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CHARACTER, BELIEFS, AND ORDINANCES
A. Calvary Chapel of Midland-Odessa shall be a non-denominational church. It shall seek
to emphasize the spiritual unity of all true believers. It shall be the policy of this church to
the gospel, to exalting the Lord Jesus Christ, and to worship God in spirit and in truth.
B. In order to identify the church as conservative in theology, and evangelical in nature, we
set forth this general statement of fundamental beliefs. (For purposes of this document,
the words ‘church’ and ‘corporation’ are synonymous).
1.We believe worship of God should be inspirational. Therefore, we give a great place
to music in our worship.
2.We believe worship of God should be intelligent. Therefore, our Services are
designed with great emphasis upon teaching the Scriptures in order that God may
instruct us through His written Word.
3.We believe worship of God should be fruitful. Therefore, we look for His love in our
lives as the supreme manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.
4.We believe in all the fundamental doctrines of historical, evangelical Christianity.
5.We believe that Scripture is inerrant in the original writings, that the Bible, Old and
New Testaments are the inspired, infallible Word of God, and that the Scriptures are our
final authority in areas of practice, faith, and doctrine.
6.We believe that God is eternally existent in three separate persons: Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit.
7.We believe that God the Father is the personal, transcendent, and sovereign Creator
of all things.
8.We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human. He was born of a virgin. He
lived a sinless life. He provided for the atonement of our sins by His all sufficient,
sacrificial, atoning death on the Cross. He was buried. He was bodily resurrected by the
power of the Holy
Spirit. He ascended back to the right hand of God the Father. He ever lives to make
intercession for us.
9.We believe that the Holy Spirit is God, and He possesses all the divine attributes. He
indwells all believers, baptizes and seals them at that moment of their salvation, and He
empowers believers to carry out the functions and tasks of the church.
10. We believe in a final judgment, whereby all non-believers will be cast into eternal
punishment and separation from God, and that all believers will be eternally in the
presence of the Lord Jesus.
11. We believe that all people are by sin separated from God and are responsible for
their own sin, but that salvation, redemption, and forgiveness are freely offered to all by
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. When a person repents of sin and accepts Jesus
Christ as personal Savior and Lord, trusting Him to save, that person is immediately
born again and sealed by the Holy Spirit, all his/ her sins are forgiven, and that person
becomes a child of God, destined to
spend eternity with the Lord.
12.We believe that church government should be simplistic rather than complex
bureaucracy, and we depend on the Holy Spirit to lead, rather than on fleshly promotion.
13.We teach that the Church has two ordinances: adult baptism by immersion and holy
communion. These ordinances are not considered to be necessary for salvation, but they
are considered acts of obedience, love, and devotion to be observed by all whom have
professed faith in Jesus Christ as Savior.
14. We await the pre-tribulation rapture of the Church, and we believe that the second
coming of Jesus Christ will be personal, pre-millennial, and visible, and that Jesus will
rule on this earth with His saints during the millennial reign of Christ.
15.Our services are informal, with an emphasis upon a personal relationship with Jesus
through worship, prayer, and the teaching of the Scriptures. Our style of teaching is verse
by verse, chapter by chapter through the entire Bible. We do not allow speaking in
tongues, nor prophecy, during services or while a Bible study is in progress because we
do not believe that the Holy Spirit would interrupt Himself. We do not forbid the
exercising of the gifts of the Spirit. However, because of the divisiveness within the body
of Christ that these gifts cause, we ask that the exercise of these gifts be confined to
each individual’s private, personal ministry.
16. The following is a list of some of the things that we reject because of the division
these things cause within the body of Christ, and because we find that most of these
doctrines and practices go against biblical teaching.
1.We reject the teachings of the ‘faith movement’ which includes, but is not limited to,
positive confession: the belief that God can be commanded to heal or work miracles by
man’s will; seed faith: the belief that if you give to God a seed gift that He is obligated to
give it back with an increase; their view of healing: if a person becomes sick it is
because of his/ her lack of faith and that he/ she has un-confessed sin in his/ her life; their
view of salvation: that upon being saved a person becomes a little God, having power
within, that speaking in tongues is evidence of being saved; and that as a child of the
King, a person deserves wealth, health, and prosperity and can live a sinless life. At
Calvary Chapel West Texas, we do not believe or teach such things.
