Creation

We believe that God is the creator of the universe. The opening words of the Bible state, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). In a separate act of creation, “the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7). From Adam God fashioned a woman (Genesis 2:21,22). Adam called her Eve, for she became the mother of all future generations (Genesis 3:20). In this manner, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them (Genesis 1:27). God blessed Adam and Eve and gave them dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:28-30).

We believe that mankind is distinct from all other creatures. More than just a physical being, God has given man an eternal spirit and soul, endowing him with a mind, a will, and emotions (1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 4:12). As such we are moral beings with a spiritual awareness of God and a conscience that we might know right from wrong (Romans 1:19; 2:14-16). God has also revealed Himself to us through the universe that He has created (Romans 1:20). “The heavens are telling of the glory of God, the Psalmist writes, “and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands” (Psalm 19:1). God has revealed Himself most perfectly to us in His Son and preserved that revelation in His written Word (John 1:18; Hebrews 1:1-3). God has revealed Himself to us that we might know Him personally as God and be morally responsible to Him as our Creator.

We believe that before God created man, He created holy angels to serve and worship Him (Colossians 1:16; Job 38:6,7; Mark 8:38; Hebrews 1:6-14). They have personality, possessing mind, will, and emotions. They are ministering spirits that God sends forth as His messengers, sometimes appearing in glorious forms and sometimes as men (Matthew 28:2,3; John 20:12).

We apply these doctrines as follows

Science

We do not see an intrinsic conflict between the Christian faith and the scientific method, when the latter is understood as an objective determination of the normal functioning of the universe through observation and repeatable experimentation. Most of what is taught by modern science agrees with the Bible or deals with matters not addressed by the Bible. At times, however, scientists have drawn faulty conclusions, sometimes unduly influenced by an atheistic worldview. Christians at various times also have asserted false ideas about nature and the universe based on a misinterpretation of Scripture.

Evolution

Evolutionary theory stating that inanimate chemical substances became living organisms through undirected random chance, and after much time evolved into humankind contradicts the Bible and cannot be reconciled with it. We are supported in our position by the increasing number within the scientific community who are questioning the theory of the evolution of the species.