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Our Beliefs & Distinctions

OUR BELIEFS

PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY: It is vital not only that we worship the right God but that we worship Him the right way. For example, the worship of the true God cannot be enhanced through images. Far from enabling the worshipper to more clearly see the LORD, images obscure His glory and dim the light of His truth (Ex. 20:3-6). This fundamental conviction that methods matter is the cornerstone of our ministry philosophy. There are many worldly or otherwise sub-Christian ways to attract people to religious services. Charismatic charlatans and other spiritual pretenders have become highly adept in their use, regrettably tarnishing the name of Christ in the process. At South Side, we believe God Himself should be the main attraction. The beauty of Christ and His infallible Word should occupy center stage and never be eclipsed.

Our church’s conservative approach facilitates this goal by emphasizing holiness over trendiness and discipleship over entertainment. We do not, however, believe the label “conservative” should in any way be construed as backward. We cherish excellence, professionalism, and a beautiful aesthetic. Inwardly, our goal is to offer stability, honesty, and integrity to people craving the security and comfort of absolute truth. We provide clear, uncompromising, Christ-centered preaching to deepen people’s Bible knowledge and strengthen their relationship with Jesus.

ARTICLES OF FAITH: The following is an abbreviated list of the scriptural beliefs of the leadership and members of South Side Baptist.

  • THE HOLY SCRIPTURES: We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally and plenary-inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible, and God-breathed and, therefore, are the sole authority for faith and life. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments are and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to Man. The Scriptures shall be interpreted according to their ordinary grammatical-historical meaning. The King James Translation of the Bible shall be the official and only translation used by the church. (II Tim. 3:16-17; II Pet. 1:20-21)
  • DISPENSATIONALISM: We believe that the Scriptures, interpreted in their natural, literal sense, reveal divinely determined dispensations or rules of life that define man’s responsibilities in successive ages. These dispensations are not ways of salvation but divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to His purpose. Three dispensations – the law, the church, and the kingdom – are the subjects of detailed revelation in Scripture. (Gen. 1:28: I Cor. 9:17; II Cor. 3:9-18; Gal. 3:13-25; Eph. 1:10; 3:2-10; Col. 1:24-25,27; Rev. 20:2-6)
  • THE GODHEAD: We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – each co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, coequal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections. (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; II Cor. 13:14; John 14:10, 26)
  • THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST:
    • We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary so He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. (Isa. 7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14; II Cor. 5:19-21; Gal. 4:4-5; Phil. 2:5-8)
    • We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice and that our justification is ensured by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (Acts 2:18-36; Rom. 3:24-25; I Pet. 2:24; Eph. 1:7; I Peter 1:3-5)
    • We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. (Acts 1:9-10; Heb. 9:24; 7:25; Rom. 8:34; I John 2:1-2)
  • THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
    • We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling, and sealing them unto the day of redemption. (John 16:8-11; Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 12:12-14; II Cor. 3:6; Eph. 1:13-14)
    • We believe He is the Divine Teacher who assists believers in understanding and appreciating the Scriptures. It is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit. (Eph. 1:17-18; 5:18; I John 2:20, 27)
    • We believe God is sovereign in the bestowing of spiritual gifts to every believer. God uniquely uses evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip believers in the assembly so they can do the work of the ministry. (Rom. 12:3-8; I Cor. 12:4-11, 28; Eph. 4:7-12)
    • We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing, were temporary. Speaking in tongues was never the ordinary or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit. Ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection. However, God frequently chooses to answer the prayers of believers for physical healing. (I Cor. 1:22; 13:8; 14:21-22)
  • THE TOTAL DEPRAVITY OF MAN: We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin, the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God. Man is depraved and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 3:22-23; 5:12; 6:23; Eph. 2:1-3; 4:17-19)
