Distinctives
Every church has certain convictions that mark them out from other churches. We want people to know us so they are not surprised when they come. A number of convictions mark our life together. We summarize ours this way: we are a church that is essentially Reformed in theology, charismatic in practice, and Gospel-centered in everything. We also believe we are called to live as Christians by honoring the distinct roles of men and women in the home and the church.
First, we are Gospel centered. Simply put, a Christian never gets beyond the message of Jesus Christ crucified and risen. We do not begin with the Gospel and move on to the rules for Christian living. We live in the shockwaves of the Gospel. The Gospel shapes us far more powerfully than any set of rules.
Second, we are Reformed in our theology. If that is a new term to you, it means God is supreme in our life. You see, you and I are not the center of the world. We are called to know and trust God. Knowing him stirs us to make God's glory known to others. Our lives are best lived when we delight in the glory of God and forget ourselves.
Being Reformed also means we believe God sought us and chose us when we had no interest in him. He did not meet us half-way. He did everything. If he had not chosen us to be his own we would not have come to him.
Third, the Holy Spirit is the gift of the risen Christ to the church. He is at work all around us to call people to faith in Jesus, to gift and equip the church, and to make the people of God more and more holy in life. We believe there is a continuity in the work of the Spirit in all of church history and that none of his activity has ceased. All of his gifts are present in the church for the building up of the body of Christ. This means gifts of serving, gifts of administration, and gifts of healing. We want to see his full work among us. This is what we mean by charismatic or continuationist. Look here (Adobe PDF) for a more complete treatment of this conviction.
Fourth, we follow the authority of Scripture and apply it. Truth governs our life as Christians and as a church. The church is not ours to re-make. The purpose of Jesus in his death and resurrection controls our lives.
Finally, we are complementarian. That is another big word. The Bible teaches that men and women are made in the image of God, are equally ruined by sin, and equally redeemed in Christ. We also believe that they bear distinct roles in the home and the church. We subscribe to the Danvers Statement. This is what we mean by complementarian.