STATEMENT OF FAITH

The fundamental teachings of Converge Church are reflected in the following, clear statements:

1.              We believe in the plenary-verbal inspiration of the accepted canon of the Scriptures as originally given and that they are infallibly and uniquely authoritative and free from error of any sort in all matters with which they deal.
(1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16)

2.              We believe in the Eternal Godhead who has revealed Himself as ONE God existing in THREE persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; distinguishable but indivisible.
(Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

3.              We believe in the literal, special creation of the existing space-time universe and all of its basic systems as indicated in Genesis.
(Genesis 1; Nehemiah 9:6; Isaiah 42:5; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17)

4.              We believe in the creation, test, and fall of man as recorded in Genesis; his total spiritual depravity and inability to attain to divine righteousness.
(Romans 5:12,18)

5.              We believe that sin is a transgressing of, or falling short of, God’s standard in action, thought, and character. All individuals are born with a sin nature that affects their motivation, affection, volition, and actions. The results of sin include separation from God and death.
(Romans 3:10,23; 6:23; 14:23; James 4:17; 1 John 5:17)

6.              We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of men, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, fully God and fully man.
(Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:26-35; John 1:18)

7.              We believe Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day, and personally appeared to His disciples.
(Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8)

8.              We believe in the bodily ascension of Jesus to heaven, His exaltation and personal, literal and bodily coming again the second time for the Church.
(Matthew 24; Mark 16:19; John 14:2-3; Acts 1:9-11; Philippians 2:5-11;
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 9:28)

9.              We believe in the salvation of sinners by grace, through repentance and faith in the perfect and sufficient work of the cross of Calvary by which we obtain remission of sins.
(Romans 5:11; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 9:12,22)

10.           We believe in the necessity of water baptism by immersion in the name of the Eternal Godhead in order to fulfill the command of Christ.
(Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38-39; 19:1-6)

11.           We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a distinct aspect of the Christian foundational experience with the primary evidence of speaking in tongues as well as evidences such as empowerment to witness, to conquer sin and to live a holy life.
(Acts 2:1-4; 8:14-17; 19:6)

12.           We believe in the Spirit-filled life, a life of separation from the world and the perfecting of holiness in the fear of God as an expression of Christian faith.
(2 Corinthians 6:14; 7:1; Galatians 5:16-26; Ephesians 5:18)

13.           We believe that since the Bible is the inspired Word of God, it is then authoritative in all areas of human behavior, including marriage, family, sexuality, morality, and ethics.

14.           We believe in the operation of the gifts of the Spirit as manifested in the Early Church and enumerated in 1 Corinthians 12-14.

15.           We believe in the healing of the body by Divine Power, or Divine healing in its varied aspects as practiced in the Early Church.

16.           We believe in the Table of the Lord, commonly called Communion or the Lord’s Supper, for believers.

17.           We believe in eternal life for believers (John 3:16; 5:24) and eternal punishment for unbelievers.

18.           We believe in the doctrine of laying on of hands for:

(a)        The confirming of believers in the faith. (Acts 19:2-6)

(b)       Confirmation of one’s call by the laying on of hands with prophecy. (Acts 13:3)

(c)        The impartation of spiritual gifts by the laying on of hands. (1 Timothy 4:14,2 Timothy 1:6)

(d)       The ordination and official setting apart for ministry. (Acts 13:3)

(e)        The impartation of the filling of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:17)

(f)        The ministry of healing the sick. (Mark 16:16, Acts 28:8)

(g)        The blessing and dedication (setting apart) of children. (Mark 10:16)

19.       We believe in the New Testament order for the local church, in its government, structure and worship.

(a)        Five-fold ministries: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers (Ephesians 4:11)

(b)       Elders (Titus 1:5-9; 1 Timothy 3:1-7)

(c)        Deacons (Acts 6:1-7; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:8-13)

(d)       Helpers, Administrators (1 Corinthians 12:28).

(e)        Those able and appointed to lead in Music and Worship. (1 Chronicles 23:1-5)

(f)        Pastoral accountability and authority. (Hebrews 13:17)

20.       We believe in church discipline administered within the church in a spirit of meekness and confidentiality.

(a) The purpose of such discipline is the restoration of the one subject to the discipline    and/or the purification of the church. The threefold purpose of church discipline is: 

(i)     To glorify God by maintaining purity in Converge Church Longview
(1 Corinthians 5:6)

(ii)    To edify believers by deterring sin and promoting purity (1 Timothy 5:20)

(ii)       To promote the spiritual welfare of the offending believer by calling him or her to return to a biblical standard of doctrine and conduct. (Galatians 6:1)

