The fundamental beliefs of
the Guthrie Memorial Chapel are:
- The risen Jesus Christ, “God with us” (Matt. 1:23), is mankind’s perfect Savior, and belief in the efficacy of Christ’s sacrifice for mankind will lead to eternal life. 1 Peter 2:22; Heb. 4:15; 2:14, 17; 7:25; Luke 19:10; Jude 24,25; Gal. 2:16.
- We are to teach and preach
the "good news" of salvation to all. Matt 28:19-20;
25:14-30; Luke 10:25-37.
- Christ is our High Priest,
who mediates before the Father, God, on behalf of those
who ask for forgiveness of their sins. No human priest is
needed to go between the individual and God when the
individual approaches God. Every believer in Christ is a
priest. Heb., Chapters: 7, 8, 9, 10.
- The Bible is the inspired
word of God and is, therefore, the only rule of faith.
Rom. 15:4; 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; Rom. 1:2; Ps. 1:2;
James
1:18.
- The Ten Commandments are
binding, including the fourth commandment, which
identifies the Sabbath as the seventh day of the week,
Saturday. Ceremonial laws of the Old Testament were
invalidated by the death, burial, and resurrection of
Christ, our High Priest. Deut. 4: 12, 13; Ex. 20: 7-11;
Rom. 7: 12, 14; Matt. 22:37-40; James 2:12; 1 John 3:4;
Matt. 12:8; Luke 4:16; 23:56;
- Continuing is Christ's
promise to return literally to this earth and take the
saved, alive and resurrected dead, to heaven with Him.
John 14:1-3; Eccl. 9:5, 6 (dead know nothing); Acts
1:10-11; Rev. 1:7; Matt 24:23-26.
- Following the example of
Christ, Christians should be good stewards of their
God-given funds, talents, and time, volunteering to serve
and fill needs in the church, community, and world.
Pastors should be first to set the example of volunteer
service. Christians should implement the principles of
charity taught in the parable of the Good Samaritan. When
giving to the least of Christ's "children," we are giving
to Him. 1 Cor. 9:15-18; Matt. 25:34-36; Luke 10:25-37;
Prov. 21:13; James 1:27; Acts 3:6; 2 Cor. 9:7.
- God, the eternal Creator,
is without beginning and without end. Gen. Chapters 1 and
2; Ps. 19; Rom. 1:20; Ex. 20:8-11; Mal. 2:10.
- Faith, hope, and love are
essential to the Christian's life; however, the greatest
of these is love, as this principle is taught by Christ in
the "Golden Rule." 1 Cor 13:12, 13; Matt. 7:12; Luke 6:31.
- Our bodies, being the
temple of God, should be treated with utmost care and
respect. Life and health are divine gifts from our Creator
and, therefore, should be conserved for use as a dwelling
place by the Holy Spirit. To be avoided are: unclean foods
(meats), alcohol, tobacco, and any other substance or
practice that weakens our bodies. 3 John 2; Ex. 15:26; 1 Cor 6:19,
20; Gen. 1:29; Dan. 1:8; Lev. 11:7; Prov. 23:29,30.
- Believers are to be
baptized by immersion in the name of the Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit. Matt. 28:19, 20; Matt. 3:5-16.
- At all times and in all ways, our lives should reflect
the life of Christ and the principles that He taught and
lived.
- Members of our world-church family are to support
their local church and its Christian outreach by their attendance (as permitted by distance and health) and by their free-will gifts. Heb. 10:24, 25; 1 Thes. 5:11-15; 1 Cor. 11:33; 2 Cor. 6:14.
- Christians should dress
modestly, following the pattern of the Godly woman
described in Revelation 19: 7,8 (see Amplified Bible,
especially). Her dress of simple, white linen
(symbolizing the righteousness of Christ) is the source
of her beauty, beginning within and radiating outward.
She is known for her "good works," (1 Peter 3:3,4; 1
Timothy 2:9.10; Jeremiah 6:2).
On the other hand,
Jezebel, a symbol of worldliness (Babylon), is the epitome
of the egotistic woman, thinking beauty is outward, with
the painting of the face and eyes (Ezekiel 23:40) and
the wearing of extravagant hair styles. Babylon is
further described as a woman dressed with gold, precious
stones, and pearls; she, hating God's people, is drunk
with their blood (Revelation 17:6).
The Christian
model of modesty. therefore, is the woman of Revelation
19, (draped with Christ's righteousness and simple
clothing, (Matthew 22: 1-13) not Jezebel and Babylon,
symbolizing abominations, prostitution, seduction, and
worldliness. (I Kings 18: 4, 13; II Kings 9:30).
- Marriage is between one
man and one woman as instituted by God in Genesis.
(See Genesis, chapters 1 and 2.)
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© 2005 Guthrie Memorial
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