What We Believe

Windsor Community Church is committed to the foundational truths of historical orthodox Christianity:

• We believe that the Biblical Scriptures were inspired by God and are inerrant in the original writings and are the supreme and final authority for faith and life.
  
• We believe in one God, eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
  
• We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, died for our sins and that all who believe in Him will have everlasting life.
  
• We believe that Jesus Christ arose on the third day, ascended into Heaven and is sitting at the right hand of the Father and that He will come again.
  
• We believe that man is a sinner in need of salvation and that salvation comes by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice.

Within our commitment to the foundational truths of historical Orthodox Christianity, we at Windsor Community Church have certain Biblical distinctives that may set us apart from other churches. The following is a list of those doctrines that may set us apart in teaching, though hopefully not in spirit, from some of our other brothers and sisters in the universal Body of Christ.

The Scriptures: Old and New Testaments

The Bible as God's Word is the genuine believer's ultimate authority. Because of the spiritual new birth, the believer practices obedience.

• The Bible is both inspired and without error in its original copy or manuscript--both the process (2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16) and the product (2 Peter 3:15,16)--are authoritative for us today in all areas of life (Matthew 5:18; Matthew 24:35; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 2:2).
• Because of the inward transformation of the Spirit, commonly known as being "born again", believers practice as a direction of their lives obedience to God's Word (Ezekiel 11:19-20; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Titus 1:16; 1 John 2:3-4; 1 John 3:9-10).
• The Bible has the miraculous ability to have multiple applications. Yet, there is but one true biblical interpretation or meaning (2 Peter 1:20,21). The meaning is found as one diligently applies the literal, grammatical, historical method of interpretation.
• It is the responsibility of every true believer to carefully ascertain the true intent and meaning of Scripture (Acts 17:11), recognizing that proper applications are binding on all generations. The truth of Scripture stands in judgment of men; never do men stand in judgment of it (Matthew 5:18; Matthew 22:31; 1 Corinthians 2:12-16; Hebrews 4:12).
• The leadership of Windsor Community Church will seek to honor and obey the Word of God to their greatest ability regardless of popularity or culture (Acts 20:27; Colossians 1:28; 1 Peter 2:9,10).

God: The Author of Salvation

We teach that salvation is wholly of God by grace (unearned favor) on the basis of Jesus' shed blood, with which we were bought from the penalty and power of sin.

• God alone provided an acceptable sacrifice for man's rebellion or sin in Jesus' crucifixion, death and resurrection (Isaiah 53:6; Isaiah 59:2; Isaiah 64:6; Hebrews 9:27; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 Peter 2:24; Acts 4:12; John 14:6;
  1 Corinthians 15).
• Because of the lost, rebellious, darkened condition of man's heart
  (Romans 3:10-11; 2 Corinthians 4:4), no man would seek God or believe had it not been for God's gracious working and drawing of man to Himself (Ephesians 2:4-10; John 6:35-40,44; 2 Corinthians 4:4-6).
• True salvation will be evidenced in an individual's life over time through a process of increased bearing of fruit--change in world view, thought, and lifestyle, "Like Father like Son" (Matthew 7:21-23; John 10:25-29;
  Romans 6; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:22,23; James 2:14-26;
  1 John 1:9; 1 John 2:3-4; 1 John 3:5-10; 1 John 5:11,12).
• Because salvation is wholly of God, man cannot lose salvation. The true believer is eternally secure (John 6:37-40,44; 1 Peter 1:2-5;
  Ephesians 1:4,5,11; Ephesians 2:4-10; Romans 8:28-30; 1 Corinthians 15:2; Titus 3:5; 1 John 2:19; 1 John 5:11-13).

The Local Church

God's perfect design for the maturity of the individual believer and the vehicle in reaching the world is the multiplication of local churches.

• The local church is a family of families (1 Corinthians 12:20-26;
  Ephesians 2:19; Ephesians 4:11-14; 1 Timothy 3:5; Titus 2:1-8;
  Hebrews 10:23,24).
• God's perfect strategy in evangelizing the world is through the multiplication of churches. There is no other entity in the New Testament other than the Local Church (Matthew 16:13-18; Matthew 28:18-20;
  Acts 1:8; Acts 2:41-43; Acts 8:1-3; Acts 11:22-26; Acts 13:1-3;
  Acts 14:21-28; Acts 15:2-4; Acts 15:22-36; Acts 18:22; Acts 20:17,28,32; Acts 21:18,19; Philippians 1:27; Philippians 2:12-16).