2.We do not agree with the teaching that a true Christian can be ‘demon possessed’
3.We reject the teaching referred to as dominion theology’ or ‘kingdom theology’ (the
teaching that Christians must first ‘occupy’ the whole earth and take over governments
and seats of authority in order for Jesus to return)
4.We reject a fatalistic, Calvinistic view that leaves no room for the free will of man.
Specifically, we reject a) the assertion that Jesus’ atonement was limited b) that God’s
grace cannot be resisted c) that God has elected some people to go to hell. Instead, we
believe that a) Jesus died for all people b) many people resist and refuse to accept
Jesus, thereby condemning themselves to hell c) “whosoever calls on the name of the
Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).
5.We do not accept prophecy that supersedes Biblical Scripture. In other words, we
reject anything from man, whether spoken on written, that is contrary to God’s Written
Word, or that seeks to be in authority over God’s Word.
6.We reject the incorporation of humanistic and secular psychology and philosophy into
Biblical teaching.
7.We do not hold to the over-emphasis of ‘spiritual gifts.’ This can include reliance or
dependence upon experiential signs and wonders, with a total disregard for Biblical
teaching. It can also include the constant quest for ‘power’ and the seeking of a personal,
experiential touch from God, such as being ‘slain in the spirit.’ We believe such things
are not to be found in Scripture and therefore should not be practiced.
8.We reject the use of secular means and programs to raise money. People should not
be manipulated or constrained into giving tithes or offerings.
9.Covenant theology is not taught at Calvary Chapel West Texas.
10.Calvary Chapel West Texas does not believe in the use of the eucharist cross, candle
burning, incense burning, and the use of icons, statues or images. The use of dance as it
is performed in the arts, and the implementation of ‘entertainment’ worship is also
rejected. We believe that God is spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in
spirit and in truth (John 4:24).
A. Calvary Chapel of Midland-Odessa shall be a non-denominational church. It shall seek
to emphasize the spiritual unity of all true believers. It shall be the policy of this church to
the gospel, to exalting the Lord Jesus Christ, and to worship God in spirit and in truth.
B. In order to identify the church as conservative in theology, and evangelical in nature, we
set forth this general statement of fundamental beliefs. (For purposes of this document,
the words ‘church’ and ‘corporation’ are synonymous).
1.We believe worship of God should be inspirational. Therefore, we give a great place
to music in our worship.
2.We believe worship of God should be intelligent. Therefore, our Services are
designed with great emphasis upon teaching the Scriptures in order that God may
instruct us through His written Word.
3.We believe worship of God should be fruitful. Therefore, we look for His love in our
lives as the supreme manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.
4.We believe in all the fundamental doctrines of historical, evangelical Christianity.
5.We believe that Scripture is inerrant in the original writings, that the Bible, Old and
New Testaments are the inspired, infallible Word of God, and that the Scriptures are our
final authority in areas of practice, faith, and doctrine.
6.We believe that God is eternally existent in three separate persons: Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit.
7.We believe that God the Father is the personal, transcendent, and sovereign Creator
of all things.
8.We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human. He was born of a virgin. He
lived a sinless life. He provided for the atonement of our sins by His all sufficient,
sacrificial, atoning death on the Cross. He was buried. He was bodily resurrected by the
power of the Holy
Spirit. He ascended back to the right hand of God the Father. He ever lives to make
intercession for us.
9.We believe that the Holy Spirit is God, and He possesses all the divine attributes. He
indwells all believers, baptizes and seals them at that moment of their salvation, and He
empowers believers to carry out the functions and tasks of the church.
10. We believe in a final judgment, whereby all non-believers will be cast into eternal
punishment and separation from God, and that all believers will be eternally in the
presence of the Lord Jesus.
