Marriage, One Man, One Woman, One Flesh

Marriage is a sacred covenant, instituted by God, joining one biological man and one biological woman in a lifelong, exclusive, one-flesh union. This union is more than a legal or social arrangement — it is a living picture of Christ's covenant relationship with His Church. Because we hold this understanding as rooted in Scripture, Bethel House of Worship does not officiate, bless, or recognize same-sex marriages or unions, nor any other sexual relationship that Scripture places outside of God's design for marriage.

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."Genesis 1:27

​

Male and Female He Created Them

We believe God intentionally created each person male or female, and that this biological reality — not a person's feelings, self-perception, or cultural trends — reflects His design as revealed throughout Scripture. For that reason, Bethel House of Worship does not affirm a gender identity that differs from a person's biological sex at birth.

Holding this belief does not mean we condone treating any person with disrespect, cruelty, or contempt. Every person carries the image of God and deserves to be treated with basic human dignity, whatever they believe about themselves or however they identify.

​

We Preach the Word; God Changes the Heart

We do not condone sin in any form. Our calling as ministers of the Gospel is to preach the Word in its entirely, faithfully, and to trust the Word itself to do the work of transforming a life from the inside out.

​

That transformation happens the same way for all of us  by following Christ, staying planted in His Word, and seeking His wisdom daily. We don't ask anyone to clean themselves up before they come in the door. We ask everyone, including ourselves, to keep growing in Christ once they're here.

​

A Principle Rooted in Genesis

We believe the principle of tithing predates the Law — it goes back to Genesis. Abraham gave a tenth of everything to Melchizedek, and Jacob vowed to give God a tenth of all He provided, both as freely offered worship, long before Moses. The tithe was later formalized as part of the Mosaic Law, funding the tabernacle and temple, the Levites, Israel's feasts, and care for the poor.

​

We believe Christ fulfilled that Law, and worship is no longer tied to a temple or a fixed tithe brought to it. You may notice Jesus mentions tithing in Luke (11:42; 18:12) — we believe those passages show tithing was still being practiced under the Law during His earthly ministry, before His death and resurrection fulfilled it, not that He was instituting it as a requirement for the church that would follow.

 

So we believe tithing is not mandated under the Mosaic Law in this dispensation — that Law was fulfilled through Christ's finished work on the cross. That doesn't mean we're lawless: Jesus said He came not to destroy the Law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17), and we now live under what Paul calls the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). Jesus told us what that Law hangs on: loving God fully, and loving our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37–40).

 

Practically, that's why we still teach tithing at Bethel — not as a rule enforced, but as one concrete way we live out love for God and love for neighbor. It's an act of worship and trust toward God, and it directly funds the preaching of the Gospel, the care of those who minister to us, and ministry to those in need. We hold to it because it's rooted in a principle that began as worship in Genesis, long before it was ever Law — freely embraced, not imposed as a condition of belonging."And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine... and he gave him tithes of all." — Genesis 14:18–20

 

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." — 2 Corinthians 9:7

​

Salvation

Salvation deals with the application of the work of redemption to the sinner with his restoration to divine favor and communion with God. This redemptive operation of the Holy Ghost upon sinners is brought about by repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ which brings conversion, faith, justification regeneration, sanctification, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Repentance is the work of God, which results in a change of mind in respect to man’s relationship to God. (St. Matthew 3:1-2, 4:17; Acts 20:21). Faith is a certain conviction wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, as to the truth of the Gospel and a heart trust in the promises of God in Christ (Romans 1:17, 3:28; St. Matthew 9:22; Acts 26:18). Conversion is that act of God whereby He causes the regenerated sinner, in his conscious life, to turn to Him in repentance and faith (II Kings 5:15; II Chronicles 33:12-13; St. Luke 19:8, 9; Acts 8:30). Regeneration is that act of God by which the principle of the new life is implanted in man, and the governing disposition of soul is made holy and the first holy exercise of this new disposition is secured. Sanctification is that gracious and continuous operation of the Holy Ghost, by which He delivers the justified sinner from the pollution of sin, renews his whole nature in the image of God and enables him to perform good works (Romans 6:4;5:6; Colossians 2:12; 3:1).

