Core Beliefs
Our lists of core beliefs and denominational clarifications are not intended to put up barriers to keep anyone away, but rather we are making our beliefs known in order to be transparent about where our leadership stands and what kinds of teachings you can expect to hear at our church. Here are the beliefs that we consider to be at the core of our faith:
God is the one and only true God (Isa. 45:5-6) and the sovereign Creator of all things (Rev. 4:11; Jer. 32:17); God exists as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19), who are distinct from each other (Matt. 3:16-17) yet are all the one true God (Deut. 6:4; John 8:58; Acts 5:3-4).
The Bible is true and inspired by God (Ps. 119:160; John 10:35; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
God has revealed himself most fully through Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:1-3; Col. 1:15-20).
Jesus Christ was born of a virgin (Matt. 1:18) and is fully God (Col. 1:19) and fully human (John 1:14).
All of us sin and fall short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23) and therefore deserve death (Rom. 6:23).
Jesus died and rose from the grave to pay for our sins (Rom. 4:25; 1 Cor. 15:3-4) and triumph over sin and death (1 Cor. 15:55-57) so that all who believe in him may have eternal life (John 3:16).
Salvation is available only through Jesus (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).
Salvation cannot be earned but is a gift of God’s grace that comes through faith (Eph. 2:8-9).
Repentance and a transformed life are the evidence of genuine saving faith (James 2:17; John 15:4-5) and are possible through the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:13-14).
Jesus ascended into heaven and will one day return to gather his people together to be with him forever (Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thess. 4:16-17).
Denominational Clarifications
Bean Blossom Community Church is a member of CMC for the sake of support, accountability, and partnership in missions. We affirm and uphold the official theological statements of CMC since we believe they align with the teachings of Scripture. You can click these links to read CMC's Statement of Theology and CMC's Statement of Practice. Most of the teachings would be affirmed by virtually all Christians, but we have summarized below the beliefs that are the most unique or most frequently misunderstood.
Believer’s baptism – We teach that water baptism is an outward symbol of a person’s repentance and spiritual rebirth in Jesus (1 Peter 3:21; Rom. 6:3-8). Therefore, based on our understanding of scripture, we do not baptize infants but only those who are old enough to genuinely accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Non-resistance – The scriptures teach us to love our enemies, do good to them, and leave judgment to God (Matt. 5:38-45; Rom. 12:17-21; 1 Pet. 3:9). Since we believe that followers of Jesus should live out these teachings in all circumstances—even in times of war—we teach that Christians should refrain from participating in combat. However, we acknowledge that there are varying views, even within our congregation, about military service in times of war. We respect and welcome those who hold to other viewpoints on this issue.
Non-conformity – We encourage everyone to live for Jesus and his kingdom rather than the things of this world (Matt. 6:19-21; Col. 3:1-2; 1 John 2:15-17). We do not believe that this means banning the use of technology or requiring people to dress a certain way. Rather, we teach that God desires us to be distinct from the world in the way we live and the way we think (Rom. 12:2; Col. 3:5-10).