11. We believe that all people are by sin separated from God and are responsible for
their own sin, but that salvation, redemption, and forgiveness are freely offered to all by
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. When a person repents of sin and accepts Jesus
Christ as personal Savior and Lord, trusting Him to save, that person is immediately
born again and sealed by the Holy Spirit, all his/ her sins are forgiven, and that person
becomes a child of God, destined to
spend eternity with the Lord.
12.We believe that church government should be simplistic rather than complex
bureaucracy, and we depend on the Holy Spirit to lead, rather than on fleshly promotion.
13.We teach that the Church has two ordinances: adult baptism by immersion and holy
communion. These ordinances are not considered to be necessary for salvation, but they
are considered acts of obedience, love, and devotion to be observed by all whom have
professed faith in Jesus Christ as Savior.
14. We await the pre-tribulation rapture of the Church, and we believe that the second
coming of Jesus Christ will be personal, pre-millennial, and visible, and that Jesus will
rule on this earth with His saints during the millennial reign of Christ.
15.Our services are informal, with an emphasis upon a personal relationship with Jesus
through worship, prayer, and the teaching of the Scriptures. Our style of teaching is verse
by verse, chapter by chapter through the entire Bible. We do not allow speaking in
tongues, nor prophecy, during services or while a Bible study is in progress because we
do not believe that the Holy Spirit would interrupt Himself. We do not forbid the
exercising of the gifts of the Spirit. However, because of the divisiveness within the body
of Christ that these gifts cause, we ask that the exercise of these gifts be confined to
each individual’s private, personal ministry.
16. The following is a list of some of the things that we reject because of the division
these things cause within the body of Christ, and because we find that most of these
doctrines and practices go against biblical teaching.
1.We reject the teachings of the ‘faith movement’ which includes, but is not limited to,
positive confession: the belief that God can be commanded to heal or work miracles by
man’s will; seed faith: the belief that if you give to God a seed gift that He is obligated to
give it back with an increase; their view of healing: if a person becomes sick it is
because of his/ her lack of faith and that he/ she has un-confessed sin in his/ her life; their
view of salvation: that upon being saved a person becomes a little God, having power
within, that speaking in tongues is evidence of being saved; and that as a child of the
King, a person deserves wealth, health, and prosperity and can live a sinless life. At
Calvary Chapel West Texas, we do not believe or teach such things.
2.We do not agree with the teaching that a true Christian can be ‘demon possessed’
3.We reject the teaching referred to as dominion theology’ or ‘kingdom theology’ (the
teaching that Christians must first ‘occupy’ the whole earth and take over governments
and seats of authority in order for Jesus to return)
4.We reject a fatalistic, Calvinistic view that leaves no room for the free will of man.
Specifically, we reject a) the assertion that Jesus’ atonement was limited b) that God’s
grace cannot be resisted c) that God has elected some people to go to hell. Instead, we
believe that a) Jesus died for all people b) many people resist and refuse to accept
Jesus, thereby condemning themselves to hell c) “whosoever calls on the name of the
Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).
5.We do not accept prophecy that supersedes Biblical Scripture. In other words, we
reject anything from man, whether spoken on written, that is contrary to God’s Written
Word, or that seeks to be in authority over God’s Word.
6.We reject the incorporation of humanistic and secular psychology and philosophy into
Biblical teaching.
7.We do not hold to the over-emphasis of ‘spiritual gifts.’ This can include reliance or
dependence upon experiential signs and wonders, with a total disregard for Biblical
teaching. It can also include the constant quest for ‘power’ and the seeking of a personal,
experiential touch from God, such as being ‘slain in the spirit.’ We believe such things
are not to be found in Scripture and therefore should not be practiced.
8.We reject the use of secular means and programs to raise money. People should not
be manipulated or constrained into giving tithes or offerings.
9.Covenant theology is not taught at Calvary Chapel West Texas.
10.Calvary Chapel West Texas does not believe in the use of the eucharist cross, candle
burning, incense burning, and the use of icons, statues or images. The use of dance as it
is performed in the arts, and the implementation of ‘entertainment’ worship is also
rejected. We believe that God is spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in
spirit and in truth (John 4:24).