STATEMENT OF BELIEFS:

Esteem Others Better Than Yourself (Philippians 2:3)
Explicitly, a statement of beliefs present positions on matters of the Christian faith, what is a right way to believe.  Implicitly, a statement of beliefs suggests that others have chosen a wrong way to believe.  Covenant Christian Church posits a Biblical alternative to the explicit and/or implicit thrust of a statement of beliefs.  That is, a church's goal (and that of all Christians) should have as it cornerstone to any worldview a humble respect for and willingness to listen to the beliefs of others. 

When engaged with believers and unbelievers in conversation or debate about God (or any subject for that matter), rather than listen to refute and criticize another person's viewpoint, we should endeavor to listen to hear and learn in humility, considering them (and their views) to be more important than our own.  This is not to say that we need to agree with those who have opposing views, but we should be able to listen to hear in humility, considering the views of others more important than our own.  Selah.  Who knows, a humble listener may actually learn something in a Philippians 2:3 conversation or debate that change one's view.  

So, it's with humility and respect for the views of other individuals and churches, we offer our statement of beliefs . . . praying that as we listen to hear and learn from others, our fallible worldview will become more and conformed to the infallible, inerrant and unchanging standard for faith, family and society.

Faith, Family & Society – First and foremost, Covenant Christian Church proclaims a Biblical faith in God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit and the doctrines of Christ as found in Holy Scripture.  Secondly, Covenant Christian Church holds to the historic, orthodox, catholic (universal) Christianity and the great Reformed confessions – as useful, time-tested and Scripturally consistent expressions of the Christian faith. As such, we believe that God, not man, is the center of the universe and beyond. God, not man, controls whatever comes to pass. God, not man, must be pleased and obeyed. God saves sinners. He does not help them save themselves. Faith should apply to all of life, not just the “spiritual” side. This faith applies to community (family and friends), church (prayer, evangelism, Bible study, preaching, corporate worship) and culture (art, music, business, education, technology and politics).
 
God’s Law - God’s law is found in all of Scripture (Old and New Testaments).  It has not been abolished as a standard of righteousness. It no longer accuses the Christian, since Christ bore its penalty on the cross for us, but the law is a statement of God’s righteous character. True law cannot change any more than God can change. God’s law is used for three main purposes. First, it drives the sinner to trust in Christ alone, the only perfect law-keeper. Second, God’s law provides a standard of obedience for the Christian, by which we may judge our progress in sanctification. Third, to maintain order in society, the law of God restrains and arrests civil evil.
 
Presuppositional Apologetics – The theology (or world view if you prefer) of all men begins with faith in some ultimate presupposition. We defend our faith (apologetics) based upon a fundamental presupposition: the Bible is God’s infallible Word to man. We do not try to “prove” that the Bible is true or that God exists. We hold to the Faith because the Bible says so, not because we can “prove” it. God does not try to convince the unconverted that the gospel is true. They already know it is true when they hear it. They need repentance, not evidence. Of course, we believe there is evidence for the Faith. The problem for the unconverted is not lack of evidence, but lack of submission. 
By God's sovereign grace, Christian faith begins and ends with the Bible. 

Postmillennial Eschatology -  We believe Christ will return to earth only after the Holy Spirit has empowered the Church to advance Christ’s Kingdom in time and history. We have faith that God purposes to bring all nations (although not every individual) in subjection to Christ. This plan cannot fail. This view is not naively idealistic. We understand that the kingdom will not advance quickly or painlessly. We know that the kingdom will come through much tribulation. A Christian with a postmillennial eschatology prepares for the “long haul.”  The Church may yet be in her infancy, but the Faith will finally triumph. Under the power of the Spirit of God, it cannot but triumph.

Dominion Mandate -  We take seriously the Bible’s commands to the godly to take dominion of the earth. This is the goal of the gospel and the Great Commission. The earth and all its fullness are the Lord’s. Every area dominated by sin must be “reformed” in terms of the Bible. Reformation begins with the individual, then moves through the family, the church and, finally, the wider society, including the state. Therefore, we fervently believe in Christian civilization. We firmly believe in the separation of church and state, but not the separation of the state, or anything else, from God. We are not revolutionaries, nor do we believe in the militant, forced overthrow of human government. Christ’s Church has infinitely more powerful weapons than guns and bombs. We have the invincible Spirit of God, the infallible word of God and the incomparable gospel of God—none of which can fail.Type your paragraph here.