“Faithful to the Scriptures” We believe the Bible is the inspired word of God, it is without error in its original manuscripts, and contains everything we need to know about having a right relationship with God and our fellow human beings. We have a high view of the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16), AND we are also aware of the mystery of the Scriptures (Deuteronomy 29:29) and the many challenges of the Scriptures (John 6, or the entire book of Job).
“Winsomely Reformed” We do embrace the teachings that came out of the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. The Reformers (like Hus, Luther and Calvin, for example) re-discovered the doctrines of grace and we as a church and a denomination love the doctrines of grace. Additionally, we affirm the five tenets of the Protestant Reformation: Scripture alone, by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, and to God alone be the glory. When we say we are “winsomely Reformed” we acknowledge that Reformed Theology has been misunderstood and/or abused in various contexts and various times. We believe Reformed Theology is best taught and received from the humility of a “velvet glove”, rather than an “iron fist”. The Apostle Peter’s words are helpful to our approach and tone, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15) Michael Kruger, New Testament Professor at RTS, has an excellent article on “Winsomely Reformed” (you can read it by clicking here).
“Culturally Caring” We have an awareness of the complexities of following Jesus in a post-Christian culture. We have a sensitivity to issues in our culture, like racial injustice, partisan politics, church hurt, spiritual abuse, same-sex attraction, gender issues, and gender confusion to name a few, yet we aim for a nuanced and Biblical view on those issues. We approach these issues with humility and the blend of grace AND truth, compassion AND conviction. We avoid the “culture wars” (we may be more conservative than our liberal friends are comfortable with, and we may be more liberal than our conservative friends are comfortable with). We also believe that Jesus invites us to live out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) with the community we live in and love.
What we are really about is the gospel, the good news of Jesus…..His life, His death, His resurrection, His ongoing intercession. The gospel tells us that “we are more flawed and sinful than we could ever imagine AND that we are more loved and accepted by God than we could ever dare dream” (this phrase was borrowed from Tim Keller, who borrowed it from Jack Miller, who borrowed it from Martin Luther). We believe that the same grace that justifies us is the same grace that sanctifies us. In other words, we live out the Christian life not by trying harder to be better, rather by depending on Christ more and leaning into our weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12). As Keller has said, “The gospel is not the ABC’s of the Christian life, rather the A to Z of the Christian life.”
Our Vision Statement says that we are, “A welcoming, Christ-centered church, dedicated to making disciples of Jesus Christ, testifying to the gospel of
the grace of God, equipping every believer to mature towards the fullness of Christ. So that God alone is worshipped and everyone is stirred up to love andgood deeds, transforming Boone and beyond.”
We are a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), and we embrace Biblical and Historic Christianity as expressed in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, and as summarized in the Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds.
The New City Catechism is an excellent, free online tool that expresses our core beliefs. NCC is in Q&A format and includes readings from historic Christianity, as well as short teachings on video from several excellent teachers such as Timothy Keller, DA Carson, and others.
Following is a summary of our view of the essentials of Historic Christianity:
The Bible
The Bible is the inspired word of God. It is without error in its original manuscripts, and contains everything we need to know about having a right relationship with God and our fellow human beings. The Bible is the basis for all of our essential beliefs (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
God
God is one (Mark 12:29), yet mysteriously exists in three Persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), who are to be equally loved, honored, and surrendered to (Matthew 28:19).
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human. He is the sole Mediator able to restore the broken relationship, and the resulting alienation, between God and people (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is God, the third Person of the Trinity. He is alive and active. He indwells followers of Christ, working in unison with the Word of God to guide them in all truth. He is the power that enables Christians to live as new creations in Christ and empowers believers for service (John 16:7-14; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 6:17).
People
People are created by God and in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). On this basis, all people must be treated with dignity, honor, love and respect (James 3:9-10). At the same time, in their quest for independence and the centrality of self, all people begin their lives alienated from God, and in this condition are without hope and under judgment, a condition that can only be cured through God’s loving, gracious, and saving intervention (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1). As the image of God, we are most alive when our trust, affections and allegiances center on Him.
Restoration
Restoration between God and people (also called ‘salvation’) happens when the Holy Spirit gives people a new heart, leading and enabling them to trust in Jesus alone for salvation (John 1:12-13). Because God loves His creation, He will also restore the entire universe to a condition of beauty, rest, joy, perfection, and freedom (Romans 8:18-30). God’s world, which began as a promising Garden (Genesis 1:27-31), will find its fulfillment in a perfected, life-giving City in which there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain (Revelation 21:1-8).
Good Works
Good works do not and cannot make us acceptable to God (Ephesians 2:8-9), but are the natural outcome of authentic faith in Jesus (James 2:17). We become more fully human—the very best and most healthy version of ourselves—to the degree that we follow God’s loving commands. His commands, properly understood, are neither limiting nor oppressive but life-giving. Obedience to God’s commands is an essential prerequisite for true human flourishing.
The Church
The Church is the family of God and consists of those who place their functional trust (faith) in Jesus. God wants all members of His worldwide Church, together with their children, to be active in a local church which meets regularly to worship God, serve each other, and be a life-giving presence in their local community and world (Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:24-25).
- For God’s Plan of Salvation, click here: THE GOOD NEWS
- For the Westminster Standards, click here: WCF
- For the Book of Church Order, click here: BCO
- If you are looking for the PCA’s position about a specific topic, please visit the PCA Historical Center’s collection of PCA Position Papers here: PCA POSITION PAPERS