What Does This Church Believe?
We believe that the Bible was written by men who God inspired to record truths, and we check ourselves and our beliefs against the truths in this ancient text. The study of God and His Word (the Bible) is called "Theology."
Here's the notes for CCF's Intro to Theology class:
the·ol·o·gy
THēˈäləjē/
noun
noun: theology
1. the study of the nature of God and religious belief.
- religious beliefs and theory when systematically developed.
Concerning thinking about theology:
One of the most humbling experiences a person can have is the study of theology. All of us who have pursued this discipline have learned eventually that something we once thought as correct is actually, well, not correct. Also the truth that is revealed is inherently humbling itself. And, to top it all off, we should keep in mind every bit of knowledge and understanding we do have is seen through a dark glass (1 Cor 13:12). So, even though we must undertake a life long pursuit of the study of the Scriptures, we must balance that with prayer, humility, adoration, and we must study with an attitude of seeking Jesus, to know Him, not just knowledge or arguments.
I would rather hear someone who is mature in their walk with God than someone who is “right.” I would rather be around someone who walks with God, seeks Him, gives God glory, prays, humbles himself, meditates on the Word of God, loves everybody, has joy, peace, self-control, and all those fruits of the spirit in Gal 5:22-23, crucifies their flesh daily, loves their spouse, is a good parent, sibling, friend, neighbor, handles their responsibilities, admits when they’re wrong, etc. and wants to teach someone what they’ve learned from God while living that way, than someone pointing out a theological argument.
So as we begin to spell out CCF’s statement of faith let’s begin with purposing our attitude to be humble and seeking truth. We rejoice to be able to list these truths we have found in scripture, and hope God reveals these to us more as we all study, learn, to seek Jesus and grow in Him.
John 5:39-40 English Standard Version (ESV)
39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal
life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me
that you may have life.
Jesus calls. Go to Him. Seek Him, and love and serve Him. Please, I beg you, don’t search the scriptures and miss Jesus. Seek Him in the scriptures.
We, like most churches who have considered themselves christian, believe that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. That means we believe that is it true, and therefore base our theological arguments on our understanding of scripture. Always remember the Pharisees of Jesus’ time knew the Law better than any of us will probably know the scriptures, yet they missed Jesus and rejected Him, not recognizing that He is the very One the Law was about. The way we want to study the scriptures is with an intention of getting to know Jesus as He is revealed in the scriptures, and with an attitude of humility.
Here's few scriptures that I hope encourages a proper attitude as we study and discuss theology:
Isaiah 66:1-2
Thus says the Lord:
“Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool;
what is the house that you would build for me,
and what is the place of my rest?
2
All these things my hand has made,
and so all these things came to be,
declares the Lord.
But this is the one to whom I will look:
he who is humble and contrite in spirit
and trembles at my word.
Philippians 2:12 English Standard Version (ESV)
Lights in the World
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
1 Corinthians 16:14 English Standard Version (ESV)
14 Let all that you do be done in love.
Philippians 2:3 English Standard Version (ESV)
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 English Standard Version (ESV)
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[a]
Footnotes:
a 1 Corinthians 13:5 Greek irritable and does not count up wrongdoing
1 Corinthians 13:12 English Standard Version (ESV)
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
1 Corinthians 8:1-2 English Standard Version (ESV)
8:1 … “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.
2 Timothy 2:23 English Standard Version (ESV)
23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.
Titus 3:9 English Standard Version (ESV)
9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.
2 Timothy 2:16 English Standard Version (ESV)
16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,
Let’s look closer at the I Corinthians 13 passages listed above with the context:
1 Corinthians 13 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Way of Love
13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[b] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Footnotes:
a 1 Corinthians 13:3 Some manuscripts deliver up my body [to death] that I may boast
b 1 Corinthians 13:5 Greek irritable and does not count up wrongdoing
Galatians 5:22-23 English Standard Version (ESV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Having established that:
1 Peter 3:15 English Standard Version (ESV)
15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
Proverbs 4:7 King James Version (KJV)
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
2 Timothy 2:15 English Standard Version (ESV)
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,[a] a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Footnotes:
a 2 Timothy 2:15 That is, one approved after being tested
So here we go, humbling ourselves, seeking Jesus, coming to Him, asking Him to reveal Himself, as we study and meditate on the Holy scriptures of wisdom and truth.