Basic Beliefs Within the Church of the Brethren

FOREWORD

More than two centuries ago in Germany, a new fellowship of Christian believers was formed. The established churches had become rich, powerful, and corrupt. They no longer proclaimed the simple message of the New Testament. Alexander Mack and other Pietists set out to form a church as nearly like the First Century Church as possible, and they took the New Testament as their rule of faith and practice. The Church of the Brethren is the present name given to that new fellowship. Most of the Brethren migrated to America in the 1720s. In basic orientation and background, the Brethren are Anabaptist (reject infant baptism) and Pietist (emphasize holy living). Brethren have historically accepted the basic Christian doctrines along with practices sometimes neglected by major groups of Christians. These include a commitment to peace and reconciliation, an emphasis on simple living, an opposition to taking oaths, the maintenance of a strong and wholesome family life, service to neighbors, and the practice of outward symbols taught in the New Testament (such as feetwashing and the sisters’ veiling).

The Brethren have sometimes become careless in applying biblical mandates, and because of this, a loosely knit network of people have formed the Brethren Revival Fellowship, which is a renewal movement in the Church of the Brethren. Brethren Revival Fellowship distributes this Handbook of Basic Beliefs within the Church of the Brethren, recognizing that at different periods in history, similar statements were made, not to become creeds, but to give guidance, and to point to the great truths of the Christian faith.

The only authoritative statement of what Christians should believe is to be found in the Scriptures themselves. Creeds and doctrinal statements can be dangerous when they alone are accepted as standards of belief. The doctrines outlined in the Handbook of Basic Beliefs are not a complete list of truths taught in the Bible, but it is hoped that this brief statement will encourage the reader to search the Scriptures more diligently.

–Harold S. Martin,
For Brethren Revival Fellowship

A HANDBOOK OF BASIC BELIEFS

WITHIN THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

1. THE SCRIPTURES

The Bible is the Word of God (Deuteronomy 4:1-2). It was written by men who were divinely inspired (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21), and it is God’s revelation of himself to man. The New Testament is the last will and covenant of our Lord (Hebrews 9:15), and is our final authority for faith and conduct. If one is to have a true understanding of the will of God, he must always accept the New Testament interpretation of the Old Testament. What was seen only vaguely (in the Old Testament) in the dim starlight of promise and type, is now seen clearly (in the New Testament) in the bright sunlight of God’s complete and perfect revelation in Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2; Matthew 5:43-44). The New Testament builds upon the Old, fulfills the Old, and reinterprets the Old.

The Bible is inerrant in the original writings, and is the supreme standard by which all human conduct and religious opinions should be tried (Acts 17:11; Psalms 19:7-11; Psalms 119:105).

2. GOD

There is one and only one living and true God (Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 11:6; Ex. 20:3). He is an intelligent, personal, spirit Being (John 4:24). He is one God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

God as Father reigns with providential care over his universe (Acts 7:48-50), and the stream of human history moves according to the purpose of his grace. He is Father to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26), and he is fatherly in his attitude toward all men (Matthew 5:45).

God the Son was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary (Matthew 1:18). He is true God and true man (Romans 1:3,4). In his death on the Cross, he made provision for the redemption of men from sin by becoming a substitutionary sacrifice (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 2:24). He was raised from the dead with a glorified body, ascended into heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God (1 Corinthians 15:1-25; John 16:27-28). He will return in power and glory to receive his disciples, and then to judge the world (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).

God the Holy Spirit is a divine Person distinct from the Father and the Son, and yet united to both the Father and the Son in the mysterious oneness of the holy Trinity (Matthew 28:19,20). He enables persons to understand truth (John 16:7-13), he imparts new life to those who meet the conditions of salvation (Titus 1:5), and he imparts gifts for service to every member of the church (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).

3. MAN

Man was created by the special act of God, in his own image, and is the crowning work of God’s creation (Genesis 1:26-30). In the beginning man was innocent of sin, and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice, through the temptation of Satan, man sinned against God, and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also that spiritual death which is separation from God (Genesis 2:16).

