For Pastors - Simple Church Recommendations

Do you want to put into practice the life of faith as taught in the New Testament? Your desire is perhaps like mine, to follow the Word of God instead of tradition. I have been inspired by many Bible-believing Christians through the ages, especially the first Anabaptists and the Waldenses. Here are some recommendations that might help you:

First and most important: To trust in Jesus Christ the Son of God, that he died and rose again for our sins, and that you turn away from your sins toward God, is all that is needed or commanded to obtain God's forgiveness and his promise of eternal life. We do not add to nor take away from this command, which is the true gospel.

Second: We are sincere followers of Jesus Christ. We love him, and desire to obey his commands and the teachings of his apostles. The New Testament, which explains the new covenant between God and his believing people, is our international standard of living, and our guide for understanding the Old Testament.

Third: For a more complete statement of beliefs, we approve the Dordrecht Confession of Faith, a work adopted by many Anabaptists in 1632 (see http://www.larkandraven.com). We recommend this confession because it is true to the Bible, and relatively short.

Fourth: We gather together because we love each other. Together, we have mutual encouragement and true friendship. Together we worship God, learn from the Bible, pray, serve one another, and support those who are sharing the gospel with the lost.

Fifth: To follow Jesus often requires us to be different from the world around us. We may even be different than some churches, if they have acquired their own traditions. I believe in a culture of the Kingdom of God that is not entirely dependent on our native culture, but on God's word. It includes:

-Baptizing only people who trust in Jesus Christ and turn from their ungodly life – Romans 6

-Offering both bread and wine in the Lord's Supper, and to believers only – 1 Corinthians 11

-Using spiritual gifts in our gatherings - 1 Corinthians 12-14

-Following the rules about spiritual gifts regarding orderliness and others' welfare – 1 Corinthians 14

-Uncovering our heads when we pray (men) - 1 Corinthians 11

-Covering our heads when we pray (women) - 1 Corinthians 11

-Allowing all to learn, but only men may speak up during the formal meetings – 1 Corinthians 14

-Greeting one another with a “holy kiss” - 1 Corinthians 16

-Not permitting those who keep willfully sinning to be joined to our fellowship – 1 Corinthians 5

-Avoiding innovations and traditions that obscure or conflict with the Scriptures – Matthew 15

-Avoiding any use of statues, pictures or images of God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit – 1 John 5:21

-Requiring that elders/pastors be married, live exemplary lives, and be without reproach – 1 Timothy 3