Basic Considerations and Distinctives concerning Bridgeway Bible Church

Itegrated family worship

We do not separate family members in our worship meetings. We recognize the biblical principle that Elders guide the flock, and that each member of the body is called to minister. Nevertheless, God has ordained parents as the spiritual authorities of their families; the husband being the head.

Charismaticism & Pentecostalism

We are not what is anachronistically termed Charismatic, or Pentecostal.

Covenantalism & Dispensationalism

We are not what is anachronistically termed Covenantal, or Dispensational. We think that some theological elements in Covenantalism, and Dispensationalism are correct interpretations, but recognize that within the intertwined matrix of each system’s structure there exists certain specious assertions where Scripture is silent, coupled with bad interpretations of existing texts and biblical concepts. We recognize that both Covenantalism, and Dispensationalism with all their various sub-groups are theories.

New Covenant Theology (NCT)

The term for what is probably the closest Biblical system of thinking that drives our theological presuppositions, hermeneutic, subsequent exegesis, and interpretation of scripture, is what is known as New Covenant Theology (NCT). We recognize that some, but not all views of New Covenant theologians are good. We reject some, but not all, of the views of various New Covenant theologians.

Reformed Views

Reformed in theology has too many arbitrary definitions given to it by way too many people. Therefor, we will positively state that, when it comes to Reformed views, we adhere to the doctrines of grace; meaning we recognize the biblical facts of what has anachronistically come to be known as TULIP:

T stands for total depravity. This does not mean that all persons are as manifestly bad as they actually are in their natural state of sin. Rather, it means that all human beings are affected by sin in every area of thought and conduct so that nothing that comes out of anyone (even if it seems manifestly good), apart from the miraculous grace of God, can please God. As far as our relationships to God are concerned, we are all so ruined by sin in radical corruption that no one can properly understand either God, or God's ways. Further, we do not seek God, unless He, first, is at work within us to effectually cause us to do so.

U stands for unconditional election. Since sinners are as helpless in their depravity (corruption in sin) as the Bible states that they are (in respect to being unable to know, and unwilling to seek, God), then the only way they are saved is for God to take the initiative to change and save them. Election is God determining, since before the foundation of the world, to save certain people, who, apart from His sovereign will and subsequent action, certainly would perish.

L stands for limited number atoned for. This does not mean that the value of Christ's death is limited. The value of Christ's death is infinite. A limited number atoned (covered through the blood sacrifice), and propitiated (wrath absorbed in appeasement through the sacrifice) for, deals with the purpose of Christ's death, and what He actually accomplished in it. Christ made salvation more than a mere possibility for everyone everywhere. Christ made salvation a certainty that actually must apply to those for whom He died. This point is a recognition that stresses that Jesus actually atoned for the sins of those the Father had elected. Jesus actually propitiated in Himself, the wrath of God toward His people, by taking their judgment upon Himself; He actually redeemed, purchased, bought, ransomed, in a reconciling action, those specific persons to God. A better name for "limited" atonement would be "particular" or "specific" redemption in "certain" redemption. On the other hand Christ did not actually atone for, propitiate for, or purchase, anyone who is lost forever, demonstrated in the fact that they are lost forever.

I stands for irresistible grace. Left to ourselves we resist the grace of God according to our nature bound to sin. But when God works in our hearts in the miracle of the effectual call, He enables us to believe that what was undesirable before becomes highly desirable, and we irresistibly run to Jesus just as previously we ran away from Christ in resistance. Fallen sinners resist God's grace as manifest in His will, but God's saving grace is effectual. It overcomes sin and accomplishes God's purpose.

P stands for perseverance of the saints. We persevere in salvation because God perseveres with us, keeping us from falling away, as we would certainly do if we were not miraculously saved. Because God perseveres, we also persevere. Perseverance is the ultimate proof of election. We persevere because God preserves us from full and final falling away from Him. This is also called the eternal security of the believer, being once saved always saved (OSAS), and being once saved in eternal spiritual salvation (OSIESS).

Eschatological Systems

We do not hold to any one dogmatic system of eschatological theory. We are constantly studying the issues (interpretive puzzles) of eschatology, and recognize that people from the various camps have some good points, and some bad points.

King James Onlyism

We are not adherents to the religious belief in King James Onlyism. We use the NASB, ESV, NET, the NKJV, and other Bible translations.

Eternal Security

We believe in the great doctrines of grace, particularly the doctrine of being once saved always saved, also known by the acrostic OSAS. To avoid equivocation with what others may mean by these terms, we believe this doctrine as the New Covenant Scriptures define it. We prefer the term, Once Saved In Eternal Spiritual Salvation (OSIESS). We also like the terms, eternal security, and the guaranteed perseverance of the Saints.

Creeds and Creedalism

We are not Creedal; meaning that we do not hold to any one Creed exclusively which has been developed by theological councils (modern or ancient), such as any of the London Baptist Confessions, the Westminster Confession, the multitudes of protestant reformation creeds, or the various Roman Catholic council creeds of pre reformation church history etc. (With that said, the unamended First London Confession of 1644 states the basics in such a way that we generally agree). We recognize that many of the Creeds have disagreements with one another. We also recognize that the various creeds are fallible, whereas God’s original word, is infallible, and we choose not to ignore this important fact. We recognize that the various old Creeds are paramount to being books, or treatises, of theological commentary agreed upon by men who were addressing particular, political, doctrinal, and ecclesiastical, issues prevalent during the time of writing. With all of these considerations in mind, we agree that the old Creeds are generally considered to be good resources, and are useful for study and development of one’s theological views. Further, we recognize that everyone holds to some sort of creed, whether existing in written form, or existing in the mind. Knowing this, we do not take lightly the sacred, and infallible word of God, and we agree that it is the foundational Creed that God has given to us for revelation, study, and practice.

Commentaries and Bible Study Helps

We use scholarly Commentaries, Greek language resources, Theological Journal articles, exegetical sermons, Creeds, and other written insights of both gifted contemporary Christians writers, and gifted Christian men of antiquity. We agree with Charles Haddon Spurgeon when he said:

In order to be able to expound the Scriptures, and as an aid to your pulpit studies, you will need to be familiar with the commentators: a glorious army, let me tell you, whose acquaintance will be your delight and profit. Of course, you are not such wiseacres as to think or say that you can expound Scripture without assistance from the works of divines and learned men who have laboured before you in the field of exposition. If you are of that opinion, pray remain so, for you are not worth the trouble of conversion, and like a little coterie who think with you, would resent the attempt as an insult to your infallibility. It seems odd, that certain men who talk so much of what the Holy Spirit reveals to themselves, should think so little of what he has revealed to others.—CH Spurgeon

In Christ the Covenant,
K kinchen
Isaiah 42:6, 49:6-8, 55:3-4