OUR BELIEFS
We believe the Bible is God’s Word to everyone. We believe it was written by men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we believe that these words are without error and are the infallible words of God. We believe these words tell the true story revealing to us who God is, what His amazing creation is, how He interacts with humanity, and His plan to save us and restore all things to perfection.
2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 119:105, 160; Psalm 12:6; Proverbs 30:5; Psalm 1:1-4; Revelation 22:18-19
We believe God is real and living and is the Creator of all things. We believe there is one God who does not change, is not limited by anything and knows all things. We believe there is One divine God who exists in three persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These persons are distinct, yet fully and completely God.
Genesis 1:1; Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; Matthew 3:16-17
We believe that Jesus is the answer to our sinful condition and ruined relationship with God. We believe Jesus was fully man and fully God and that He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who traded His heavenly throne to walk this earth. We believe He was born perfect, lived a perfect life, and willingly gave Himself up by dying on the cross for the sin of all men. We believe He rose from the dead three days later, defeating the power of sin, death, and the devil. We believe Jesus ascended into heaven and is coming back again to restore all things to perfection.
John 1:1-5; John 14:10-14; Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Acts 1:9-11
We believe that the Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son, and He has come among God’s people to call, gather, enlighten, and keep holy the people of God. We believe that it is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that man can be saved and truly believe in the amazing work of Jesus Christ. We believe that, through the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives, we can fight against our own sinful influences and evil.
John 14:16-17; John 16:7-13; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13-14
We believe that baptism was commanded and instituted by Jesus for all people to take part in. We believe that in baptism, through the combination of water, God’s Word, and the power of the Holy Spirit, we are cleansed from all sin, snatched from the hand of satan, and given eternal life. We believe that through baptism God gives man the gifts that Jesus achieved through His life; victory over suffering, death, and the devil, and the gift of the resurrection.
We believe that, through Communion, Jesus is constantly offering His body and blood for us and that those participating are receiving forgiveness, life, and salvation through this gift. We believe that this is a mystery that the Holy Spirit enables us to believe and receive.
We believe that all humanity was created in the image of God has a special relationship with God versus other creatures; but because of original sin, all humans are born sinful and cannot, without Jesus, free themselves from their sinful condition or restore their relationship with God apart from Jesus. Nonetheless, because we are the “firstborn of all creation,” human life is of inestimable worth, including pre-born babies, the aged, and the physically and mentally challenged. We are therefore called to defend, protect and value all human life.
Though the culture has evolving definitions of marriage, we believe that it is the Triune God alone who created mankind and has the ultimate authority to prescribe and describe the marital relationship. Within the context of the Christian church specifically, we believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union.
Because of these beliefs, the pastors and staff of the church will only participate in weddings and officiate marriages that meet this definition, and the facilities and property of the church will only host marriage ceremonies that meet this definition.
We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is offensive to God and contrary to His created design.
We believe that God offers a restored relationship with all who confess and desire to live faithfully, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. We also believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity; and hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of the church.
Because of these beliefs and in order to preserve this truth and to ensure the integrity of the local church as the local Body of Christ, it is imperative that all persons employed by the church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this belief; or if there is disagreement, they are willing to serve in submission to the teachings and beliefs of the church.
The Way is a member of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. The word synod comes from the greek language and means ‘walking together’. Though diverse in their service, LCMS congregations hold to a shared confession of Jesus Christ.