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| Guidelines
for Congregational Life |
| Adopted
1996 |
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Introduction
to Guidelines
The Bible, as God's story of salvation, centers on the Person of
Jesus Christ as our Savior. It is through Him alone that we can
rejoice in the hope of eternal life as we live in the present.
The Bible speaks of righteousness and sin, right and wrong, in
how we should think and live. Examples include:
· The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality,
impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred,
discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissentions,
factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn
you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not
inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no
law. (Gal. 5:19-23)
· Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy – think about such things. (Phil. 4:8)
· Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy
Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are
not your own; (I Cor. 6:19)
· All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the
man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (II
Tim. 3:16, 17)
At Cherry Glade we want to live above the curse of sin and that
which destroys. We want to love in the very presence of Jesus as
we seek the heart of God in matters and issues that concern us
today.
To help our congregation to develop a common understanding on
some of these issues, a statement, "Some Guidelines for
Congregational Life," has been developed. The issues
addressed relate to historical or present convictions and
concerns. The list of issues and concerns does not attempt to
speak to every issue and detail mentioned in the Scriptures.
Rather, it deals with selected ones that we wish to specifically
speak to for the present.
The Bible contains many teachings which serve as principles to
guide our practices. As a congregation, we seek to search the
Scriptures to understand these principles and how they relate to
daily life in our time.
It is recognized that our congregation's understanding and
convictions may change with time. Therefore, these statements
are not intended to represent the final word with no further
searching of the Scriptures and Holy Spirit discernment.
Some Guidelines for Congregational Life
1. We believe that the Bible teaches that our bodies are the
temple of the Lord, and teaches against homosexuality,
premarital and extramarital sexual relationships and the general
promiscuity in our society today, and that the mind should be
kept pure and the body undefiled. (For further exposition, click
here for a statement entitled "Conservative Mennonite
Conference Statement on Homosexuality." or on
http://www.cmcrosedale.org/publications.htm.
for this and other Conservative Mennonite Conference
publications.) We believe that since the Bible teaches that our minds and
bodies are the Lord's, we should strive by the power of the
Spirit to develop discipline and habits that model and promote
spiritual, mental and physical wholeness, and should avoid that
which is destructive. The Scriptures speak pointedly for
example, to gluttony and drunkenness as being sin. In today's
society, tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs for non-medical
purpose, contribute immensely to unnecessary disease,
drunkenness, addictions, family breakup, sufferings and death.
Therefore, we teach and warn specifically against the use of
tobacco, alcohol and other drugs because of risking one's own
well-being and the possibility of causing a weaker brother or
sister to become enslaved.
3. We believe the Bible teaches that which fills and occupies
our minds expresses much about our personal relationship with
the Lord. Therefore, we encourage the use of wholesome
literature or audios and visuals. We should avoid that which is
not wholesome such as pornography, and degrading music, and
should especially guard against the undisciplined use of
television for the sake of our children and families.
4. We believe that the Bible teaches marriage for life between
one man and one woman, and that God is displeased when this
commitment and relationship is broken. We recognize the reality
of broken marriages, divorce, and remarriage in our society, and
God's desire that individuals are reconciled to Himself. We
believe that God forgives sin, and removes it as far as the east
is from the west, as repentance, forgiveness and healing is
sought, and that God's grace restores individuals to wholeness.
Therefore, in situations involving divorce and remarriage, where
the individual desires membership, the congregation shall
prayerfully seek to discern God's will in each situation. When
it becomes clear that the individual has repented from sin,
where it existed, and has experienced forgiveness and
reconciliation from the Lord, and seeks the fellowship, guidance
and accountability of the congregation, the individual may be a
member. (For further exposition, click here
to see attachment entitled "Statement
on Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage.")
5. We believe that the Bible teaches that man and woman are
equal in the sight of God, and that God established a divine
order concerning the role of man and woman. We understand that
man has been given the primary responsibility to provide
leadership in the church and in the home. We believe that as
these roles are observed, there is mutual benefit and personal
fulfillment for both the man and woman.
We recognize that since man has been given the primary
responsibility to provide leadership, it must be faithfully
exercised. When Christians fail to assume this God-given
responsibility, individuals and the church will suffer. We also
recognize that both man and woman have received spiritual gifts
from the Lord and that these gifts are to be exercised in the
work of the church. We further recognize that God has called His
followers – both man and woman – to be in the spirit of
submission to each other as we ultimately submit to the Lord.
Therefore, we call on all to freely and faithfully exercise
their responsibilities and gifts under the authority of God and
His Church. We believe that in so doing, we will experience the
blessings of positive relationships so that we can be free to be
all that God wants us to be.
(For further exposition, click here
to see page entitled, "Council on
Biblical Manhood and Womanhood – The Danvers Statement.")
6. We believe that the Bible teaches concerning the headship of
man and woman and makes an application regarding the role of
woman to man, and man to Christ. We believe that this
relationship is symbolized by the woman's wearing of long hair
and having her head covered while praying or prophesying, and
the man not wearing long hair and not having his head covered
while praying or prophesying. We believe that the veiling can be
a positive symbol in today's culture, and teach and encourage
that the veiling should be worn for worship (praying or
prophesying) occasions and affirm those who wear the veiling on
all occasions.
7. We believe that the Bible teaches the principle of modesty
and simplicity in dress, and that the world's standards or the
latest fashions should not determine the basis for our
practices, but rather the desire for inner humility and
holiness.
8. We believe that the Bible teaches both personal and corporate
integrity, and that we should be an example in the non-swearing
of oaths and honesty; that we should not engage in such things
as stealing, lying, gossip, and slander, and that our speech and
conduct should be above reproach.
9. We believe that the Bible recognizes the family as ordained
of God and that husband and wife should love each other
unconditionally and seek to meet each other's needs in Christ
and determine to raise their children for the Lord, modeling the
Christian life and engage in Bible teaching, prayer and
togetherness.
10. We believe that the Bible teaches good stewardship of time,
talent, material possessions and money, based on the principle
that these are a trust from the Lord and are to be used in His
service in proportion to what we have received.
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