We Believe
The doctrine of our faith.
Lighthouse Full Gospel Church of God is part of the Church of God Denomination headquartered out of Cleveland, Tennessee (www.churchofgod.org). The Church of God believes the whole Bible to be completely and equally inspired and that it is the written Word of God. The Church of God has adopted the below Declaration of Faith as its standard and official expression of its doctrine. Our values are non-negotiable characteristics of our church. They help us determine what ministries to start, where to spend our time, and so much more
Declaration Of Faith
We believe:
- In the verbal inspiration of the Bible.
- In one God eternally existing in three persons; namely, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
- That Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary. That Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. That He ascended to heaven and is today at the right hand of the Father as the Intercessor.
- That all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that repentance is commanded of God for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins.
- That justification, regeneration, and the new birth are wrought by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.
- In sanctification subsequent to the new birth, through faith in the blood of Christ; through the Word, and by the Holy Ghost.
- Holiness to be God’s standard of living for His people.
- In the baptism with the Holy Ghost subsequent to a clean heart.
- In speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance and that it is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
- In water baptism by immersion, and all who repent should be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
- Divine healing is provided for all in the atonement.
- In the Lord’s Supper and washing of the saints’ feet.
- In the premillennial second coming of Jesus. First, to resurrect the righteous dead and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air. Second, to reign on the earth a thousand years.
- In the bodily resurrection; eternal life for the righteous, and eternal punishment for the wicked.
Our Values and Practical Commitments
Family
We believe there is nothing more important than strong united families. We are committed to early Christian formation of children and youth and providing programs relative to the needs of all age groups. We believe that the local congregation involvement should be an enrichment to the home, and that the family unit is a reflection of Christ's love for the church.
Equipping
We believe in equipping the saints for ministry and life by helping them to operate in their spiritual gifts. We recognize and encourage God-given gifts in all women and all men regardless of background. We believe that education is vital to the Christian journey, and that through the educational process, the body, mind, and spirit are enhanced for the greater development of the kingdom of God.
Devotion
We believe that full devotion to Christ and His cause is the transformative consequence of salvation. We value our right standing before God through Christ as being righteous, without sin; and we contend for a life free of willful sin and disobedience to Christ. We believe in a personal, daily relationship with Christ. We believe this devotion to Christ should be displayed in marriage relationships, friendships, the utilization of gifts and talents in the local church, and in the believer's personal walk with Christ.
Sound Doctrine
We believe that teaching and doctrine should be balanced on the historical roots of Christianity that shaped the theology and practice of the faith. Sound doctrine is held in high esteem. We believe that we should express our faith with a balance of head and heart, intellect and emotion. We believe that our Biblical principles are not in need of affirmation or acceptance by society.
We believe in the Biblical pattern of tithing a tenth of our income and in addition giving offerings toward the advancement of the Kingdom of God. We believe in the spontaneity of the workings of the Holy Spirit—balanced, proved, and established on the Word of God.
Evangelism
We believe that an effective church serves its community and treats everyone with love, respect, and dignity. We believe in the church as a force. The church should not be a private, individualized or personal matter. The body of Christ should be His heart, hands, feet, and mouth in our community. We believe in the liberty to express our unique, God-given call to our community as a congregation. We believe in focusing more on meeting the needs of people than on preserving or growing our institution. Buildings, programs, ideas, and goals are all secondary to people. We believe in being culturally relevant, yet remaining doctrinally pure.
Worship, Prayer, and Fasting
We believe that as believers we have a responsibility to respond to the presence of God during worship. We believe that worship should be done in spirit and truth with all our hearts. We believe that heartfelt worship prepares our hearts and minds to receive the Word of God. We believe in the power of prayer and fasting and that it makes a critical difference in all we attempt to achieve. We believe that prayer and fasting are vital keys to success in our personal and professional lives. We believe in having an intercessory prayer ministry that holds our church up in prayer on a regular basis.