Conway Celebration Church

Distinctives & Beliefs

Conway Celebration Church

• By God’s grace we are taking a stand for the truth of the Sovereignty of God, which is under attack in our day. We hold a HIGH view of God and His Word.

• Conway Celebration Church is reformed (in our theology), baptistic (we baptize believers rather than infants), elder-led (a plurality of ordained elders, as opposed to one pastor and deacons leading), non-traditional (seeking to obey God’s word even when it comes against the traditions of men) and charismatic (only in the sense that we believe in the present-day power and gifts of the Holy Spirit, operated according to Scripture’s guidelines)

• We associate with the Association of Charismatic Reformed Churches (ACRC, www.charismaticreformed.org ) and the Southern Baptist Convention.

Beliefs

• In essential beliefs – we have unity. (Ephesians 4:4-6)
• In non-essential beliefs – we have liberty. (Romans 14:1,4,12,22)
• In all our beliefs – we show love. (1 Corinthians 13:2)

1. About God

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These Three are co-equal and one God. God is Sovereign over His creation and does what He pleases in heaven and earth. All things exist for God’s glory and pleasure, and all will glorify Him forever, in heaven or in hell. (Gen. 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matt. 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Cor. 13:14, Ps 115:3, Ps 135:6, Col 1:16b, Rom 9:20-24)

2. About Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus is fully God and fully Man, and as such is the ONE Mediator between God and men. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of His people by dying on a cross, making atonement for sinners with His blood. He arose from the dead after three days, demonstrating His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven to the right hand of the Father, poured out the Holy Spirit upon His people, forever lives to make intercession for His people as High Priest, and will return again someday to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. All judgment has been entrusted to the Son, and He will judge the living and the dead at His coming. (Matt. 1:22, 23; Isa. 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Heb. 4:14, 15; 1 Cor. 15:3,4; Rom. 13:4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Tim. 6:14, 15; Titus 2:13, 1 Tim 2:5, Heb 7:25, 8:1-2, Acts 2:33)

3. About the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to convict men of their sins and the coming judgment. He speaks of Jesus Christ. He regenerates the dead-to-God sinner and makes Him alive to God, enabling Him to repent of His sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. He indwells every believer, and seals us, guaranteeing the rest of God’s promised salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He sovereignly gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are born again. As Christians we seek to live under His control daily, yielding to Him. (2 Cor. 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 2:12, 3:16; Eph. 1:13; Gal 5:25; Eph. 5:18, John 3:3,8, Titus 3:5-6).
The Baptism and Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

While we do not think of ourselves as a typical Pentecostal church, we do believe in the Pentecostal experience as defined by Jesus in Acts 1:8. This baptism is the anointing of the believer with power to do the works of Christ. It is not the same as the baptism of 1 Corinthians 12:13. We also believe in the present-day manifestation of all the spiritual gifts mentioned in the Bible, but they must be observed within the realm of the guidelines given in 1 Corinthians 12-14. No one gift is given to everyone (“If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing?”). No one has all the gifts (“The body is not one member but many.”). (Rom. 12:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:7-11; Eph. 4:7-16)

4. About the Bible

The Bible is the only inspired, inerrant record of the revelation of God. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error. Everything we do and say must be tested by the standard of the Word of God. (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20,21; 2 Tim. 1:13; Psalm 119:105, 160, 12:6; Prov. 30:5)

5. About Human Beings

People are made in the image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation and are thus endowed with great dignity. But at the Fall of man (Gen 3) Adam, as the federal head of the human race, plunged the entire race into sin, depravity, corruption, spiritual death, and need for redemption. Sin is the great problem of all mankind, and separates people from God and causes many problems in life. Sin is breaking God’s commandments and not believing His word. Because of sin the just and righteous wrath of God has come upon all men. Men will stand before God at the judgment and receive the penalty of their sin. (Gen. 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isa. 53:6a; Rom. 3:23; Isa. 59:1,2, Ps 7:11, Rom 1:18)

6. About Salvation

Salvation is God’s free choice, without any obligation, to bestow His grace and favor upon sinners through absolutely nothing done by the sinner to merit it, and no quality or action in the sinner to inspire God’s choice to save him. Salvation includes an entire “package” of benefits from God. In justification God declares the sinner legally right with God based on Christ’s merits, and the sinner is saved from the penalty of sin (death and separation from God in hell). In Sanctification God works in the life of the believer to bring him experientially on earth to what God has already declared him to be positionally in heaven. The believer is conformed to the image of Christ through the word of God and faith in the gospel, and is saved from the present power of sin. The believer will still stumble in sin (as long as he is in this body with a sin nature) but cannot live in sin as a continuing lifestyle (since God disciplines those who are His sons). In glorification the sinner is given a new body like Christ’s at the return of Jesus or death of the believer and is saved from the presence of sin! Healing and deliverance are also part of the “salvation package” and are enjoyed partly now (like justification & sanctification) and will be enjoyed in fullness in heaven (like glorification).

