We believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed; except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ; who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the kings of the earth.
Exodus 18:21-22; 2 Samuel 23:3; Psalm 72:11; Daniel 3:17-18; Matthew 10:28; 22:21; 23:10; Acts 4:19-20; 23:5; Romans 13:7; Philippians 2:10-11; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-14,17
Of The Worship
We believe in a blend of the traditional with the more contemporary praise and worship style of music. We have no problem with Biblical worship practices of the clapping of hands, raising of hands in praise and worship, verbal affirmation of Biblical truth ("Amen, praise the Lord, etc.") in an orderly fashion and not drawing attention to others. We encourage the use of skilled and gifted musical talent in voice, instrumental, and choral renditions. Furthermore, we endorse drama or creative presentations of scriptural truths and principles, etc. Worship services can be creative, innovative, convicting, intelligent and uplifting with the sole purpose of glorifying Christ and exalting the Holy Word of God.
Psalm 63:3-5; 95:1-2; 98:4-6; 100:1-5; 150:1-6; Ephesians 5:18-20; Colossians 3:16-17
Of The Spiritual Gifts
While we believe that the gifts of the Spirit are present but that prophecy and tongues not normative though GOD can and stills acts Sovereignly in any given age. (Yet, we are not charismatic in practice). We reject the over-emphasis of spiritual gifts and experiential signs and wonders to the exclusion of Biblical teaching. We believe that a Bible-based ministry avoids improvised programs and gimmicks in favor of the simple teaching of the Word of God in love to His people. We focus on a personal relationship with God through worship, prayer, and the teaching of the Word of God. We prefer a balance of both expository and topical studies.
WE DO NOT BELIEVE in �Positive Confession� (the the heretical teachings of theWord of Faith movement belief that God can be commanded to heal or work miracles according to man�s will); we also find unbiblical "altar call" prophecies and many so called manifestations of the Spirit which include "slain in the Spirit" & "holy laughter"human prophecy that supersedes the Scriptures; the incorporation of humanistic and secular psychology into biblical teaching; the overemphasis of spiritual gifts and experiential signs and wonders to the exclusion of biblical teaching; or that true Christians can be demon-possessed.
Unlike most Pentecostals, we believe that all believers are baptized "with and by" the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 12:13) but not all speak in tongues (I Cor. 12:30). ACTS chapter 2 is the main chapter of the subject of tongues. Therefore, ALL the verses regarding tongues MUST be interpreted in light of the definition of tongues found in ACTS 2. It is the instaneous, supernatural ability of a true Chrisitian to be able to speak in a KNOWN earthly language (not babbling or gibberish or a prayer tongue). The gift is not intended to be given to all Christians; hence, there is no room for "SECOND CLASS" Christians. The reason for this gift is to glorify Christ to those who may not comprehend the native language being spoken. Again, there MUST be an interpreter (chosen by the Spirit Himself) who will verify that the tongue is a KNOWN LANGUAGE of the languages of humans. We find unbiblical the fact that many churches have more than one person speaking in tongues in the congregation without following the pattern of I Corinthians 14: ("two or three and each taking a turn...the need for an interpreter...if no interpretation, let him be silent...Let everything be done in order and decently...God is not the author of confusion...these are commandments of the Lord...") Speaking in tongues loudly during services is improper because we do not believe that the Holy Spirit would interrupt Himself and the service.
Of Fidelity To God (Separation)
We believe in the following biblical statements: "you cannot serve two masters...", "be not unequally yoked with unbelievers...", and "be separate". We should use this principle in choosing our spouse and who we make business or association with. For example, we are truly convinced beyond any doubt that Freemasonry and its suborganizations (Shriner, Eastern Star, Rainbow Girls, Demonly, the Masonic Lodge, etc.) is NOT compatible with true Christianity. Please visit the following website for more details: http://www.hickoryhammockbaptist.org/booklets/masons.html
We should avoid supporting and endorsing false ministries as well. As in Proverbs 23:23: "Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding." Also, we are called to "not be conformed any longer with the pattern of this world." We ought to strive to avoid places where lust, profanity, drugs, and worldliness is prevalent. Furthermore, we should be selective to what we listen, watch, and speak so as to "...do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him".
Matthew 6:22-24; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:14-22; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 10:4-6; Colossians 3:16-17; James 4:4-10; I John 2:15-17
Of Unity Of The Universal Church
We believe what the Gospel of John proclaims about Jesus when He prayed that the believers "may be ONE, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. Love is the main factor of this unity. In the epistle of Ephesians, it states that "There is ONE body and ONE Spirit-just as you were called to one hope when you were called-one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." In the epistle of 1 Corinthians it states: "There are different kind of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men...The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink." Also contained in the Galatian epistle: "You are sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all ONE in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Thus, we believe in such unity of Christians regardless of what denomination they belong to. Having said that, these must believe in the essential doctrines of the historic Christian faith and live out the profession they claim. We realize that even within many so-called evangelical churches, there is heresy which has been divided the church distorting sound doctrine.
John 17:20-25; Romans 14:1-28; Acts 2:41-47; 4:32-33; 15:19-29; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; 8:1-13; 10:23-33; 12:1-13; 13:1-13; 15:1-28; Romans 12:4,5,9-21; Galatians 3:26-29; Philippians 2:1-5; 1 John 2:9-11; 3:11-24; 4:7-21; 1 Timothy 1:3-11; 4:1-6,15-16; 6:3-12; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; 4:1-5; Titus 1:7-16; 2:1; Matthew 7:15-23