  • SALVATION: We believe that salvation is the gracious gift of God offered to all men without distinction or exception. It must be received on the condition of repentance and personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary to forgive our sins. We believe that all sins, except blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, are forgivable. (John 1:12; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-10; I Pet. 1:18-19; Matt. 12:31-32; I John 1:9). To further explain our position on this vital issue, we offer the following ten positions
    • THE GOSPEL: We affirm that the gospel is the good news that God has made a way of salvation for any person through the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s universal offer of salvation is in keeping with His desire for every person to be saved. We deny that only a select few are capable of responding to the gospel while the rest are predestined to an eternity in Hell. (Genesis 3:15; Psalm 2:1-12; Ezekiel 18:23, 32; Luke 19.10; Luke 24:45-49; John 1:1-18, 3:16; Romans 1:1-6, 5:8; 8:34; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Galatians 4:4-7; Colossians 1:21-23; 1 Timothy 2:3-4; Hebrews 1:1-3; 4:14-16; 2 Peter 3:9)
    • THE SINFULNESS OF MAN: We affirm that, because of the fall of Adam, every person inherits a nature and environment inclined toward sin and that every person who is capable of moral action will sin. Each person’s sin alone brings the wrath of a holy God, broken fellowship with Him, ever-worsening selfishness and destructiveness, death, and condemnation to an eternity in Hell. We deny that Adam’s sin resulted in the incapacitation of any person’s free will or rendered any person guilty before he has personally sinned. While no sinner is remotely capable of achieving salvation through his own effort, we deny that any sinner is saved apart from a free response to the Holy Spirit’s drawing through the gospel. (Genesis 3:15-24; 6:5; Deuteronomy 1:39; Isaiah 6:5, 7:15-16;53:6; Jeremiah 17:5,9, 31:29-30; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 1:18-32; 3:9-18, 5:12, 6:23; 7:9; Matthew 7:21-23; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; 6:9-10;15:22; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 9:27-28; Revelation 20:11-15)
    • THE ATONEMENT OF CHRIST: We affirm that the penal substitution of Christ is the only available and effective sacrifice for the sins of every person. We deny that this atonement results in salvation without a person’s free response of repentance and faith. We deny that God imposes or withholds this atonement without respect to an act of the person’s free will. We deny that Christ died only for the sins of those who will be saved. (Psalm 22:1-31; Isaiah 53:1-12; John 12:32, 14:6; Acts 10:39-43; Acts 16:30-32; Romans 3:21-26; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:10-14; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-20; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 9:12-15, 24-28; 10:1-18; I John 1:7; 2:2)
    • THE GRACE OF GOD: We affirm that grace is God’s generous decision to provide salvation for any person by taking all of the initiative in providing atonement, in freely offering the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit, and in uniting the believer to Christ through the Holy Spirit by faith. We deny that grace negates the necessity of a free response of faith or that it cannot be resisted. We deny that the response of faith is in any way a meritorious work that earns salvation. (Ezra 9:8; Proverbs 3:34; Zechariah 12:10; Matthew 19:16-30, 23:37; Luke 10:1-12; Acts 15:11; 20:24; Romans 3:24, 27-28; 5:6, 8, 15-21; Galatians 1:6; 2:21; 5; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 3:2-9; Colossians 2:13-17; Hebrews 4:16; 9:28; 1 John 4:19)
    • THE REGENERATION OF THE SINNER: We affirm that any person who responds to the gospel with repentance and faith is born again through the power of the Holy Spirit. He is a new creation in Christ and enters, at the moment he believes, into eternal life. We deny that any person is regenerated prior to or apart from hearing and responding to the gospel. (Luke 15:24; John 3:3; 7:37-39; 10:10; 16:7-14; Acts 2:37-39; Romans 6:4-11; 10:14; 1 Corinthians 15:22; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20; 6:15; Colossians 2:13; 1 Peter 3:18)
    • THE ELECTION TO SALVATION: We affirm that, in reference to salvation, election speaks of God’s eternal, gracious, and certain plan in Christ to have a people who are His by repentance and faith. We deny that election means that, from eternity, God predestined certain people for salvation and others for condemnation. (Genesis 1:26-28; 12:1-3; Exodus 19:6; Jeremiah 31:31-33; Matthew 24:31; 25:34; John 6:70; 15:16; Romans 8:29-30, 33;9:6-8; 11:7; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2; Ephesians 1:4-6; 2:11-22; 3:1-11; 4:4-13; 1 Timothy 2:3-4; 1 Peter 1:1-2; 1 Peter 2:9; 2 Peter 3:9; Revelation 7:9-10)
    • THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD: We affirm God’s eternal knowledge of and sovereignty over every person’s salvation or condemnation. We deny that God’s sovereignty and knowledge require Him to cause a person’s acceptance or rejection of faith in Christ. (Genesis 1:1; 6:5-8; 18:16-33; 22; 2 Samuel 24:13-14; 1 Chronicles 29:10-20; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Joel 2:32; Psalm 23; 51:4; 139:1-6; Proverbs 15:3; John 6:44; Romans 11:3; Titus 3:3-7; James 1:13-15; Hebrews 11:6, 12:28; 1 Peter 1:17)
