What Do We Believe?
We are Calvinistic in our theology, Baptistic in our church polity, and charismatic in our affections. That is, we trust wholly in the sovereign grace of God in and over all things. Under Christ and his Word the congregation is the final authority in church governance with a Council of Elders who oversee and teach the people. We practice and teach believer's baptism. And we are committed to pursue all the fullness of God with use of his spiritual gifts in the life of the church.
All the pastoral staff and elders embrace The Bethlehem Baptist Church Elder Affirmation of Faith. While members are required to embrace the shorter Congregational Affirmation of Faith, and are not required to affirm the detail of the Elder Affirmation of Faith, our aim as elders is to lead everyone toward unity in the fullness of this truth.
The Mind and the Heart
We are convinced that truth really matters and that right belief is essential for sustained, persevering right living and affections. And we want to keep these two in proper order. Right belief is not our ultimate goal. Rather, we aim deeper; we aim for the heart. We want to help you in your quest for joy. In Pastor John Piper's words, "From a biblical standpoint studying and thinking and knowing are never ends in themselves; they always stand in the service of feeling and willing and doing. The mind is the servant of the heart. Knowledge exists for the sake of love. And all theology worth its salt produces doxology."
Our Aim: Your Happiness
Our desire is your happiness in God. That is ultimately why we hold our brief Congregational Affirmation of Faith and our more thorough Elder Affirmation of Faith dear. Because the mind serves the heart. And God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. To find out more, please read some of the documents below.
Additional Reading
- Church Covenant: Our members affirm this covenant that binds our community together in purpose, vision, and affection.
- TULIP: Learn more about this acronym that signifies Bethlehem's Calvinistic theology.
- Quest for Joy: In God's presence is fullness of joy. We want to invite you to pursue pleasures forevermore.
- Emphasis in Teaching: A brief list of what our pastors try to emphasize in their teaching.
- Vision & Mission: Our beloved mission statement and the vision to drives our ministry.