We Believe...
In one God, Almighty, who is the Creator of all things. He is a spirit who is infinitely perfect, holy, and eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is changeless in His wisdom, power, grace, mercy, compassion, truth, and love. He is also the righteous judge of every individual (Deut. 6:4; Psa. 145:8; Mal. 3:6; John 4:24; 2 Cor. 13:14; 1 Tim. 1:17; Rev. 4:8, 11).
In the Lord Jesus Christ, completely God and completely human, who was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary in His incarnation. He lived a sinless life, died as a perfect sacrifice for our sins, was buried, and rose bodily from the dead. He ascended into heaven, was exalted by the Father, and now intercedes as our High Priest (Matt. 1:18-25; John 1:1, 14; Rom. 1:2-4, 8:34; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; 1 Pet. 2:22, 3:18; 1 John 3:5).
In the Holy Spirit, co-equal with the Father and Son, who glorifies the Lord Jesus, convicts people of sin, gives new life to the believing sinner, and indwells all Christians. He guides, instructs, empowers, and gives spiritual gifts to believers for godly living, for service in building up the body of Christ, and for evangelism (John 14:16-17, 26; 16:7-14; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 3:16, 12:11; Gal. 5:22, 23).
In the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, as the inspired Word of God. It was written by prophets and apostles who were guided and directed by the Holy Spirit and is, therefore, entirely trustworthy and without error in the original writings. It is the complete revelation of God's will for the salvation of people and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life (Matt. 5:18; John 10:35; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21).
That man and woman were created in the image and likeness of God having intellect, freedom of will, emotions and awareness of and capacity to know God. All people have sinned against God, destroying fellowship with Him, and are guilty before His holiness. We can receive forgiveness and complete salvation through a spiritual rebirth by the Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:27; John 3:3-5; Rom. 3:10, 23; 5:12, 19; Tit. 3:4-7).
That the death of Jesus was a substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of all people. The death and resurrection of Christ provide the only basis for forgiveness, justification, and acceptance by God. All who repent of their sins and trust Christ as Savior are forgiven, "born again" of the Holy Spirit and become children of God. They are sealed by the Spirit, have eternal life, and are preserved by the power of God so that they persevere in their Christian life (John 3:16-18; Acts 20:21; Rom. 3:21-26; Eph. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:4-7; Heb. 2:4-15; 1 Pet. 1:3-5).
In the personal, premillennial and imminent return of the Lord Jesus to take all Christians to be with Himself forever. This hope encourages believers to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in order to please Him. All believers will appear before Christ to give an account of their life and will be rewarded or deprived accordingly (John 14:2-3; 1 Cor. 15:23-25; 2 Cor. 5:10; 1 Thess. 4:13-17; Tit. 2:13; Rev. 20:1-6).
In the bodily resurrection of the dead; of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord in heaven; and of the unbeliever to everlasting conscious punishment and exclusion from the presence of God in hell (Luke 16:19-31, 23:39-43; John 3:36, 5:24-29; 1 Cor. 15:12-58; 2 Thess. 1:6-10).
That the Church is a worldwide, living, spiritual Body (of which Christ is the head) that is composed of all Christians (Matt. 16:18, 1 Cor. 12:12-27). The Lord has called baptized believers to fellowship together in local congregations which are directly responsible to Christ (Acts 2:41-47; 1 Cor. 1:2; Eph. 4:13, 1 Thess. 5:11; Heb. 10:24-25). The purpose of the church is to glorify God, and it seeks to do so through its worship, education, fellowship, and outreach (locally and worldwide).
That the Church should observe two ordinances: baptism and the Lord's Supper. Christian baptism is an expression of a believer's identification with Christ and commitment to follow Him. It is not a means of, nor an aid to, salvation, but is a testimony of one's faith in Christ as Savior which is expected of all believers in obedience to the Lord. Baptism by immersion symbolizes the believer's death, burial, and resurrection with Christ to new life (Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:3-4). The Lord's Supper is a memorial celebration of Jesus' death and resurrection which is the privilege and responsibility of all believers. Any true believer can participate, unless one is willfully engaging in sin, spreading false doctrine or creating divisions in the church (Matt. 26:26-29; Luke 22:15-20; 1 Cor. 10:16-17, 11:23-26).