    • THE FREE WILL OF MAN: We affirm that God, as an expression of His sovereignty, endows each person with libertarian free will (the ability to choose between two options), which must be exercised in accepting or rejecting God’s gracious call to salvation by the Holy Spirit through the gospel. We deny that the decision of faith is an act of God rather than a response of the person. We deny that there is an “effectual call” for certain people that is different from a “general call” to any person who hears and understands the gospel. (Genesis 1:26-28; Numbers 21:8-9; Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 8:1-22; 2 Samuel 24:13-14; Esther 3:12-14; Matthew 7:13-14; 11:20-24; Mark 10:17-22; Luke 9:23-24; 13:34; 15:17-20; Romans 10:9-10; Titus 2:12; Revelation 22:17)
    • THE SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER: We affirm that when a person responds in faith to the gospel, God promises to complete the process of salvation in the believer into eternity. This process begins with justification, whereby the sinner is immediately acquitted of all sin and granted peace with God; continues in sanctification, whereby the saved are progressively conformed to the image of Christ by the indwelling Holy Spirit; and concludes in glorification, whereby the saint enjoys life with Christ in Heaven forever. We deny that this Holy Spirit-sealed relationship can ever be broken. We deny even the possibility of apostasy. (John 10:28-29; 14:1-4; 16:12-14; Philippians 1:6; Romans 3:21-26; 8:29,30; 35-39; 12:1-3; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Ephesians 1:13-14; Philippians 3:12; Colossians 1:21-22; 1 John 2:19; 3:2; 5:13-15; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 13:5; James 1:12; Jude 24-25)
    • THE GREAT COMMISSION: We affirm that the Lord Jesus Christ commissioned His church to preach the good news of salvation to all people to the ends of the earth. We affirm that the gospel proclamation is God’s means of bringing any person to salvation. We deny that salvation is possible outside of a faith response to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Psalm 51:13; Proverbs 11:30; Isaiah 52:7; Matthew 28:19-20; John 14:6; Acts 1:8; 4:12; 10:42-43; Romans 1:16, 10:13-15; 1 Corinthians 1:17-21; Ephesians 3:7-9; 6:19-20; Philippians 1:12-14; 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Timothy 2:5; 2 Timothy 4:1-5)
  • THE ETERNAL SECURITY AND ASSURANCE OF BELIEVERS:
    • We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1, 38-39; I Cor. 1:4-8; I Pet. 1:4-5).
    • We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh. (Rom. 13:13-14; Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11-15)
  • THE CHURCH:
    • We believe that the local church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is solely made up of born-again persons. (I Cor. 12:12-14; II Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:25-27)
    • We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches are taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; I Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)
    • We believe in the local church’s autonomy, free of any external authority or control. (Acts 13:1-4; 15:19-31; 20:28; Rom. 16:1,4; I Cor. 3:9,16; 5:4-7, 13; I Pet. 5:1-4)
    • We recognize water baptism and the Lord’s Supper as the scriptural ordinances of obedience for the church in this age. (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 18:18; I Cor. 11:23-26)
  • SEPARATION: We believe that all the saved should live so as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord. God commands His people to separate from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations, and to refrain from all immodest and immoderate appearances, piercings, and bodily markings. (Rom. 12:1-2; 14:13; II Cor. 6:14-7:1; II Tim. 3:1-5; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11; Lev. 19:28; I Cor. 6:19-20)
  • THE SECOND ADVENT OF Christ: We believe in that “blessed hope,” the personal, imminent return of Christ who will rapture His church prior to the seven-year tribulation period. At the end of the Tribulation, Christ will personally and visibly return with His saints to establish His earthly Messianic Kingdom, which was promised to the nation of Israel. (Ps. 89:3-4; Dan. 2:31-45; Zech. 14:4-11; I Thess. 1:10; I Thess. 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Rev. 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6)
  • THE ETERNAL STATE:
    • We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Matt. 25:46; John 5:28-29; 11:25-26; Rev. 20:5-6, 12-13)
    • We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss, they await the first resurrection when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord. (Luke 23:43; II Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 3:21; I Thess. 4:16-17; Rev. 20:4-6)
    • We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious punishment and torment until the second resurrection when, with soul and body reunited, they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment. They shall be cast into the literal Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment and torment. (Matt. 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; II Thess. 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Rev. 20:11-15)
  • THE PERSONALITY OF SATAN: We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the cause of the Fall of Man; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. (Job 1:6-7; Isa. 14:12-17; Matt. 4:2-11; 25:41; Rev. 20:10)
