Here at Christview Church, we believe that all Christians and churches are different. We don’t believe that unity means “sameness.” In fact, the apostle Paul points out that differences do and should exist between churches and individuals in Christ. “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
We are called to unity in faith and doctrine, and there should be no tolerance for false, heretical doctrine, but we respect personal preference on issues of style and practice. The following list offers a summary of our basic beliefs.
About God
- We believe there is one God. God exists as One God in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We believe that all things were created by God for God’s glory. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 45:21-22, Matthew 28:19, Colossians 1:16)
About Jesus
- We believe God the Son became a human being in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; He lived a sinless life (He was without sin), and He died for the sins of the whole world. He was raised from the dead on the third day, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father until His enemies are made His footstool. (John 1:1, 14, Matthew 1:18-25, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Hebrews 10:12-13)
About the Holy Spirit
- We believe the Holy Spirit was sent by the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit regenerates, indwells, and seals believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, and He empowers them to live as His witnesses. (John 14:16-17, John 16:7-11, Titus 3:5-6, Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Ephesians 1:13-14, Acts 1:8, Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12-14, 1 Peter 4:10-11)
About Man
- We believe that God created human beings, male and female, in His own image. He created them sinless, equal in value, dignity, and worth. (Genesis 1:26-28, Ephesians 5:22-6:4, 1 Timothy 3:1-7)
About the Bible
- We believe the Holy Bible is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative word of God. The Word of God is the final authority in all areas it addresses for every individual Christian as well as for the Church collectively. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:21, John 10:35)
- We believe in the expository teaching of the whole Word of God (Acts 20:20, Nehemiah 8:8, Psalm 138:2). Therefore, our worship services emphasize verse by verse teaching of the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
About Salvation
- We believe that, as a result of the Fall, all people are sinners by nature and in need of a Savior, and that Jesus Christ is the one and only Savior of the world. That salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Him. We believe that all who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved eternally. (Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:18-19, Matthew 1:21, 1 John 4:14, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:9)
- We believe in the resurrection of the dead. Believers will be raised to life, and unbelievers to shame and everlasting contempt (hell). (Daniel 12:2, John 5:25-29, Revelation 21:1-22:5)
About the Church
- We believe that the book of Acts represents the standard for Christianity. Therefore, we seek to pattern our lives and ministry after that modeled by the early church.
- Our mission and means:
- “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
- Our lifestyle:
- They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42)
- Our growth:
- And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:47)
- Our mission and means:
- We believe in pastoral leadership as the truest biblical pattern for church governance.
- We believe that the worship of God should be spiritual. We should remain flexible to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Worship should be inspirational, which is why we have music in our worship. It should be intelligent, based on information about Him given to us in His Word, the Bible. Finally, it should be fruitful. We should see His love in our lives as evidence that we have truly been worshiping Him.
- We believe there is one church, the body of Christ, consisting of men and women from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. We believe that each local congregation is an expression of that universal church. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 4:4, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Revelation 5:9, Acts 2:42-47)
- We believe that healthy sheep beget healthy sheep. In keeping with this purpose, we seek to win the lost, disciple the saved and encourage the faithful. We believe if we take care of our “depth,” God will take care of our “breadth.” The purpose of the church is not numerical growth, but spiritual growth. The only strategy we have for ministry is to “feed the flock of God” (John 21:12, Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:2).
We are Continuationists:
- We believe that all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in Scripture are available to, and active in His church today. (John 14:16-17, John 16:7-11, Titus 3:5-6, Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Ephesians 1:13-14, Acts 1:8, Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12-14, 1 Peter 4:10-11)
We are Complementarian:
- We believe that God created human beings, male and female, in His own image. He created them sinless, equal in value, dignity, and worth. According to His purpose and design, God created to fulfill distinct but complementary roles in the contexts of marriage, family, and the local church.” (Genesis 1:26-28, Ephesians 5:22-6:4, 1 Timothy 3:1-7)
We are Premillennial:
- We believe in the pre-millennial return of Christ to the earth, to sit upon the throne of David and rule over the house of Jacob (Israel), and the entire cosmos, forever. (Revelation 20:1-6, Luke 1:31-33, Isaiah 9:6-7)
We are Pre-tribulational
- We believe the church will be delivered from the “hour of trial” which will come upon all who dwell on the earth, being “caught up” in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (the Rapture). (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, 1 Corinthians 15:51-55, Revelation 3:10)