“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” ~John 8:31-32

WE BELIEVE JESUS IS THE CHRIST AND THE SON OF GOD.

Jesus is declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:3). God made the same Jesus which was crucified both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). The apostle Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:17). The things that were written were written so that people might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (John 20:31). To refuse to believe, in spite of all the evidence, is to die in sin (John 8:24).

WE BELIEVE IN THE TRUTH.

Jesus said that you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32). There is the truth; the truth can be known, and the truth will make one free. Since it is possible to err from the truth (2 Timothy 2:18), it is necessary to rightly divide the word of truth ((2 Timothy 2:15).

WE BELIEVE THE CHURCH IS IMPORTANT.

The church shows the manifold wisdom of God (Ephesians 3:10). Unto God be the glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages (Ephesians 3:21). All the forces on earth and in heaven cannot prevail against the church (Matthew 16:18).

WE BELIEVE IN THE SECOND COMING OF THE LORD.

Jesus is coming again! We look for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13). When He comes, He will come with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him (Revelation 1:7). We watch, for no man knows the day or the hour in which He will come (Matthew 25:13). Only the Father knows when His Son will return (Matthew 24:36).

WE BELIEVE IN THE JUDGMENT.

It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). God has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by the one whom He has ordained, and God has given assurance unto all men in that He (God) has raised Him (Jesus) from the dead (Acts 17:31). For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10).

WE BELIEVE ALL HAVE SINNED.

For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). If one says he has not sinned, he makes God a liar (1 John 1:10). Sin produces death (Romans 6:23).

WE BELIEVE IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE MADE FREE FROM SIN.

But God be thanked, that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart the form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness (Romans 6:17,18). It is one thing to be dead in sin and another thing to be dead to sin (Romans 6:2 and Ephesians 2:1). It is the difference between being lost and saved. These are a few of the things the members of Lake Shore Drive Church of Christ believe. Please do not take these things as an official creed or as an exhaustive list of the things we believe.

WE BELIEVE WORSHIP OF GOD MUST BE IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.

“God is spirit, and they that worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). To worship any other way is to be in violation of what the Scriptures reveal. In our worship services there is…..Preaching. A message from the word of God is proclaimed. Singing. Our singing is congregational and without the use of instruments of music. Praying. Prayer is a vital part of individual and congregational life. Observing the Lord’s Supper. Communion is observed each first day of the week as a proclamation of the Lord’s death until He comes once again. Giving. We contribute of our means in a free-will offering upon the first day of each week.

Specific Doctrine Topics

The Elders of the Lake Shore Drive Church of Christ provide in this statement a summary of our position on several important matters.  These assertions are drawn from scripture and represent our understanding of what the Bible teaches on each subject.

1.       The Inspiration of the Bible

We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16) and that as such it is:

• the revelation by God of himself and his plan to all of mankind.
• the only authority for religious teaching and practice.
• the first source of information about Christian faith and living.

2.       The Use of Mechanical Instruments of Music in Worship

We believe, based on the teaching of scripture, that a cappella music is appropriate for worship in the church and that the addition of mechanical instruments of music to worship is not consistent with the pattern of worship described in the New Testament.  (See Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 where the instruction in both cases is to “sing.”) 

3.       The Role of Women in Public Bible Study and Worship             

We believe that God has appointed men, males, to be the spiritual leaders in the church.  This is not a minimization of the value of women, but it does limit to faithful men participation in certain leadership and public aspects of church life.  In 1 Timothy 2:8, the church is instructed to have faithful men lead publicly in prayer.  From 1 Timothy 2:12, it is clear that a woman’s role is limited to those things not involving teaching or having authority over a man.  In 1 Corinthians 12:33-35, clear instruction is given that excludes women from publicly teaching or leading in worship an audience that includes men.  Further, it is clear from Titus 1 and 1 Timothy 3 that the leadership roles of elder and deacon are to be filled by faithful men who are supported in their work by faithful wives.

