Statement of Faith

Faith Statement for the Salem Reformed Church of Menno, S.D.
(Adopted: 1-25-04)
 
 
MISSION (Why we exist)
To gather as God’s family to worship, and hear the Word of God.  To grow in grace and love. To help every member grow in their personal relationship in Christ. To go out in faith, love and service (Matthew 28:19).
 
PURPOSE (What we are committed to do)
(From the constitution Section 1—Article 2)  The purpose of this congregation shall be:  to provide for its members the constant preaching of the Word of God, the administration of the sacraments, the opportunity for public worship and practice of Christian discipline, and the furthering of the Kingdom of Christ.
 
We shall use the following principles to carry out our purpose as approved in the annual meeting of our church in 1989.

• To rely on God’s grace and power of prayer.
• To spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the church, the family, and the community through faithful Biblical teaching and living our Christian faith.
• To show our concern for others.
• To recognize and be open to using the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

 
OUR BELIEF’S (Doctrinal statements)

Scripture:  We believe the Bible to be the inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God in it’s original manuscripts.  It is our supreme authority in all matters of doctrine and practice.
 
We affirm the teachings of the Heidelberg Catechism
 
We affirm the Apostle’s Creed
 
God:  We believe that there is one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:27, John 1:3).
 
Jesus Christ:  We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, shed His blood, and died in our place, the perfect sacrifice for the sins of mankind, was buried, arose bodily from the grave and ascended into Heaven.  He is the one and only Savior of humanity. Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father, but through me” (John 14:6).
 
Holy Spirit:  We believe the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Christ, to call people to repentance, to convict people of their sin and lead them into the way of righteousness, to regenerate the believer, indwell, intercede, guide, instruct and empower the believer for Godly living and service.
 
Sin:  We believe mankind was created in the image of God but fell into sin, bringing physical and spiritual death.  Now all of mankind exists as a fallen race, with an inherited sinful nature (Romans 3:23)

Salvation:  We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection provide the only basis for justification and salvation for all who believe. Salvation is a gift received by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
 
Church:  We believe the Church is composed of sinners who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit.  We also believe Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church and that every local church has the right, under Christ, to decide and govern its own affairs.
 
AFFIRMATIONS  
The Lord’s Supper is viewed as a Sacrament.  Communion is open to all who confess their sins and believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
 
Baptism is viewed as a Sacrament.  Through baptism you entered the worldwide community of the Christian church.  Our custom is infant baptism, but we allow for personal freedom in practice.
 
We practice the rite of Confirmation following the teachings of the Bible and the Heidelberg Catechism.  Confirmation is the personal affirmation of baptism.  In confirmation we affirm this:  You give yourself whole-heartedly to God and seek to know God’s will for your life.  You take Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, whom you will follow all the days of your life.  You depend on God’s Holy Spiritto guide you in all you do.
 
(According to Scripture we expect that the) Pastor of our church shall aspire to lead a Godly lifestyle including being above reproach, temperate, prudent, dignified, hospitable, able to teach, gentle, not a lover of money, good manager of their household, mature in faith, well thought of by others.  Applying also to elders, deacons, teachers, and all leadership within the church.
 
CORE-VALUES (The heart of who we are)

Biblical Authority:  The Bible is the highest source of written authority of God’s plan for His people; it reveals how to live out that plan, individually and corporately.  Beliefs, practices and priorities are to be anchored in clear biblical teachings.
 
Prayer:  We believe that prayer is a vital and essential part of our continuing relationship to God, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
 
Local Church Centered:  We believe the local church and the family is the fundamental place for education, evangelism, discipleship, and mission to be carried out.
 
Biblical Education:  We believe that our Christian education program be centered upon conservative Biblical teachings and prayer.