Values and Goals

We believe that the gospel must be proclaimed through the means of grace that God has provided: the faithful preaching and teaching of the word of God, the prayers of God’s people, and the sacraments of the Lord’s Supper and Baptism. We believe that faith without works is dead, a false religion whose hypocrisy leads to condemnation and fruitlessness. It is wrong for a church to say “go and be well” and yet turn a blind eye and closed hand to those truly in need. A true gospel-proclaiming church will yield true fruit in action. This does not mean that the works save the church; only the salvation made possible by Christ’s work on the cross can accomplish this. However, a true church will be engaged in the work that Christ has commanded his people to carry out. Doctrinal faithfulness and ethical practice go hand in hand. The faithful proclamation of the gospel will have a transformative, renewing effect on its people that leads toward tangible action, and bears witness to the outside world.

Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, 2 Timothy 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Matthew 28:19, James 2:14-26, John 15:2, 1 Peter 2:12

We believe the Bible teaches about the need for the people of God to care about mercy and justice. These are not cultural trends; they are timeless issues that Scripture speaks about and that the people of God in every generation must attend to in faithfulness. A natural progression from gospel proclamation to action leads to works of mercy and justice because these are a part of God’s character—he is a God of justice and a God of mercy. We reject the false dichotomy that the church must choose between gospel proclamation and mercy and justice work; rather, Scripture commands us to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.

Scripture References: Micah 6:8, Amos 5:24, James 2:16, Psalm 103:6, Isaiah 1:17

We believe that every church, whether they confess to it or not, lives by foundational principles that guide their belief and practice. We believe that Reformed theology, detailed in the Westminster Confession of Faith and its catechisms, is a biblically faithful expression that serves the church well in its beliefs and practice.. We believe that a covenantal understanding of Scripture is the truest expression of the unity of the Bible and its grand story of redemption. From Adam all the way to Christ, this covenant story shows a God of grace who makes covenant with his people and fulfills the promise of the covenant by sending Jesus as the fulfillment of all the demands that the people of God could not fulfill. In this covenant, we are reminded of God’s faithfulness over the faithlessness of his people.

Scripture References: Genesis 17:7, Ephesians 1:4-10, Luke 24:25-27, Matthew 5:17, 2 Timothy 2:13

We believe that gospel renewal is for the individual to confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and to believe in their heart that God raised him from the dead. We believe in the transformative work that this gospel does in redeeming those who were once dead in their sins to live in love and good works, by faith alone in Christ alone for their salvation. This gospel renewal is also cosmic, as Scripture speaks about the new heavens and the new earth, where Christ is making all things new. This causes us to consider how the kingdom of God is working not just in individual souls but also in communities, cities, and globally. Our cares and concerns as the body of Christ are both for specific individuals and for the world as a whole to seek its flourishing. 

Scripture References: Romans 6:1-4, Romans 10:9, Revelation 21:5, Ephesians 2:8-9, Jeremiah 29:4-7

To love our neighbor is to know our neighbor and their needs. As a church located in East Columbia, our cause is for the neighborhoods of East Columbia, particularly the Long Reach Village area in which we reside. In a suburban context, where the idols of compartmentalized society can make it easy to avoid the concerns of our neighbors, we desire to be a regional church that tangibly cares for the Long Reach community with both the hope of the gospel and acts that meet needs. We desire to be a positive expression of love toward Long Reach, recognizing the need for gospel renewal, and we desire for our neighbors to know us as a church where they can be cared for and loved. We will not adopt a savior mentality toward Long Reach, but rather will celebrate our community and treat those who reside in it with dignity.

Scripture References: Matthew 25:31-46, Acts 2:42-47, Mark 12:33, Romans 13:10

The body of Christ is filled with many giftings and many different expressions. We believe that the church, which will one day be joined together from every nation, tribe, and tongue in worship of God, should in its local form reflect the diversity of the community it resides in. As those made in God’s image, we desire to use our unique giftings and callings to serve the Lord together in the ways in which we were created and to glorify God in our union with Christ. We reject uniformity of that expression to show favoritism to one age, gender, class, race, nation, calling, or gift set. We also reject the tendency toward division so common in our culture, our economics, and our politics, pursuing the ministry of reconciliation with those who are different from us while remaining faithful to the head of the church, which is Christ.

Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 12:12-30, Revelation 7:9-10, Galatians 3:26-29, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Ephesians 2:14-16

Jesus proclaimed both that the kingdom of God is near and that the kingdom of God is coming. In this he was not promoting doublespeak; rather, he was speaking about a kingdom that arrived with his coming and that the church has a part to play in today. This kingdom immanence means that the people of God participate in revealing Christ’s kingdom and demonstrating what this kingdom is to look like in their homes, workplaces, and communities. It is an immanence that brings gospel renewal in the here and now. But because this kingdom is not yet fully realized, the church will remind itself in times of hardship, persecution, and failure to long for the kingdom to come, and Christ’s return. The church may not succeed in the work of renewal in a way that is visibly realized in their time. Yet, they continue to be faithful and press forward in hope. This tension between the immanence and transcendence of God’s kingdom will prevent the church from being so heavenly minded that we’re no earthly good, or too caught up in the present that we forget we are not home yet.

Scripture References: Luke 17:21, Matthew 12:28, Luke 19:11-12, 2 Corinthians 5:1-8, Hebrews 12:1-3

We believe that everyone is created in the image of God and reflects the dignity of that creation. The church’s posture is one of recognizing this truth in even our fiercest opponents and responding in grace and love toward enemies and praying for them. We believe that because common grace exists, we can interact with unbelievers in love without conforming to the world. We will not be afraid to engage, befriend, and care for the stranger, the orphan, the widow, the leper, and others whom society and religious legalists have rejected.  We long to reach the unreached to those who have limited or no access to the gospel.  We reject monasticism as a form of gospel outreach; our commitment is not to isolate ourselves from the world, but to go and reach those whom God has called us to reach.

Scripture References: Genesis 1:27, Matthew 5:43-44, Romans 12:1-2, Hebrews 13:2, Deuteronomy 10:18, Matthew 5:14-16