What we believe
Ultimately we want to be guided by the Bible, God’s inspired Word (2 Timothy 3:16). Here are some of the key things we believe:
- The Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God. It is the supreme authority in all matters of belief and behaviour.
- There is one God in Three Persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
- God created the universe out of nothing, and ceaselessly maintains it in being.
- The whole of humankind is sinful and guilty and that, as a result, everyone is subject to God’s wrath and judgment. However, God still loves humankind and desires that everyone is restored to him.
- The Lord Jesus Christ, God’s incarnate Son, is fully God. He was born of a virgin; His humanity is real and sinless. He died on the cross, was raised bodily from death and is now alive, seated in heaven.
- That Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and humankind. Only through belief in Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death once and for all time in their place and through belief in his resurrection can sinful human beings be set free from the guilt, penalty and power of sin.
- God cares deeply about how we live and has standards which do not change.
- Each of us must make a personal decision to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour if we are to receive God’s forgiveness for what we have done wrong
- Those who so believe in Christ are forgiven all their sins, accepted in God’s sight and given a new life only because of what Jesus Christ has done. This justification is God’s act of undeserved mercy and is received solely by trust in Him and not by their own efforts.
- The Holy Spirit alone makes the work of Christ effective to individual sinners, enabling them to turn to God from their sin and to trust in Jesus Christ.
- The Holy Spirit lives in all those who have this new life in Jesus Christ. He works in them to make them increasingly Christ-like in character and behaviour, and He gives them power for their life and witness in the world.
- The one holy universal church is the Body of Christ, to which all true believers belong.
- The Lord Jesus Christ will return in person, firstly, to receive those He has redeemed to eternal glory and then to execute God’s judgment on those who have not repented and believed.
Our Christian life and worship
We seek to follow the teaching of the Bible in all that we do. We look to the example of the first Christians, as described in the following passage:
Baptism
For someone who has trusted in Christ, baptism is the first step of obedience. We practise baptism by immersion. Baptism is a command to all believers – those who have repented of their sins and placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Baptism does not save us; rather, it is an outward declaration that we have become followers of Jesus Christ.
Apostles’ doctrine
The teaching of the New Testament guides us in how we should live as individuals and as a church. We therefore meet together for Bible teaching and study, seeking to understand and apply God’s Word to our lives.
Fellowship
The Bible makes it clear that meeting together with other Christians in the local church is more than simply a social activity. We have an ongoing responsibility to support, encourage and care for our fellow Christians.
Breaking of Bread
Following the pattern of the New Testament, we meet every Sunday for the Lord’s Supper (Breaking of Bread), as believers did. Before He went to the cross, the Lord Jesus said to His disciples in the upper room, “This do in remembrance of me.” As we follow His Word, the Bible, we gather to worship and remember our Saviour in His death. The bread and wine symbolically represent His body and blood, reminding us of the greatness of His Person and the work He accomplished through His death. In doing so, we commemorate and proclaim His death until He comes again. (1 Corinthians 11:23-25, Luke 22:19-20, Acts 20:7)
Prayers
Prayer is how we, both individually and together as a church, speak to God. It is an essential part of our Christian lives and vital to our spiritual well-being.
Our practices - What to expect
Different churches have different practices, so we want to explain some things you may encounter at Cromwell Hall Christian Fellowship that you may not have experienced elsewhere.
Our understanding of local church practice is based on the teaching of the New Testament, particularly the principles we find in 1 Corinthians chapters 11–14. We recognise that some of these practices may be unfamiliar, and we hope that explaining them beforehand will help you know what to expect.
The Priesthood of all Believers
We follow the New Testament teaching concerning the Priesthood of all Believers. We believe that every believer has direct access to God and a role in serving Him, without the need for ordained clergy. Consequently, we do not have an ordained person who serves as a minister or pastor. Instead, everyone has an opportunity to contribute to the life and worship of the local church.
Men speaking during the main church services
We follow the practice that only men speak audibly during the main church services, apart from congregational singing.
We understand the Bible to teach that God has given men and women different roles when the church meets together. This is not because women are less important, nor because they lack the ability to contribute. Women contribute equally in the worship of God, including through singing and in the many other ways they serve and support the life of the church.
Head covering
We also follow the practice of women covering their heads when we meet. We understand this as a personal expression of submission to God and recognition of His divine order, authority, and Headship.
Simply Christians
We prefer not to adopt a denominational name that might suggest that we are separated from other Christians. Instead, we simply seek to be known as Christians.
Questions?
If you have questions about any of our practices, please feel free to ask. We understand that some things may be unfamiliar or different from what you have experienced elsewhere. We are always happy to explain what we believe and why.