The Holy Spirit & Spiritual Gifts

God's church is to be a worshiping church (Psalm 2:11; Psalm 115:1; John 4:23,24; Romans 12:1,2; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 5:18-20; Colossians 3:22,23; Revelation 5:11-13--worship of the saints). There is to be authentic expressions of worship--hymns, songs, giving of thanks, prayer, lifting of hands, reading and teaching of Scripture (Psalm 18:49; Psalm 26:12; Psalm 81:1; Psalm 28:2; Psalm 63:4; Psalm 149:1; Ephesians 5:18-20; 1 Timothy 2:8). Worship is to be active and meaningful! God is not pleased with dead orthodoxy (Isaiah 29:13).

• God is free to empower whom He wants for what He wants. Windsor Community Church is committed to the powerful expression of God's working through the giftedness and prayers of His people. Every Christian is uniquely equipped by God to serve and edify others in order to build up the Body of Christ. (Hebrews 2:3-4; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Romans 12:3-8;1 Corinthians 12-14; 1 Peter 4:10-11).
• With the New Testament revelation now complete, Scripture becomes the sole test of the authenticity and authority of a man's message. Confirming sign gifts are no longer necessary to validate man's message
  (1 Corinthians 13:8-12). Therefore, sign gifts are no longer normative (normal daily occurrence). Yet, God is not boxed in by man, for He does as He pleases when He pleases (Psalm 115:3).
• There is no such thing as "second blessing" or "baptism of the Spirit" subsequent to salvation. There is only one baptism of the Spirit
  (Ephesians 4:5; 1 Corinthians 12:12,13). The Baptism of the Spirit takes place at salvation, where the Christian is indwelt (1 Corinthians 3:16;
  1 Corinthians 6:19), sealed (Ephesians 1:13,14; Ephesians 4:30); and adopted as God's child (Romans 8:9-18; Ephesians 1:5). Then subsequent to being born again or saved, there is a daily commitment to be filled, empowered, or yielded to the Spirit's control (Ephesians 5:18;
  Colossians 3:16,17; Romans 12:1,2).

Leadership in the Church

God's design for leadership in the church is a group of Biblically qualified men who are respected and followed.

• The local assembly is to be led or governed by a group of elders.
  These are men who qualify to the biblical standard for elders/overseers/pastors (Acts 14:23; Acts 20:17; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11; Titus 1:5; 1 Peter 5:1-4).
• These men are Biblically qualified based on 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9.

Church Discipline & Restoration

God has provided the safety net of church restoration to lovingly keep individual believers from being ensnared by Satan and to maintain the purity of His Church.

• The Scriptures teach that the Body is to be committed to one another in love. It instructs how we are to pursue a brother or sister trapped in sin against God or another individual. This process could culminate with a professing unrepentant believer no longer being welcomed in gatherings of the church family (Galatians 6:1; Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5:1-8; Hebrews 3:12,13).
• The purpose of the discipline process is to restore the repentant professing believer and to maintain the purity of the church body, not to punish or exclude that person (Galatians 6:1,2; Matthew 18:15; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Corinthians 2:5-13; Hebrews 12:4-13).

Complementary Design of Men and Women

God has created men and women wonderfully different as complements, of equal value, and with differing functions for the good of all mankind.

• God created men and women different and complementary, and of equal value (Genesis 2:7-25; 1 Corinthians 11:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-23;
  1 Timothy 2:9-15; Galatians 3:23-29; 1 Peter 3:1-6).
• This distinct and complementary design is seen fundamentally in the marriage relationship where the husband is called to sacrificial leadership as head of the home and the wife is voluntarily called to follow her husband's leadership (Genesis 2:7-25; Genesis 3:1-19; 1 Corinthians 11:1-16; 1 Corinthians 14:34,35; Ephesians 5:21-33; Colossians 3:18,19; Titus 2:4,5;1 Peter 3:1-7) .
• God's creative design is to be modeled also in the Church Body dynamic. Although equally gifted, women are not to be in a position of leadership, authority or teaching over men. This would apply to any gathering of God's people--worship celebration, small groups, workshops, or seminars (Genesis 2:7-25; 1 Timothy 2:11-15; 1 Corinthians 11:1-16). Qualified women who are gifted in leadership and teaching will have wonderful service opportunities at Windsor Community Church in women's, service team, or children's ministries which function under the authority of an elder.