"So when Christian doctrine is neglected, forsaken, or corrupted, true holiness and worship will also be neglected, forsaken, and corrupted."
- John Owen
Doctrine
Why Doctrine Matters
Doctrine is inescapable. Even the statement "we have no doctrine" is itself a doctrinal statement. This means that we as Christians must be mindful of the doctrines we adopt, both intentionally and unintentionally, and we must examine these doctrines against our only infallible rule of faith and practice, namely the Word of God.
Scripture makes clear that our actions flow from our beliefs (references). Doctrine matters because, whether we realize it or not, it governs how we live our lives.
Doctrinal Requirements for Membership
In addition to your confession of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, we require affirmation of The Baptist Faith and Message (2000) in order to become a member of North Clay Baptist Church.
Why separate requirements for Members vs. Elders
Doctrinal Commitments of the Elders
The historic creeds and confessions of the church serve to summarize the teachings of Scripture. The authority of any statement, creed, or confession comes only from its alignment with and fidelity to the words of Holy Scripture. Similarly, these creeds and confessions provide boundary markers for the teaching and preaching ministry of the church. While we hold to these, we do not demand their dogmatic adoption. Our commitment as Christians, and as elders, is and should be only to God's Holy, inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word.
The Elders of North Clay Baptist Church affirm the following:
The Baptist Faith & Message (2000)
The 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith
The New Hampshire Confession of Faith