​

THE ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH

​

It is generally admitted that for an ordinance to be valid, it must have been instituted by Christ. When we speak of ordinances of the church, we are speaking of those instituted by Christ, in which by sensible signs the grace of God in Christ, and the benefits of the covenant of grace are represented, sealed, and applied to believers, and these in turn give expression to their faith and allegiance to God. The Church Of God In Christ recognizes three ordinances as having been instituted by Christ himself and therefore, binding upon the church practice.

 

A. THE LORD’S SUPPER (HOLY COMMUNION)

The Lord’s Supper symbolizes the Lord’s death and suffering for the benefit and in the place of His people. It also symbolizes the believer’s participation in the crucified Christ. It represents not only the death of Christ as the object of faith which unites the believers to Christ, but also the effect of this act as the giving of life, strength, and joy to the soul. The communicant by faith enters into a special spiritual union of his soul with the glorified Christ.

 

B. FEET WASHING

Feet Washing is practiced and recognized as an ordinance in our Church because Christ, by His example, showed that humility characterized greatness in the Kingdom of God, and that service, rendered to others gave evidence that humility, motivated by love, exists. These services are held subsequent to the Lord’s Supper; however, its regularity is left to the discretion of the Pastor in charge.

 

C. WATER BAPTISM

We believe that Water Baptism is necessary as instructed by Christ in St. John 3:5, “UNLESS MAN BE BORN AGAIN OF WATER AND OF THE SPIRIT.”

 

However, we do not believe that water baptism alone is a means of salvation, but is an outward demonstration that one has already had a conversion experience and has accepted Christ as his personal Savior. As Pentecostals, we practice immersion in preference to “SPRINKLING” , because immersion corresponds more closely to the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord (Colossians 2:12). It also symbolizes regeneration and purification more than any other mode. Therefore, we practice immersion as our mode of Baptism. We believe that we should use the Baptismal Formula given us by Christ for all “…IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER , AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST.” (St. Matthew 28:19)

​

Given at Pentecost, Sent by Jesus

We believe the Baptism with the Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost as the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after His ascension to empower His Church to preach the Gospel, to be His witnesses, and to live lives that please God. It comes with an endowment of power for life and service, the release of spiritual gifts, a deeper consecration to God, and a greater fullness of the Spirit's infilling."But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me."Acts 1:8

The Prophecy Fulfilled

 

Joel's Promise of the Spirit Poured Out

We believe Pentecost fulfilled what God spoke centuries earlier through the prophet Joel: "I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit" (Joel 2:28–29). Peter quoted this same prophecy on the day of Pentecost, declaring that what the crowd was witnessing — the outpouring of the Spirit and believers speaking in other tongues — was exactly what Joel had foretold (Acts 2:16–17). We believe that same Spirit, promised to "all flesh," is still being poured out on believers today.

Different Kinds of Tongues

 

Not a Single, Uniform Gift

We believe Scripture describes more than one expression of tongues. At Pentecost, those gathered heard the disciples speaking in real, recognizable languages they had never learned (Acts 2:4–11) — a sign understood by everyone present, regardless of their native tongue. Paul later describes "diverse kinds of tongues" as one gift among several the Spirit distributes among believers (1 Corinthians 12:10, 28), not identical in every person or setting. Tongues can function as a private prayer language between a believer and God (1 Corinthians 14:2, 14–15), or as a public message to the church, which Scripture requires be paired with interpretation (1 Corinthians 14:27–28).

​

Practiced With Order and Love

We believe the gifts of the Spirit continue today, including tongues, and we will not forbid what Scripture permits believers to practice. We believe in tongues, and we believe the Spirit gives the utterance — this is not a gift we manufacture or perform, but one He grants as He wills.