  • CREATION: We believe that God created the universe in six literal, 24-hour periods. We reject evolution, the Gap Theory, the Day-Age Theory, and Theistic Evolution as unscriptural theories of origin. (Gen. 1-2; Ex. 20:11)
  • CIVIL GOVERNMENT: We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: 1) the home, 2) the church, and 3) the state. Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and balanced those responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the church, and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God. (Rom. 13:1-7; Eph. 5:22-24; Heb. 13:17; I Pet. 2:13-14)
  • MARRIAGE AND HUMAN SEXUALITY:
    • PREAMBLE: We believe that all matters of faith and conduct must be evaluated based on Holy Scripture, which is our infallible guide (2 Timothy 3:16–17). Since the Holy Bible does speak to the nature of human beings and their sexuality, it is imperative that we correctly understand and articulate what the Bible teaches on these matters. We are committed to the home and family as outlined in Holy Scripture. We believe God has ordained and created marriage to exist between one man and one woman, with absolute marital fidelity. The Bible sets forth specific home and family values, which include the distinct roles of husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, and children. Our firm conviction is that we uphold each individual’s dignity as we embrace the unchanging and longstanding principles of scriptural truth.
    • RELIGIOUS BELIEFS:
      • MARRIAGE: South Side Baptist Church defines marriage as the permanent, exclusive, comprehensive, and conjugal “one flesh” union of one man and one woman, intrinsically ordered to procreation and biological family and in furtherance of the moral, spiritual, and public good of binding father, mother, and child (Genesis 1:27-28, Genesis 2:18-24, Matthew 19:4-9, Mark 10:5-9, Ephesians 5:31-33).
      • SEXUAL IMMORALITY: South Side Baptist Church believes that sexual acts outside marriage are prohibited as sinful. Consequently, South Side Baptist Church members must resist and refrain from any sexual acts outside marriage — including but not limited to adultery, fornication, incest, zoophilia, pornography, prostitution, masturbation, voyeurism, pedophilia, exhibitionism, sodomy, polygamy, polyamory, sologamy, or same-sex sexual acts (Exodus 20:14, Leviticus 18:7-23, Leviticus 20:10-21, Deuteronomy 5:18, Matthew 15:19, Matthew 5:27-28, Matthew 15:19, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-13, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, Hebrews 13:4, Galatians 5:19, Ephesians 4:17-19, Colossians 3:5).
      • SEXUAL IDENTITY: South Side Baptist Church believes that God created humanity in His image: male (man) and female (woman), sexually different but with equal personal dignity. Consequently, South Side Baptist Church members must affirm their biological sex and refrain from any attempts to physically change, alter, or disagree with their predominant biological sex — including but not limited to elective sex-reassignment, transvestite, transgender, or non-binary “genderqueer” acts or conduct (Genesis 1:26-28, Romans 1:26-32, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
      • SEXUAL ORIENTATION: South Side Baptist Church believes that God created and ordered human sexuality to the permanent, exclusive, comprehensive, and conjugal “one flesh” union of man and woman, intrinsically ordered to procreation and biological family, and in furtherance of the moral, spiritual, and public good of binding father, mother, and child. Consequently, South Side Baptist Church members must affirm the sexual complementarity of man and woman, resist any same-sex sexual attractions, and refrain from all same-sex acts or conduct that are intrinsically disordered (Genesis 1:27, Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6, Mark 10:5-9, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Ephesians 5:25-27, Revelation 19:7-9, Revelation 21:2).
      • SEXUAL REDEMPTION: South Side Baptist Church believes that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and should seek redemption through confession, repentance, and faith in Jesus Christ. Consequently, South Side Baptist Church members must welcome and treat with respect, compassion, and sensitivity all who experience same-sex attractions or confess sexually immoral acts but are committed to resisting sexual temptation, refraining from sexual immorality, and conforming their behavior to South Side Baptist Church’s Statement of Faith. (Matthew 11:28-30, Romans 3:23, Ephesians 2:1-10, I Corinthians 10:13, Hebrews 2:17-18, Hebrews 4:14-16)
      • CELIBACY: South Side Baptist Church believes that Scripture grants two life-enhancing options for human sexual behavior: (1) the conjugal “one flesh” marital union of one man and one woman, and (2) celibacy. Either is a gift from God, given for His glory and the good of those who receive and rejoice in His gift to them. Celibacy and faithful singleness is to be celebrated and affirmed within the South Side Baptist Church (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:18, 21-24; Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:5-8; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Corinthians 7:1-8; Matthew 19:12; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Romans 12:10; 1 Timothy 5:1-2).
