Faith & Practice Statement
Faith Statement:
MACC Believes That...
There exists only one God, the creator and sustainer of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally co-existing in three persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Gen 1:26, Isa 44:6-8; John 1:1,3; Matt. 28:19; John 4:24; Rom. 1:19,20; Eph. 4:5-6)
Jesus Christ is God, the Father’s only begotten Son, was conceived by the Holy Spirit and is the second Person of the Trinity. He was miraculously born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and performed miracles. We affirm His incarnation, teachings, substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and His personal, visible return to earth. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God the Father and humanity (Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1, 20:28; Rom. 9:5; 8:3-4; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 2:21-23; John 20:30,31; Matt. 20:28; Eph. 1:4; Acts 1:11; Rom. 5:6-8; 6:9,10; Heb. 7:25; 9:28; 1 Tim. 3:16)
The Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, alone is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and having supreme authority in all matters of faith and life conduct. (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; Mark 13:31; John 8:31,32; John 20:31; Acts 20:32)
God created mankind, male and female, in His image. They were created perfect, but they sinned. The sin corrupted them, plunging them and all humanity into sin, guilt, suffering, and death. Yet in the midst of the curse of sin, God promised a savior. (Gen 1:26-28, Gen 2:17 & 3:1-19, Ro 3:21-26, Ro 5:12-17)
The promised savior was fulfilled through Jesus Christ. The substitutionary death of Jesus Christ and his bodily resurrection provide the only ground for justification, forgiveness, and salvation for all who believe. Only those who trust in Him alone are born of the Holy Spirit and are true members of the Church; only they will spend eternity with Christ. (Ro 1:1, Ro 3:20-25, Luke 24:44-47, Eph 1:7-14, Eph 2:11-3:10, Ro 2:6-7, Jn 3:16).
The Holy Spirit is the agent of regeneration and renewal for believers in Jesus Christ. He makes the presence of Jesus Christ real in believers, and He comforts, guides, convicts, and enables believers to live in ways that honor Christ (Ro 8:9-11 & 26-29, Acts 9:31, 2 Cor 1: 3-4, 1 Thes 1:5, John 16:7-8, Jn 16:13, Acts 1:16)
Ministry to persons acknowledges the complexity of humans as physical, social, psychological, and spiritual beings. The ultimate goal of Christian counseling is to help others move to personal wholeness, interpersonal competence, mental stability, and spiritual maturity (1 Tim 4:1-4, Ps 42, Eph 4:11-16, Eph 5:15-21, Ps 133:1).
Jesus Christ is God, the Father’s only begotten Son, was conceived by the Holy Spirit and is the second Person of the Trinity. He was miraculously born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and performed miracles. We affirm His incarnation, teachings, substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and His personal, visible return to earth. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God the Father and humanity (Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1, 20:28; Rom. 9:5; 8:3-4; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 2:21-23; John 20:30,31; Matt. 20:28; Eph. 1:4; Acts 1:11; Rom. 5:6-8; 6:9,10; Heb. 7:25; 9:28; 1 Tim. 3:16)
The Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, alone is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and having supreme authority in all matters of faith and life conduct. (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; Mark 13:31; John 8:31,32; John 20:31; Acts 20:32)
God created mankind, male and female, in His image. They were created perfect, but they sinned. The sin corrupted them, plunging them and all humanity into sin, guilt, suffering, and death. Yet in the midst of the curse of sin, God promised a savior. (Gen 1:26-28, Gen 2:17 & 3:1-19, Ro 3:21-26, Ro 5:12-17)
The promised savior was fulfilled through Jesus Christ. The substitutionary death of Jesus Christ and his bodily resurrection provide the only ground for justification, forgiveness, and salvation for all who believe. Only those who trust in Him alone are born of the Holy Spirit and are true members of the Church; only they will spend eternity with Christ. (Ro 1:1, Ro 3:20-25, Luke 24:44-47, Eph 1:7-14, Eph 2:11-3:10, Ro 2:6-7, Jn 3:16).
The Holy Spirit is the agent of regeneration and renewal for believers in Jesus Christ. He makes the presence of Jesus Christ real in believers, and He comforts, guides, convicts, and enables believers to live in ways that honor Christ (Ro 8:9-11 & 26-29, Acts 9:31, 2 Cor 1: 3-4, 1 Thes 1:5, John 16:7-8, Jn 16:13, Acts 1:16)
Ministry to persons acknowledges the complexity of humans as physical, social, psychological, and spiritual beings. The ultimate goal of Christian counseling is to help others move to personal wholeness, interpersonal competence, mental stability, and spiritual maturity (1 Tim 4:1-4, Ps 42, Eph 4:11-16, Eph 5:15-21, Ps 133:1).
Practice Statement:
MACC Believes That...
Marriage is designed by God to be a relationship between one man and one woman, and they were given unique roles in marriage as a picture of Christ and the Church (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-5; Ephesians 5:22-31). Sex was designed to only be between a married couple, man and woman, and any sexual activity outside of the marriage relationship is sin (Hebrews 13:4).
God’s design has only two sexes, male and female. He created them equally in His image, and in God’s love and wisdom. Each person is designed by God with their sex at conception. (Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:18; Psalm 139:13-14).
God has given the primary responsibility of discipling and teaching children to parents (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Ephesians 6:1-4; Proverbs 22:6; Psalm 78:1-7).
God is all-loving and generous, but humanity is fallen & broken. We all miss meeting God’s standards, but He has provided a way of joy, peace, and forgiveness. Those who have missed the mark for his standards can still have a right relationship with him and live in freedom from guilt and shame from sin. God has provided a way of forgiveness for the repentant person through faith in Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:9, Ephesians 2:8-9)
God’s design has only two sexes, male and female. He created them equally in His image, and in God’s love and wisdom. Each person is designed by God with their sex at conception. (Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:18; Psalm 139:13-14).
God has given the primary responsibility of discipling and teaching children to parents (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Ephesians 6:1-4; Proverbs 22:6; Psalm 78:1-7).
God is all-loving and generous, but humanity is fallen & broken. We all miss meeting God’s standards, but He has provided a way of joy, peace, and forgiveness. Those who have missed the mark for his standards can still have a right relationship with him and live in freedom from guilt and shame from sin. God has provided a way of forgiveness for the repentant person through faith in Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:9, Ephesians 2:8-9)