The following are not “major” issues of doctrine, but we include a basic statement on them, because they are the ones about which we are frequently asked. Agreement on every minor issue is not essential for membership at Harvest.
Abortion
Regardless of what society's view is on the issue, we believe that human life is sacred. Every child conceived is precious in God's sight. It takes God's special creative presence to bring each child into being. Our founding fathers said, "There is a higher law. Human beings are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights." Among them are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Although abortion was legalized by the Supreme Court decision, Roe vs. Wade, we believe that aborting an unborn child is a sinful, unjustified action which takes life (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139).
Baptism
We believe that believer's baptism was commanded as part of the Great Commission and is an expression of the believer's faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior. Although no mode of baptism is specified in the New Testament, we practice immersion, which best pictures one's death to sin and resurrection to a new life. There is no saving power in baptism, but rather it is a clear testimony to one's obedience and faith in Jesus. It is a public sign of what has taken place inwardly (Matthew 3:6; 28:19; Romans 6:3-11). Since babies are not old enough to understand salvation or baptism, we do not practice infant baptism. We do offer Child Dedication services which serve to publicly acknowledge the parents' commitment to rearing their children in the ways of the Lord.
Business Solicitation
While we as a church desire that our members succeed in every area of life, we do ask that Harvest members honor the spiritual purpose of our gatherings by not soliciting each other for personal business transactions. For example, it would be inappropriate to use the church directory as a mailing list for one’s business or the church campus for direct solicitation. If you have questions about the propriety of a particular situation, the staff will be happy to discuss it with you.
“Charismatic” Issues
Harvest is neither “charismatic” (“everyone should speak in tongues”) nor “anti-charismatic” (“speaking in tongues is of the devil”) but "non-charismatic" (God is the sovereign giver of spiritual gifts). We love and respect our fellow Christians who hold different views. We encourage believers to desire what the apostle Paul called “the greater gifts” in 1 Cor. 12:31 and deem any teaching as unbiblical which depicts the more “sensational” gifts as an automatic or necessary indicator of spirituality. We do urge Christians to use the spiritual gifts God has given them and to allow the Holy Spirit to govern their lives.
Some of the considerations which guide our thinking concerning these issues include the following:
1. The book of Acts is not designed as a paradigm for the individual experiences of believers, but as a record of the outward movement of the gospel—geographically, racially, and theologically.
2. The “tongues” in Acts were known languages given to specific groups for the purpose of attesting the gospel. There are many references to people being filled with the Spirit without any indication of speaking in tongues (e.g., Acts 4:8, 31; 6:3, 5; 7:55; 9:17; 11:24; 13:9, 52). The tongues which occur in 1 Corinthians 12-14 differ in that they come to individuals rather than groups; may be used in private; must be translated if used in public; and do not serve the purpose of attestation.
3. One of the problems at Corinth was that too much was made of certain gifts; hence, Paul urged the believers there to seek the “greater gifts” (1 Cor. 12:31). We want to avoid “triumphalism”—the spirit that looks down on other believers because they do or do not have the same gift(s) we do.
4. While we want to avoid the excesses of some charismatic settings, we applaud and hope to incorporate the good conveyed in other charismatic environments, such as a spirit of true worship and an expectation for God to be actively at work in His church today.
5. Unfortunately, in the debate concerning whether or not one should speak in tongues, people have often lost sight of the centrality of the Holy Spirit as the guarantee of the believer’s full inheritance and the intimate relationship with God the Father He makes possible for believers in this era. We hope to avoid that error.
6. We do not believe in “faith healers,” but we do believe that God does heal people today in response to prayer (cf. James 5:13-16). On the other hand, we recognize that not all sickness is necessarily from Satan, and that sometimes God chooses to respond to those prayers by pouring out His grace to the sufferer rather than by removing the suffering (e.g., Paul’s thorn in the flesh, 2 Cor. 12:7-10).
7. Finally, we seek to major on those issues which are explicit in Scripture (e.g., the command for every believer to be filled by the Holy Spirit, Eph. 5:18), and not to overemphasize what is either minor or not as clear in the Bible. In our public worship services, we will often ask people to participate by sharing a personal experience, Scripture or prayer, and we ask this to be done in understandable language and for the glory of God. We want to create an atmosphere in which everyone feels welcome in our body.
If you desire further study on this topic, we recommend the excellent Biblical treatment provided by D. A. Carson, Showing the Spirit. A Theological Exposition of 1 Corinthians 12-14 (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1987).