    • APPLICATION: All members, employees, and volunteers must affirm and adhere to this Doctrinal and Religious Absolute statement on marriage and human sexuality to qualify for involvement with the ministry. Such adherence is necessary for our religious mission, goals, and purpose. Behavior or counter-witnessing that does otherwise will impede and burden our integrity and religious mission. We believe God’s grace can wipe the slate of guilt and sin, though the consequences are still incurred.
    • AUTHORITY: The Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God, acting as the source of authority over morality, our beliefs, Christian lifestyle, and conduct. The pastor is charged with the ministerial responsibility of biblical interpretation and promulgating religious policy. The pastor will determine life application and final matters relating to South Side Baptist Church theology, philosophy, Christian practice, faith, divine truth, morality, and theological and doctrinal resolutions.
  • FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS:
    • We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God. Still, God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home, and men are to be the leaders (e.g., pastors and deacons) of the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for licensure and ordination by the church. (Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:18; I Tim. 2:8-15; 3:4-5,12)
    • We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church. The wife is to submit herself to the scriptural leadership of her husband as the church submits to the headship of Christ. Children are a heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible for teaching their children spiritual and moral values and leading them through consistent lifestyle examples and appropriate discipline, including scriptural corporal correction. (Gen. 1:26-28; Ex. 20:12; Deut. 6:4-9; Ps. 127:3-5; Prov. 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; Mk. 10:6-12; I Cor. 7:1-16; Eph. 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Col. 3:18-21; Heb. 13:4; I Pet. 3:1-7)
  • DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE: We believe that God disapproves of and forbids divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies. Divorce and remarriage is regarded as adultery except on the grounds of fornication. Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the church and be greatly used by God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the offices of pastor or deacon. (Mal. 2:14-17; Matt. 19:3-12; Rom. 7:1-3; I Tim. 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6)
  • ABORTION: We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, congenital disabilities, gender selection, birth control, population control, or the physical or mental well-being of the mother are acceptable. (Job 3:16; Ps. 51:5; 139:14-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44)
  • LOVE: We believe that we should demonstrate love for others, not only toward fellow believers but also toward those who are not believers and those who oppose us. We must deal with those who oppose us graciously, gently, patiently, and humbly. God forbids the stirring up of strife, the taking of revenge, the threat, or the use of violence to resolve personal conflict or obtain personal justice. Although God commands us to abhor sinful actions, we are to love and pray for any person who engages in such sinful actions. (Lev. 19:18; Matt. 5:44-48: Luke 6:31; John 13:34-35; Rom. 12:9-10; 17-21: 13:8-10; Phil. 2:2-4; II Tim. 2:24-26; Titus 3:2; I John 3:17-18)
  • LAWSUITS BETWEEN BELIEVERS: We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes. We believe the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. However, we believe that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander. (I Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32)
  • MISSIONS: We believe that God has given the church a great commission to proclaim the gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ, we must use all available means to go to foreign nations and not wait for them to come to us. (Matt. 28:19-20: Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; II Cor. 5:20)
  • GIVING: We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local church financially. We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving. Still, every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the church’s support, the relief of those in need, and the gospel’s spread. We believe that the giving of an individual member is a personal matter before God. We also believe that every man must give an account of himself to the Lord Jesus Christ. Our members are never contacted personally about their giving, except when that individual is being considered for or is in a leadership position. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been made. (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; I Cor. 16:2; II Cor. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; I Tim. 5:17-18; I John 3:17)
  • AUTHORITY OF STATEMENT OF FAITH: The Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all we believe. However, we believe that the preceding Statement of Faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible and, therefore, is binding upon all members. All literature used in the church shall completely agree with the Statement of Faith and approval of the pastor.