4.       The Place of Baptism in Salvation

Salvation is the result of God’s application of the blood of Christ to the penitent believer following that person’s confession that Jesus is indeed the Christ, God’s son.  We understand from the Bible that the point at which this application takes place is that person’s baptism, a complete immersion in water (as reflected in New Testament examples such as the baptism of the Ethiopian recorded in Acts 8).  At that point, a person becomes a Christian.  There can be no salvation, therefore, without immersion, nor can salvation be maintained without obedience to New Testament instructions regarding Christian living.  (See also Acts 2:36-38 and 1 Peter 3:21.) 

5.       The Frequency of the Lord’s Supper Observance

Because it is a reminder that Jesus died on the cross to take away our sins, the Lord’s Supper is an important part of our weekly worship service.  We believe the church today should follow the example of the New Testament Christians who met on the first day of the week (Sunday) and who shared in this memorial feast at each of those weekly meetings.  (See Acts 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.) 

6.       Sexual Relations Outside of Marriage

We believe that the sexual relationship was given to humans by God to be enjoyed only within the context of marriage.  In Hebrews 13:4, we are instructed to hold the marriage relationship in high honor and to keep “the marriage bed undefiled.”  This is a clear reminder that God does not approve of any sexual activity between persons who are not properly married to one another.  The same passage also makes it clear how seriously God himself views violations of that relationship:  “[F]or God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” 

7.       Homosexuality

We believe that homosexuality, choosing to practice sexual intimacy and relations with another person of the same gender, is a sinful behavior.  Scripture is quite clear in describing God’s negative attitude regarding any homosexual practice of intimacy.  In Leviticus 18, the Israelites were told that such practices were an “abomination” to the Lord.  In Roman 1:26-27, same-sex physical relationships are described as a matter of “impurity” and result in a “dishonoring” of the bodies God has given.  It is to be understood as a worshipping of the “creature rather than the Creator,” and the result of believing a lie.  In 1 Corinthians 6:9, we are reminded that those who practice homosexuality are “unrighteous” and will therefore “not inherit the kingdom of God.” 

8.       Divorce and Remarriage

We believe that God designed marriage to be a life-long and exclusive physical, emotional and spiritual relationship between one woman and one man.  That God’s intention regarding marriage applies to all humankind from the time of creation is clear from Genesis 2:24 and Matthew 19:4-6.  Malachi 3:14-15 tells us that God is the witness to a covenant made between a man and a woman at marriage and that He makes those two into one, “with a portion of the Spirit in their union…”  The next verse says, “the man who does not love his wife but divorces her” is one who “covers his garment with violence.”

Deviation from God’s ideal produces much strife regardless of who is at fault. The wounds produced by divorce help us understand part of why God hates divorce (Mal 2:16). Some conditions for remarriage are addressed in scripture and must be seriously considered, and studied, by involved parties. It is important to recognize that sometimes marriage or remarriage is not according to God’s will. Our shepherds are equipped to guide Christians who seek to honor God through the marriage covenant in various circumstances.

9.       The Work of the Holy Spirit Today

We believe that the Holy Spirit is God’s presence, a gift given to all Christians at baptism (Acts 2:38).  The Holy Spirit in all Christians helps when a Christian doesn’t know what to pray (Romans 8:26-27).  He, the Holy Spirit, also helps a Christian in the development of those positive, healthy attributes of Christian character that Paul called “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23).

It is inappropriate, however, to expect the same miraculous works recorded in the New Testament to be performed by Christians today.  Even Paul indicated that those things were expected to “pass away” (1 Corinthians 13:8), a fact demonstrated in Acts 8:18 where it is shown that only an Apostle (one who had been called personally to that work by Jesus himself) could pass along the miraculous abilities to another person.

Nor is it appropriate today to expect a “baptism in (by) the Holy Spirit.”  Such was intended only for the Apostles (Acts 2:1-4), though it was repeated one time for Cornelius (Acts 10-11) in order to demonstrate God’s acceptance of the Gentiles for conversion to Christianity.