21.       We believe there is the occasional need for deliverance.  Deliverance is manifested by an inability to be free from bondage:  e.g., mental, emotional, willful, physical or spiritual - normally associated with demon activity. It is God’s desire to bring deliverance to His people. (Psalm 91:3, Luke 10:19; Hebrews 2:14-16; 2 Peter 2:9)  We have been granted the authority in the name of Jesus to bring deliverance to others. (Mark 16:17; John 14:12; 1 Corinthians 12:8-11)  We must understand that our warfare is with the forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12), our weapons are: the Word of God, prayer, faith, the Blood of Jesus, and the word of our testimony;  our authority and power is from Jesus himself. (Mark 16:17, Acts 1:5-8) and that the battlefield is first of all in the spiritual realms. (Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Romans 8:7-9; Galatians 5:22-23)

22.       Statement of Marriage. The Bible defines marriage as the covenant relationship between a man and a woman. The importance of this union to society requires that we support and protect marriage as the Word of God does. (Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:14-16;
Matthew 19:4-6)

(a)        We believe marriage is defined in the Bible as a covenant, a sacred bond between one (1) man and one (1) woman instituted by and publicly entered into before God (“Biblical Definition of Marriage”). Because of the longstanding importance of the Biblical Definition of Marriage to humans and their relationships and communities, and, most importantly, the fact that God has ordained that marriage be between one (1) man and one (1) woman, as clearly conveyed in God’s inerrant Scriptures, including for example in Matthew19:4-6 where in speaking about marriage Jesus referred to the fact that “he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,” the Church hereby creates this policy, which shall be known as the “Marriage Policy.”

(b)       Under this Church’s Marriage Policy, the Biblical Definition of Marriage is the only definition of marriage that will be recognized or accepted. No elder, officer, employee, servant, agent, or any person, corporation, organization, or entity under the direction or control of this Church shall commit any act or omission, or make any decision whatever, that would be inconsistent with, or that could be perceived by any person to be inconsistent with, full support of this Church’s Marriage Policy and strict adherence to the Biblical Definition of Marriage rather than any alternative to the Biblical Definition of Marriage.

(c)        This Church’s Marriage Policy specifically prohibits acts or omissions including but not limited to permitting any Church assets or property, whether real property, personal property, intangible property, or any property or asset of any kind that is subject to the direction or control of the Church, to be used in any manner that would be or could be perceived by any person to be inconsistent with this Church’s Marriage Policy or the Biblical Definition of Marriage, including but not limited to permitting any church facilities to be used by any person, organization, corporation, or group that would or might use such facilities to convey, intentionally or by implication, what might be perceived as a favorable impression about any definition of marriage other than the Biblical Definition of Marriage.

(d)       We believe this Church’s Marriage Policy is based upon God’s will for human life as conveyed to us through the Holy Scriptures, upon which this Church has been founded and anchored, and this Marriage Policy shall not be subject to change through popular vote; referendum; prevailing opinion of Church Members or the general public; influence of or interpretation by any government authority, agency, or official action; or legal developments on the local, state, or federal level.

23.       In addition to these basic fundamentals, we also hold that:

(a)            The theological framework for understanding all of God’s dealings with mankind is to be found in the divine covenants revealed in Scripture.
(Romans 9:4-5; Galatians 3-4; Ephesians 1:9-14; 3:11 Hebrews 8; 13:20)

(b)           We believe in the public gathering of the Church together for prayer, worship, teaching and preaching of the Bible and the administering of the sacraments of the church.
(Acts 2; 1 Corinthians 11; Hebrews 10:25)

(c)            Humanity as a whole is united in origin, in the fall, and in the provision of the atonement through Christ, making every person equally worthy of love and forgiveness; as well as just and unbiased treatment.
(John 3:16; Acts 10:34; 17:26; Romans 5:6-21; Colossians 3:8-16)

(d)           God’s eternal purpose involves all races and nations, culminating in every nation, tribe and tongue being represented before His throne.
(Matthew 28:19; Ephesians 2:14-18; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Revelation 5:9; 7:9)

(e)            The Church of Jesus Christ is the last instrument that God is using to extend His kingdom prior to the second coming of Christ.
(Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:20-23; 3:10)

(f)            The Local Church is autonomous and maintains the right to govern its own affairs, independent of any denominational control. Recognizing, however, the benefits of cooperation with other Churches in world missions and otherwise, this Church may voluntarily affiliate, from time to time, with any churches of like precious faith. (Acts 2; 13:1-4)

(g)           The biblical form of church government is a plurality of elders with a Lead Pastor who all qualify on the basis of 1 Timothy 3 in spiritual life, character, domestic life and ruling ability.

(h)           Every believer in Christ must be subject to God’s authority in a specific local church for spiritual protection and long-term fruitfulness.
(Hebrews 13:17)

24.       This Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs.  The Bible, as originally given, is infallibly and uniquely authoritative and free from error of any sort in all matters with which it deals, including truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, and is the sole and final source of all that we believe.  For purposes of the Church’s doctrine, practice, policy, faith, and discipline, a plurality of the elders is the Church’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.