Craig Christian Church

     Craig Christian Church finds its roots in the New Testament Church, as well as what has become known as the Restoration Movement.  The Restoration Movement was a unity movement that originated in the early 1800's.  While most movements have turned into denominations unto themselves, CCC is not a part of a denomination.  We are an independent, autonomous congregation committed to living out God's Word unbound from man-made structures, beliefs or traditions.  While we are not a part of a particular denomination, we are committed to some key restoration principles that help us stay connected to God's original intentions for a loving, unified church.  Three such principles are:


     We are not the only Christians, but we are Christians only.


     Where the Bible Speaks, we speak.  Where it is silent, we are silent.


     In the essentials, Unity.
     In the non-essentials, Freedom.
     In all things, Love.


     We have people worshipping with us from a variety of different backgrounds and beliefs.  Below are the essentials we believe that allow us to find unity, power and fulfillment in our lives and in the church.

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About Eternal Security
Some have an Arminian background
·         They believe that salvation can be gained and lost.
·         Arminians do not believe that a bad decision means you lose your salvation.
·         The way you can tell a person is a Christian is by their fruit - growth.
Scripture reference : Luke 15, Romans 11:22-23, Hebrews 6:4-7, 2 Peter 2:20
                                               
Some have a Calvinistic background
·         They believe that salvation can not be lost.
·         Calvinists do not believe you can do whatever you want and be a Christian.
·         If a person is not showing fruit and growth then they were never saved to start with.
   Scripture references: John 10:28, Romans 8:29-30, 1 John 2:9, 

Denominations and theologies often spend too much time arguing over semantics and hypotheticals, at the expense of the Gospel.   The energy expended arguing over eternal security is one example of this.  Regardless of whether a person was "saved" once and fell away, or a person was never "saved" to begin with, their situation is the same.  They are not "saved".  Instead of arguing over the status of his/her "salvation", we need to be showing that person God's love in a way that leads them back to a committed, Biblical relationship with God.

    ·         Either bent (Calvinism/Arminianism) leads to knowing people are Christians by their fruit.
    ·         In our church we encourage everyone to grow in Christ. 

  This is a non-salvation issue-You can be wrong about this issue and still be a Christian.

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About the Church
We believe that the Church is the body and bride of Christ, was founded on the day of Pentecost, and consists of all Christians everywhere.

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About Spiritual Gifts
Few areas of theology within the church have caused more division than the subject of spiritual gifts. Some in our church believe some of the spiritual gifts spoken of in 1 Corinthians 12-14 are for today. Some believe none of the gifts are for today, some believe all of the gifts are for today. You can see the potential for problems.
 
   The Non-Negotiable - We do not believe that this subject constitutes a salvation issue.
   You can believe some of the gifts are for today and be wrong and still be a Christian.
   You can believe that none of the gifts are for today, and be wrong and still be a Christian.
   You can believe that all of the gifts are for today, and be wrong and still be a Christian.
 
 For those who believe that the gifts are present today.
 
Remember, The Spirit of God does not work contrary to the Word of God.
  

Behavior that Unifies

 
At CCC it is okay to believe differently on this issue, but we will act in this way.

• We will not allow the discussion of a non-salvation issue to destroy the Lord's work.
• We do believe God does work supernaturally and answers our prayer, and through the work of the Holy Spirit, empowers us to serve Him and do good works. 
• We believe that every believer has a unique combination of spiritual gifts, personal passion, natural abilities and life experiences to be applied to ministry.
• Because this is a non-salvation area of contention between believers, we will not have a place in our church where the gift of tongues or the seeking of miraculous gifts is encouraged. (I Corinthians 14:9-19) 
• Our priority and emphasis is to seek a relationship with the "giver" of all good things, and not on the receiving of miraculous gifts.  There are a variety of types of gifts, and their sources and validity are not always verifiable.  Spiritual gifts are not to be a gauge of one's salvation, or an indication of how much a person loves God, or their maturity in Christ.

