistent and anti-scriptural for Christians to be members of secret oath–bound societies. The Scriptures admonish believers against secret oaths (Matt. 5:34-37 [show]Matthew 5:34-37
[34]But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, [35]or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. [36]And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. [37]Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil. (ESV); Jas. 5:12) and against the necessity of doing deeds in secret (John 18:20 [show]John 18:20
[20]Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. (ESV)). Further, being a member of such societies and orders violates the command of the Scriptures not to be yoked together with unbelievers (II Cor. 6:14 [show]2 Corinthians 6:14
[14]Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (ESV)) or to have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness (Eph. 5:11-12 [show]Ephesians 5:11-12
[11]Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. [12]For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. (ESV)). The believer is to show supreme allegiance to only the Lord Jesus Christ (Exod. 20:3; Matt. 6:24 [show]Matthew 6:24
[24]"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (ESV)). Therefore, no person who is a member in our church, or who anticipates such membership, shall be a member of a secret oath–bound society.