All human beings are born with a sinful nature (Psalm 51:5), and in the case of those who reach moral responsibility, become sinners in thought, word, and deed (Isaiah 6:5; Romans 5:12, 19; Romans 1:18-32). When David spoke of being conceived “in sin” (Psalm 51:5), he spoke not of the act of conception, but of the inherited bias to sin that is transmitted at conception.

The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created man in his own image, and in that Christ died for human beings, and therefore every individual is worthy of respect and Christian love (1 Peter 2:17).

4. SALVATION

Salvation is the entire work by which God rescues people from their sinful state. It is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (John 3:3-21; Revelation 3:20). Regeneration is a work of God’s grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:8,9; 2 Corinthians 5:17-19).

Justification is the gracious and full acquittal which is wrought by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23-25), and is symbolized by trine immersion baptism (Romans 6:4-5). In the early church, those who believed were baptized immediately (Acts 16:33). Jesus spoke of the necessity of water baptism, when he said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16).

Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God’s purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual perfection through the presence of the Holy Spirit who dwells in him (1 Corinthians 6:19,20; 2 Peter 3:18). Holiness is God’s standard of living for his people (Luke 1:74-75; 1 Peter 1:15).

Glorification is the culmination of salvation, and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed (Romans 8:16-18; 1 Peter 1:3-4). Jesus spoke of the final glory of the saved, when in figurative language he said the reapers will “gather the wheat into my barn” (Matthew 13:30).

5. THE CHURCH

A New Testament church is a local body (1 Corinthians 1:2) of baptized believers, composed of bishops (elders), deacons, and the saints (Philippians 1:1), who operate through democratic processes under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Each member of the congregation is equally responsible for its ongoing work, although there are those who are called to special responsibilities (Ephesians 4:11-12). The Church is also the Body of Christ, which includes all of the redeemed of all ages (Matthew 16:15-19; Ephesians 1:22-23).

Evangelism: It is the duty and privilege of every believer, and of every congregation, to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). Each child of God should seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by personal effort (Acts 1:8).

Ordinances: Ordinances are commandments that require more than one Christian to perform, and are essential factors in the development of the Christian life. The Scriptures teach the three-part love feast — feetwashing, supper, communion — (John 13:1-20; Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34), the anointing with oil for healing (James 5:14-18), the laying on of hands (Acts 8:17; 1 Timothy 4:14), the assembling together for worship (Hebrews 10:25), and the Christian salutation of the holy kiss (Romans 16:16; 1 Peter 5:14).

Ideals: God is the author of peace, and peace with God brings peace within ourselves, peace with members of the family within the home, and as far as is possible on our part, peace with all men (Matthew 18:15-20; Romans 12:18-21). The ideals of temperance (1 Corinthians 9:25), purity (1 Corinthians 6:9-11), and simple living (Matthew 6:28-33), are to be taught and observed. Christians are stewards of their possessions, and should contribute of their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally for the advancement of Christ’s cause on earth (1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 8:7; 2 Corinthians 9:7).

Principles: It is unscriptural for Christian people to participate in war (Matthew 5:44-45; Matthew 26:52), to go to law against brethren (1 Corinthians 6:1-9), to divorce and remarry (Mark 10: 11-12), to swear oaths (James 5:12), to follow worldly fashions and wear immodest clothes (1 Timothy 2:8-10), and for the Christian man to appear with long hair and the Christian woman with short and unveiled hair (1 Corinthians 11:3-16). These prohibitions are given for our benefit, and need to be respected in the Church.

Those who are born again, have the goal of obedience to God, walk in newness of life, cultivate self-denial and humility, and constitute the true Church of which Jesus Christ is the Head (Col. 3:5-15).

6. THE SOCIAL ORDER

Methods used for the improvement of society can only be truly helpful when they are rooted in the regeneration of the individual (Mark 7:21-23), by the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 26:18). People who are converted to Jesus Christ will then have the capacity to live up to the Christian command to “love thy neighbor” (Matthew 22:39).