Although salvation is a free gift of grace by God, it does not come to all men. God has chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world, and our responsibility is to repent of our sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s sacrifice for forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are converted. Eternal life begins the moment one is born again and receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. True believers (those who have genuinely been born again) will show it by their fruit, beginning with following Christ in water baptism. (Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8, 9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Gal. 3:26; Rom. 5:1, Rom 8:29-30, Rom 6:1-2, 4,14; 1 Jn 3:2)

7. About the Church

The church is the Body of Christ, made up of believers, meeting together for the purpose of hearing God’s word, singing praises to God, prayer, discipleship, stirring one another on towards love and good deeds, edifying one another through the gifts of the Spirit; observing the ordinances of water baptism and the Lord’s Supper; bearing witness to the gospel through love and good works. No one has the right to assume he is a Christian (member of the Body) unless he is attached to other believers. The universal church is made up of all who are truly converted, from every age. Membership in this universal body takes physical expression and proves itself by the fruit of local church membership. (Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:41-47; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23-27, 30, 32; 1 John 2:19; Acts 20:28)

A. Elder Rule

The church is led by a plurality of elders, who have the responsibility of equipping the members for works of ministry. (Titus 1:5, 1 Tim 3:1-7)

B. Autonomy of each local church

Christ is the head of our church, not any person, group, or religious organization. While recognizing the value of associating and cooperating with other groups of Christians, we believe every local church should be self-governing and independent from any denominational control. (Col. 1:18)

8. About Eternal Security

Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. If you have been genuinely converted, you cannot “lose” it. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian (although the true believer will bear fruit and continue to follow Jesus. If he temporarily backslides or stumbles, God will discipline him and bring him back to the faith (Heb 12). It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives us this security. All true believers endure to the end. (John 10:28, 29; 2 Tim. 1:12; Heb. 7:25; 10:10, 14, 38-39; 11:13; 12:5-11; 1 Pet. 1:3-5)

9. About Eternity

People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through His grace, 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. (John 3:16, 14:17; Rom. 6:23, 8:17, 18; Rev. 20:15; 1 Cor. 2:7-9)

10. 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 Jesus Christ. We don’t need a priest to go to God; we are priests! Each Christian is a priest to all others. (Rev. 1:6; 1 Pet. 2:9; 1 Tim. 2:5)

11. Tithing

At CCC we practice tithing and the giving of offerings and individual support of the poor for the support of Christ’s Body, the church, as God leads. We recognize that giving 10% of our income is the Biblical standard of giving. We also recognize that tithing is just a place to start! We give cheerfully from the heart, not under compulsion or law. We give as God has prospered us, and should be increasing in this grace.
(Luke 11:42; 2 Cor 8:3-5, 9:6-8)

12. Materialism

We seek to imitate Christ and the early church as a way of living. To live in love means to “deny yourself” for the sake of others. We do not work and give so we can get for ourselves. Love does not hoard an abundance while multitudes starve and remain lost. We therefore seek to show God’s love to the poor while prioritizing the gospel. Truth in love. (Acts 4:32-35; 2 Cor. 8:13-15; Eph. 4:28; Luke 12: 33; Matt. 6:24; 1 Tim. 6:6-10)

13. Missions

It is the responsibility of every Christian to share the Good News with those God brings us into contact with. We practice personal sharing about Christ and inviting friends to our meetings. Every Christian should embrace as his own life-purpose the spreading of the gospel to all creatures.

CCC seeks to have the heart of God, which is His glory in missions. We have been commanded to go. We seek the Lord’s leading and provision to send people from Celebration Church all over the world to advance the Kingdom of God. In addition, we support missionaries financially and through our prayers. (Matt. 28:19; 1 Pet. 3:15)

14. Reformation

Reformation is God bringing His people back to His word when we slip away from certain truths. We believe that today there is a great need for Christ’s churches to return to God’s word in many areas, including a rejection of materialism, a standard of holy living, and the Sovereignty of God (as opposed to an exaltation of man). (Ezra 9-10)

15. Altar-Calls (The Invitation System)

We can find nowhere in Scripture where it says that someone was saved by “going forward” in a service, “repeating a prayer after someone,” “inviting Jesus to come into their hearts,” or even “accepting Christ as their personal Savior.” None of these methods were used by Jesus, the Apostles, or the early church in Acts! Rather men were commanded to REPENT and BELIEVE the gospel. We believe that this is God’s method for saving sinners. We preach the gospel and urge men to repent of their sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. While we seek to persuade men to urgently respond to God’s command to repent and to call on the name of the Lord, we do not put a prayer in their mouth or try to force something to happen in the flesh. We rely on the Holy Spirit to bring men to conviction of sins and to regenerate them so that they can repent and believe.

We believe that churches have been filled with false converts through man’s methods, because evangelists and pastors have stopped relying on God’s method and have “added to” God’s method (the preaching of the gospel and man’s responding with repentance and faith) the methods of man. These false converts do not last or bear fruit worthy of repentance. They split churches by acting in the flesh and troubling the work of God. We would do good to return to God’s method and trust Him to build His church through His word. Our preaching of the gospel IS the invitation!

16. Celebration’s Music Style

CCC is celebrative in our musical style. This church prioritizes passionate, biblical worship. We are here to give God glory through praise and worship! Our name (Conway Celebration Church) expresses the covenant we have with God to be a church that worships God with a sense of joyous celebration, in spirit and in truth.

The New Testament never mentions musical instruments in the context of the church’s worship gatherings, but instead emphasizes the heart (Col. 3:16, Eph 5:18-20). So we do not focus on judging people’s musical style, or expressive acts of worship. We encourage everyone to worship God from their heart.

In light of this, God has revealed to us in the Old Testament very specific methods of worship and praise that delight His heart. Since we seek to please Him, we believe in conforming our praise/worship methods to His standards given in Scripture. The Bible is our handbook.

The following are a few examples of Biblical expressions of praise: