STATEMENT OF FAITH

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST

Assets and resources of The White Rock Fund are to be used to proclaim the following beliefs:

  1. That the 66 books of the Bible are verbally inspired by God (1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
  2. That the New Testament constitutes final authority of all religious matters (John 16:13; Galatians 1:8-9; Revelation 22:18-19; 1 Corinthians 4:6; 2 Peter 1:3)
  3. That the New Testament is the “pattern” for reproducing the Church of Christ as it was founded in the first century in organization, worship, mission, and terms of membership. (2 Timothy 1:13)
  4. That believer’s baptism, by immersion, for the forgiveness of sins, is essential to salvation. (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:27; 1 Peter 3:21)
  5. That the celebration of the Lord’s Supper every first day of the week was the practice of the early church, and should be the practice of the Lord’s church today (Acts 20:7).
  6. That New Testament authority is established by specific and generic commands, apostolic examples and necessary inferences.

    a. With regard to generic teachings, it is not necessary to establish apostolic example for a practice to be authorized (to illustrate: there is no apostolic example of property owned by churches, song books, communion trays, nor pattern of congregational co-operation in evangelism and benevolence). Under such circumstances the silence of scripture is not prohibitive.

    b. With regard to specific teachings, what is not specified is to be excluded. An example of what is specifically authorized is the kind of music to be used in worship and praise. Singing (vocal music) is specifically authorized (Hebrews 13:15; Ephesians 5:19). Instrumental music is a different kind of music, and not to be used in worship or praise. Under such circumstances the silence of scripture is prohibitive.

  7. That males only are to lead the public worship when both males and females are present (1 Timothy 2:8-15; 1 Corinthians 14:34)
  8. That Jesus Christ will visibly and audibly return to gather His saints in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). His kingdom is a spiritual one, as He rules in the hearts of those who are members of His church-kingdom (John 18:36). It is incorrect to teach a physical return of Christ to the earth, or a physical reign of Christ on the earth.
  9. That miraculous “spiritual gifts” (1 Corinthians 12:8-11) ended with the apostolic church, and are not available in the church today.
  10. That Christian fellowship, which implies acceptance as brothers and sisters in Christ, is to be extended only to those who have been immersed in water to receive forgiveness of sins, and are faithfully worshiping and serving according to the teachings of the New Testament (2 John 9-11).