The Christian should oppose, in the spirit of Christ, every form of greed and selfishness and vice (Matthew 5:13-16). He should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the aged, the helpless, and the sick (Matthew 25:35; Luke 10:27-37; Acts 6:1-7). Christians should be ready to work with persons of good will in worthy causes, always being careful to avoid compromise of loyalty to Christ (Galatians 6:10; 1 Corinthians 5:9-10).

Civil government is ordained of God (Romans 13:1-7), and it is the duty of Christians to render obedience to the government in all things not contrary to the clearly revealed wilt of God (Luke 20:25; 1 Peter 2:13-17). The Church should not resort to the civil power to carry on its work. Jesus vigorously rejected every attempt to make him a political Messiah. The rebuke to Satan (Matthew 4:8-10), and to Peter (Matthew 16:21-23), and the statement to Pilate (John 18:36), all indicate his persistent refusal to place political change in society ahead of personal change in individuals.

7. LAST THINGS

God will bring the world to its appropriate end in his own time and in his own way (Matthew 24: 42- 51; Revelation 1:18). According to the Scriptures, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth (Acts 1:10-11); the time of his coming is unrevealed, but always imminent (Mark 13:33-37). The dead will be raised (John 5:29) and Christ will judge all persons in righteousness (Acts 17:31; 2 Corinthians 5:10). The resurrection “unto life” will occur at the second coming of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:23), and the resurrection “unto damnation” will occur after the millennial reign of Christ (Revelation 20:4-6). The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:19-26). The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies (Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2) will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord (Matthew 25:46; John 14:1-3).

Jesus Christ will finally deliver up the Messianic Kingdom to God the Father, in order that He, as the Eternal Son, may reign with the Father in the new heaven and the new earth eternally (1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Revelation 21:1).

The message of Christianity centers around a Person – Jesus Christ. 1 John 5:11-12 says, “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” Have you turned from your sin and received God’s Son as your Savior? Do you know the forgiveness of sin? Do you know God as your Father by becoming his son? John 1:12 says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”

Many have surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ, and they often sing, “Oh happy day that fixed my choice on Thee, my Savior and my God.” They remember the day they committed their lives to Jesus. They believed that the atoning work of Christ on Calvary could save them; they repented of their life of sin; they accepted Christian baptism as an outward sign of their inward change. They remember the joy that Fame into their hearts, and the peace that filled their souls. That was a happy day — and what God has done for others, he can do for you.

The statements in this Handbook do not in any way exhaust the whole message of the Bible, nor are they intended to set a limit beyond which faith (within the boundaries of the Word of God) cannot go — but we believe that insofar as these statements extend, they are a true presentation of the sound doctrine taught in the Scriptures, and are therefore binding upon us as Christian believers.

For additional free copies of this Handbook, write:

Brethren Revival Fellowship
P.O. Box 543
Ephrata, PA 17522-0543

 

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THE BOOK OF DANIEL

Captivity… Dreams… Rulers… Fire… Lions… Prayers… Kingdoms. From a dedicated youth to a faithful sage, Daniel’s life stands as an example to follow.  Yet beyond his personal life, God gifted Daniel with a message of future events.  Though difficult to grasp, these events would shape the world for the coming Messiah and the Second Coming of Christ as King.

STUDIES IN LUKE

Luke presents a warmly personal and historically accurate account of Jesus as “the Son of Man.” This course will survey the Third Gospel, with emphasis on the unique events, miracles, and parables of Jesus found in it.

HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

This class will provide a broad overview of general church history. We will then focus on the Anabaptist and Pietist movements, especially as they relate to the formation and development of the Brethren groups. This is a two-part class. Plan to take both parts.

ONE FOUNDATION

This course is intended to lay down a measure in a world where truth is slippery and often subject to interpretation. Where “Christian Values” become a political slogan, and “good people” are our allies despite their faulty core beliefs. Where Facebook “friends” post memes about the power of God, despite a lifestyle that is anything but Godly. In the process we often fight among ourselves, doing Satan’s work for him. The purpose of this course is to lay the measure of Jesus Christ against the cults, religions, and worship in our contemporary world.