Because the gift of tongues and prophecy are so widespread and controversial in churches today, we have listed Biblical references and rules for their use.  All of these things would have to supernaturally be in place before such gifts would be prayerfully considered as Biblical:

1. If someone speaks in a tongue it will be one at time. 
     1 Corinthians 14:27,33,40

2. There must be an interpreter. 
     1 Corinthians 14:28

3. There must be one who discerns whether it comes from God. 
     1 John 4:1

4. If it is a prayer language there is a place to pray.     
     Matthew 6:6

5. All the gifts must be used to edify the church, not the individual.
     1Corinthians 14:4-5,26

6. No one has all the gifts, but the church is to be a body.
     1 Corinthians 12:27-30

7. For those who believe prophecy is a gift active today, then the rules of a prophet apply.
    Deuteronomy 18:20-22 
 

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About Communion

Communion at CCC is defined as scripture defines it.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
 "For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."
 
·        Communion is a memorial.
·        Communion is a new covenant.
·        Communion is a proclamation.  
 
When we take it, we do so in a worthy manner.
1 Corinthians 11: 27-28
"Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup."
 
We do this by self-examination.
·         Do I have any sins to confess? (1John 1:9)
·         Relationships to repair? (Matthew 5:23-24) 
·         Do I need to recommit my life? (Romans 12:1)
  
It is a distinctive of our church that we take communion every week.
We do so in following the New Testament Pattern.  It seems probable that the First Century church took communion at least weekly.  Weekly communion helps us to connect all of our teaching and worship around what Christ did for us, and His purposes for us.  However, we believe that it is perfectly acceptable to take it more than once a week, and we don't condemn other churches who choose to take it more or less frequently.  However often we partake in it, the Bible teaches to do so in a correct manner.
(1 Corinthians 11:25-28)
 
Who should take it?

• Only those who believe.  We don't legislate who can and can't take communion. However, communion will not have the intended Biblical significance to someone who does not believe.
• We do not recommend young children who do not understand salvation and the relationship, take it.

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About the Priesthood of every believer
The Bible teaches that every Christian is called to "full time" Christian service, regardless of his or her vocation. We practice the truth that every believer is a minister by encouraging every member to find a place of service and ministry. Every believer has direct access to God through prayer and Bible reading. We believe people are called to witness and to minister.
 
**At CCC, we believe that we can never be all that God intended for us to be sspiritually unless we are serving in a ministry of some kind.  This is not a "Works Righteousness," it is simply a reality of healthy spiritual development.  (Ephesians 2:8-10)
 
Revelation 1:6a (NASB95)
  " . . . and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father"
 
 1 Peter 2:9
 "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
 

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About the end times- (This is a non- salvation issue)
We have people with many views on this issue in our church. Some are pre-millennial, others are amillennial, and there are various other differing views. But, this is not a salvation issue. We believe that there will be a literal return of Christ, a rapture, and a Judgment Day.
 

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About People
People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called "sin". This attitude separates people from God and causes many problems in life.
Biblical references: Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 3:23;
 

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About Eternity
People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.
Biblical references: John 3:16; John 14:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:17-18; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9;  Revelation 20:15
  

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About Tithing
 At Craig Christian Church we practice tithing for the support of Christ's body, the church, as God commands. We recognize that giving 10% of our income is a Biblical beginning standard of giving, but also must be accompanied by a joyful heart and attitude.  Our giving is first and foremost an opportunity for us to grow spiritually, develop trust in God, and give God his rightful place in our lives. 

Leviticus 27:30

"A tithe of everything you produce belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord."   
 

Malachi 3:7-12

"Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,"  says the LORD Almighty. "But you ask, 'How are we to return?'"  "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me."  "But you ask, How do we rob you?"  "In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse, the whole nation of you, because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the LORD Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit, says the LORD Almighty. Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty."
 
For those who claim Jesus did away with tithing, and it was only for the Old Testament . . .  

Matthew 23:23 

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former."