Beliefs

Bethesda Baptist Church seeks to be defined by its distinctive beliefs, abstaining from man-centered worship, shallow preaching and unscriptural practices. We are committed to biblical Christianity and traditional Baptist principles of baptism and church membership of believers only. We are unashamedly Baptists in the tradition of John Bunyan, Dr. John Gill, Charles Spurgeon, John Broadus, James P. Boyce and B. H. Carroll, affirming the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith.

Bethesda Baptist Church also believes the following:

·       We believe and teach that God is not only sovereign in things pertaining to his creation but is sovereign in the salvation of man (1Corinthians 1:26-31; Ephesians 1:3-11; Romans 8:28-32). Salvation is by grace alone, plus nothing and minus nothing (Ephesians 2:8-10). A person is saved only when God makes him willing and gives him the ability to repent and come to faith in Jesus Christ, the one who died in his place, suffering the wrath of God for his sins (Philippians 1:6;29-30; 2 Timothy 2:24-25).

·         We believe in the vital role of the local church in the believer's faith and practice (Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 13:17). We believe that believers need each other and are instructed in Holy Scripture to unite with a local church in order to receive instruction, counsel, and, when necessary, correction in spiritual matters. God has instructed us to join a local church with visible pastors and deacons and give visible offerings, visible prayers and visible accountability.

·         We believe that hymn singing, prayers and preaching of the Word of God should be the central focus of the church. The Apostle Paul said the church is "the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth" (1 Timothy 3:15). The Apostle John said in Revelation 1:20 that churches are lampstands (sources of light). The power of these things in the church is the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and when the gospel of Jesus Christ is removed, the church ceases to exist, becoming a social club or a charitable organization.

·         We believe the church should be a spiritual family, caring for the spiritual welfare of its members (1 Thessalonians 5:12-14; Philippians 2:1-5). Becoming a member of a church is a covenant commitment with its members and to the Lord. It means being willing to be transparent, willing to be humble, and willing to undertake the responsibilities of such a commitment (Ephesians 4:1-3; 25-32).

·         We believe that the policies and practices of the church are to be found only in the Word of God, where "will-worship" is severely condemned by God (Colossians 2:23).