THE APOCRYPHA

While Protestant translations of the Bible contain 66 books, the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches recognize additional canonical books as well.  Where did these books, collectively known as the Apocrypha, come from and why aren’t they part of our Bible?  How reliable are they, and what value is there in studying them?

STUDIES IN 1 AND 2 PETER

The goal of this class is to acquire a firm grasp of the teachings and themes of these two general epistles. Peter covers topics from salvation and suffering to spiritual deception and the return of Christ. These letters are packed with warnings and encouragements for Christian living.

THE GREAT I AM’S OF CHRIST

A detailed study of Jesus Christ and His relationship to the “I Am” metaphors in John’s gospel. Why did Jesus describe himself in these terms? How do they relate to each other? We will look at spiritual and practical applications to further our Christian growth.

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES: AN AMERICAN CULT

Have you ever been visited by someone who said they wanted to study the Bible with you so that you might discover the truth together?  Jehovah’s Witnesses claim to have much in common with evangelical Christians, and they seem to be well versed in the scriptures.  But what do they really believe and how can we effectively witness to those who have been ensnared by this false religion?

THE BOOK OF HOSEA

While we may consider Hosea as one of the minor prophets, his message vividly illustrates the major doctrine in all Scriptures.  The theme of God’s unconditional love is magnified and extended beyond those deserving it.  God expresses tender words towards His erring people inviting them to turn from sin to reconciliation with Him.

CHURCH LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION

This course will look at basic principles and polity of leading the local church. We will examine the balance between upholding a spiritually focused organism of ministry and cultivating proper order for effective organization. Practical applications will be emphasized. This is a two-part class. Plan to take both parts.

STATEMENT OF CONDUCT

The Brethren Bible Institute believes in the discipline of the whole person (spirit, soul, and body). We will aim to train students not only about how to study the Bible in a systematic way (2 Timothy 2:15), but also how to live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world (Titus 2:12). God calls Christians to the highest of character when He commands us to be holy (1 Peter 1:15), and holiness requires discipline.

Indulgence in the use of tobacco, alcoholic beverages, drugs, profanity, and gambling are forbidden at BBI. Objectionable literature will be prohibited. Students are asked not to use the college pool during the Institute. Each student must be thoughtful, and respect the rights of others at all times, especially during study and rest periods.

A friendly social group intermingling of students between class periods, and at general school activities is encouraged. Each student should enjoy the friendship of the entire group. At all times, highest standards of social conduct between men and women must be maintained. This means that all forms of unbecoming behavior and unseemly familiarities will be forbidden.

Personal appearance and grooming tell much about one's character. Students are expected to be dressed in good taste. In an attempt to maintain Scriptural expressions of simplicity, modesty, and nonconformity, the following regulations shall be observed while attending BBI.

MEN should be neatly attired and groomed at all times. Fashion extremes and the wearing of jewelry should be avoided on campus. The hair should not fall over the shirt-collar when standing, nor should it cover the ears.

WOMEN should wear skirts cut full enough and of sufficient length to at least come to the knees when standing and sitting. Form-fitting, transparent, low-neckline, or sleeveless clothing will not be acceptable. Slacks and culottes are permitted only for recreation and then only when worn under a skirt of sufficient length. Wearing jewelry should be avoided on campus. Long hair for women is encouraged and all Church of the Brethren girls (and others with like convictions) shall be veiled on campus.

The Institute reserves the right to dismiss any student whose attitude and behavior is not in harmony with the ideals of the School, or whose presence undermines the general welfare of the School, even if there is no specific breach of conduct.

The Brethren Bible Institute is intended to provide sound Bible teaching and wholesome Christian fellowship for all who desire it. The Bible School Committee worked hard and long at the task of arriving at standards, which will be pleasing to the Lord. It is not always easy to know just where the line should be drawn and we do not claim perfection. No doubt certain standards seem too strict for some and too loose for others. If you are one who does not share all these convictions, we hope you will agree to adjust to them for the School period, for the sake of those who do. We are confident that the blessings received will far outweigh any sacrifice you may have to make. If you have a special problem or question, please write to us about it. To be accepted as a student at BBI, you will need to sign a statement indicating that you will cooperate with the standards of the School.