FOUR CORNERS WORSHIP CENTER STATEMENT OF FAITH 1. WE BELIEVE THAT THE BIBLE IS THE INSPIRED, INFALLIBLE WORD OF GOD. WITHOUT ERROR IN THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS. SUFFICIENT FOR THE BELIEVER IN ALL MATTERS PERTAINING TO SALVATION AND REVELATION, FAITH AND CONDUCT. IT HAS SUPREME AUTHORITY OVER THE CHURCH AND THE INDIVIDUAL BELIEVER. IT IS SECOND ONLY TO THE TRIUNE GODHEAD IN THAT AUTHORITY. IT IS ONLY UNDERSTOOD IN FULLNESS THROUGH THE REVELATION OF THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT. 2. WE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ONE GOD THAT ETERNALLY EXISTS IN THREE, CO-EQUAL PERSONS, FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT, ALL DIVINELY PERFECT; EACH DISTINCT IN THEIR WORKING YET ARE SEEN AND MADE KNOWN IN TOTAL ONENESS. 3. WE BELIEVE THAT MAN WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE AND LIKENESS BUT BECAUSE OF SIN WHICH ENTERED INTO THE WORLD THROUGH ADAM, THE FIRST MAN, ALL MEN SUFFER COMPLETE DEATH; PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL, AND ETERNAL. THEREFORE ALL MEN ARE BORN WITH A SINFUL NATURE AND ARE SINNERS OF THEIR OWN VOLITION. MAN MAY COME TO SALVATION THROUGH REPENTANCE, BY BELIEVING ON THE FINISHED WORK OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, ALONE. SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT FROM GOD AND IS RECEIVED ONLY BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH, ALONE. EVEN THE FAITH TO BELIEVE MUST BE GIVEN TO US AS NO ONE SEEKS GOD IN AND OF HIMSELF. THROUGH THIS FREE GIFT WE BECOME A NEW CREATION , ARE DELIVERED FROM THE JUST SENTENCE OF THE LAW, AND RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE. FROM THAT TIME FORWARD OUR SOLE PURPOSE IS THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD BE MADE KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE EARTH AND THAT GOD BE GLORIFIED IN AND THROUGH US. 4. WE BELIEVE IN THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL; THE BODY OF CHRIST, CHRIST BEING THE HEAD, AND WE AS THE MEMBERS. THE CHURCH CONSISTS OF ALL WHO ARE BROUGHT INTO THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION,I.E. “SONSHIP”, THROUGH A CREDIBLE PROFESSION OF FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, (THE “ELECT”). THE PRIMARY TASK OF THE CHURCH IS THE PROCLAIMING OF THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF THE GOD, THUS FURTHERING THE SPREAD OF THAT KINGDOM THROUGHOUT THE EARTH, AND THE DISCIPLING AND NURTURING OF ALL THAT THE LORD ADDS TO THE CHURCH DAILY. 5. WE BELIEVE IN THE ORDINANCES OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S TABLE AS THE ONLY TWO ORDINANCES COMMITTED TO US BY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF. WE BELIEVE THAT BAPTISM IS THE IMMERSION OF THE BELIEVER IN WATER, INTO THE NAME OF THE TRIUNE GOD.WE BELIEVE THAT THE BREAD AND THE CUP ARE A MEMORIAL INSTITUTED BY THE LORD JESUS TO COMMERATE HIS DEATH. BOTH ARE TO BE PRACTICED UNTIL THE LORD’S RETURN. 6. WE BELIEVE IN THE COMPLETE FREEDOM OF THE BELIEVER IN ALL MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE, PERTAINING TO WORSHIP, THE STUDY OF THE WORD, AND THE WORKING OUT OF OUR FAITH. WE ARE ALL INDIVIDUALLY RESPONSIBLE TO THE LORD IN MATTERS OF FAITH. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS ABLE TO GUIDE US INTO ALL TRUTH. THEREFORE WE PROMOTE NO MAN-MADE IDEOLOGIES WHETHER THEY BE IN THE RELIGIOUS REALM OR THE POLITICAL. THERE ARE NO SUPREME ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHORITIES HOLDING SWAY OVER THE BODY.CHURCH AND STATE MUST MAINTAIN THEIR SEPARATE FUNCTIONS AS BIBLICALLY MANDATED. 7. WE BELIEVE THAT THE MINISTRIES OF APOSTLE, PROPHET, EVANGELIST, PASTOR, AND TEACHER ARE IN FULL OPERATION IN THIS DAY, THOUGH NOT BEING UTILIZED IN THE SAME WAY AS THE ORIGINAL CHURCH LEADERSHIP OF THE FIRST CENTURY CHURCH. THEREFORE NO MAN MAY ADD TO OR TAKE AWAY FROM THE SCRIPTURES. WE BELIEVE THAT ALL THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS INCLUDING TONGUES, PROPHECY, AND MIRACLES ARE ACTIVE AND IN FULL USE TODAY. WE AFFIRM BOTH OF THESE BELIEFS ON THE BASIS OF SOLA SCRIPTURA. THE SCRIPTURES DO NOT CLEARLY STATE ANYWHERE THAT THESE THINGS HAVE PASSED FROM USE IN THE CHURCH. ALL TRADITIONS AND BELIEFS OF MEN MUST STAND OR FALL ON THE FOUNDATION OF THE SCRIPTURES. SO MUST ALL USAGE OF THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND MINISTRIES. 8. WE BELIVE THAT ALL THE CREATIVE ARTS ARE MEANT TO GLORIFY GOD AND DRAW US INTO WORSHIP OF HIM. WE DEFINE THE CREATIVE ARTS AS FOLLOWS: MUSIC, PAINTING, SCULPTURE, WRITING IN ALL ITS FORMS (POETRY, PROSE, NOVELS AND TEACHINGS), FILM MAKING,VIDEOS, LIVE THEATRICAL PRESENTATIONS, PHOTOGRAPHY, ETC. THERE ARE NO INHERENTLY EVIL ART FORMS, MERELY EVIL MEN AND THEIR INTENTIONS. WE ENTER INTO NO DEBATE OVER THE VALIDITY CONTEMPORARY OR TRADITIONAL STYLES IN OUR WORSHIP OF THE LORD. 9. WE BELIEVE IN THE ONENESS AND UNITY OF THE BODY. ALL “BELIEVERS” MUST COOPERATE REGARDLESS OF DENOMINATIONAL AFFILIATION. IT MUST BE MADE CLEAR THAT NOT ALL WHO SIT IN A CHURCH CONGREGATION ARE BELIEVERS. WE DO NOT PROMOTE DOCTRINES OF FALSE UNITY ( I.E. THE FAMILY OF MAN, WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER UNITY) , OR UNIVERSALIST, INCLUSIVIST, SALVATION DOCTRINES. WE BELIEVE IN THE LITERAL RETURN OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AT A TIME CHOSEN AND KNOWN ONLY BY THE FATHER . THE DEAD AND CHRIST WILL BE RAISED FIRST AND THEN ALL WHO ARE HIS, AND ARE ALIVE AT HIS COMING WILL BE TRANSFORMED AND TOGETHER WE WILL BE GATHERED TO MEET HIM IN THE AIR. HE WILL THEN ESTABLISH HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM WHERE THE RIGHTEOUS IN HIM, WILL WORSHIP HIM, AND ENJOY HIM FOREVER. THERE WILL BE A JUDGING OF ALL WHOSE NAMES ARE NOT IN THE BOOK OF LIFE, ETERNAL DAMNATION BEING THEIR REWARD.