    • COVENANT: We, the members of South Side Baptist Church, having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior (John 16:8-10); and, on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19), and agreeing with the doctrine and philosophy of ministry (Phil. 2:2), and believing that the interest of Christ’s Kingdom requires our united efforts (Phil. 1:27), we do therefore yield ourselves up to Him (Rom. 12:1), and agree with each other, to walk together in Him (Col. 2:6), with brotherly love (Rom. 12:10), embracing our duty to God, to one another, and the world (Mark 12:30-31), and in view of these we adopt the following as our Church Covenant:
    • We will work and pray diligently to maintain peace (Col. 3:15), forbearing one another with longsuffering (Eph. 4:2), to protect and preserve the unity of the Spirit (Eph. 4:3).
    • We will walk together in love (Eph. 5:2), preferring one another (Rom. 12:10) as befits the members of a spiritual family (Matt. 23:8).
    • We will greet one another with affection (2 Cor. 13:12), receive each other with love (Rom. 15:7), serve one another with patience (Gal. 5:13), and forgive those who offend us for Christ’s sake (Eph. 4:32).
    • We will exercise affectionate care (1 Cor. 12:25) and watchfulness over each other (Col. 1:9) and faithfully entreat (1 Timothy 5:1) and admonish one another (Rom. 15:14) as occasion may require.
    • We will not forsake the assembling of ourselves together (Heb. 10:25) but instead show consideration for the body (Heb. 10:24) by edifying (1 Th. 5:11), exhorting (Heb. 3:13), and remembering one another in prayer (Eph. 6:18-20).
    • We will endeavor to bring up such as may at any time be under our care, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4), and labor together by prayer (1 Tim. 2:1-4), precept (Matt. 28:19-20), and example (2 Cor. 4:1-2), for the salvation of sinners.
    • We will rejoice in each other’s happiness (Rom. 12:5), bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2), and extend comfort to those grieving among us (1 Th. 4:18).
    • We will strive together for the faith of the gospel in this church (Phil. 1:27) as we sustain its worship, doctrine (Acts 2:42), ordinances (1 Cor. 11:2), and discipline (1 Cor. 5:11).
    • We will contribute cheerfully (2 Cor. 9:7) and regularly (1 Cor. 16:2) to the support of the ministry (Phil. 4:10), the expenses of the church (Gal. 6:6), and the spread of the gospel through all nations. (Rom. 15:24).
    • When we move from this place, we will unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word (Acts 9:26).
    • May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen.
  • OUR DISTINCTIONS
    • Covenanted Membership: Confusion surrounds the doctrine of the church. For instance, what distinguishes a church from the assembly of believers at a camp, seminary, or weekend retreat? Is it true that all Christians are part of a giant, amorphous entity called the church? Certainly not! The millions of born-again believers across the globe have no time or place to assemble. They cannot practice the ordinances or be disciplined and removed for egregious sins. Clearly, there is a distinction between a church and other assemblies of Christ’s disciples. One difference is that such assemblies don’t intend to be churches. In contrast to seminaries or camps, a church is a group of believers intentionally organized to accomplish the Great Commission. To such churches alone are entrusted the privilege to practice the sacred ordinances. Moreover, those within a church have a prescribed relationship one to another that is spelled out in more than thirty New Testament passages. We are not merely to love one another but also to pray for, serve, and bear one another’s burdens. These responsibilities and dozens of others can only find meaningful expression in a local congregation of believers. At South Side, we take church membership’s requisites, privileges, and responsibilities seriously. Only those who solemnly covenant to accept these responsibilities may unite with us.
    • Sufficiency of Scripture: Many churches pay lip service to the sufficiency of Scripture, but their practice tells a different story. At South Side, we believe the Bible is sufficient for every situation a believer can face. The Holy Spirit’s guidance and leadership are real and available for every situation, but they are fully offered in the inspired pages He moved the apostles to write. We hold that the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments are, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only, complete, and final revelation of the will of God to man.
    • Cessationism: South Side holds that the miraculous gifts mentioned in the New Testament were specific to that age and ceased at the close of the apostle’s ministry. No new information is needed today to live a godly life that is entirely pleasing to the Lord since the Holy Spirit has already given us His all-sufficient Word. We further hold that the miraculous gifts would be counterproductive today since their primary purpose was to authenticate the apostles as Christ’s only sanctioned spokespersons. The continuation of such miraculous gifts would open the door to non-apostolic teaching. We deem all claims of the miraculous, especially in revelatory matters, to be spurious and dangerous to the faith once for all delivered to the saints.