Communion
We believe that the Lord's Supper commemorates the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We do not believe that this is a "sacrament," which imparts saving grace automatically. All believers should participate after prayerful examination of their lives. We will commemorate our Lord's Supper every 4-6 weeks in order to focus on all that Jesus Christ has done for us and to thank Him for His ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our sins (Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28).
Divorce and Remarriage
We believe that marriage is for life. There are only two reasons given in Scripture which permit divorce. First, the act of fornication mentioned in Matthew 5. Fornication, which includes a broad range of sexual sins, breaks the marriage bond. However, one is not required to divorce, but rather encouraged to attempt reconciliation. A second reason, given by Paul in 1 Corinthians 7, is if the unbeliever departs. According to Paul, in 1 Corinthians 7:15, a "believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances." If these Biblical grounds are met for divorce, then a believer would be allowed to remarry.
We believe that divorced people, even if for the "wrong" reasons, should be forgiven and restored to useful service (e.g. singing, teaching). However, Biblically they are generally disqualified from serving as an elder or deacon (1 Timothy 3:2, 12). Because of the complexity of these situations, qualifications for service as an elder, deacon, or pastoral staff member will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. This applies especially to the situations of those who experienced divorce before conversion to Christ or for one of the two Biblical reasons stated above.
Gender
In recent years American society has embraced strange and harmful ideas about gender, but we hold that God clearly created male and female (Genesis 1-2). We will love those who question or struggle with this issue without compromising what the Bible teaches.
Giving
In the Old Testament, God’s people were required to give tithes from their earnings. Since the noun “tithe” means “tenth part,” most people today have assumed that the Old Testament responsibility was to give 10%. However, more than one tithe was required: (1) a tithe to the Levites (Number 18; Deut. 14:27); (2) a second tithe, from the remaining 9/10, was set apart and eaten by the household, presumably in Jerusalem (Deut. 14:22-26); and (3) a third tithe was for the poor, and was given only in the third year (Deut. 14:28f). Therefore, the tithing rate in the OT may have been as high as 28-30%! By giving the tithes, the Israelites were (1) returning a portion of their income to the Lord who had prospered them (Deut. 26:10-15); (2) recognizing the validity of the role of the priests and Levites as God’s representatives and acknowledging their right to receive support for the spiritual service they performed on behalf of the people; (3) sacrificing to God and imitating His concern for the poor and needy; and (4) setting themselves apart as a holy people who belonged to God alone (Deut. 14:22-29).
In the New Testament, rather than the command to tithe, Christians are urged to give generously, according to a plan, and with a cheerful heart (2 Cor. 9:6-7). Paul uses the example of how much Christ was willing to sacrifice for the sake of others to urge believers to “excel in the grace of giving” (2 Cor. 8:7-9).1 Today, our generous giving to the Lord’s work also: (1) is returning a portion of our income directly to God; (2) recognizes the validity of the ministry of vocational Christian workers and enables them to serve in an unencumbered fashion by providing their financial support; (3) imitates God’s concern for the needy; and (4) is a part of our commitment to belong exclusively to God. Although we will not mandate a percentage, we do urge believers to establish a regular, generous, cheerful and sacrificial plan of giving. The principal and basic OT tithe went to the “storehouse.” Similarly, since the primary source of your spiritual nourishment and care will be this church, we encourage you to give first and foremost to Harvest. As a church, we designate 17.5% of all the offerings received for missions. Above your regular giving to HCC, we urge you to support other Christian ministries (especially missionaries) as God leads you. If God required tithing “under law,” how much more should we willingly do “under grace”?
Homosexuality/LGBTQ
Contrary to the growing view of our society, we do not believe that homosexuality is an alternate lifestyle or hereditary behavior. Homosexuality is a sin against God. According to Leviticus 18:22, the act of homosexuality is "detestable." We do not agree with the ordination of practicing homosexuals, since homosexual activity is forbidden by Scripture. Although we will not condone or overlook this sin, we will love those involved in this sinful act with the hope of winning them to Jesus Christ.
Can a LGBTQ person attend Harvest? Everyone is welcome to attend worship services at Harvest. Regardless of whatever differences people have, we want to embrace everyone and hope they find us welcoming. We refuse to judge or condemn any individual, leaving that to the only One who is capable of rendering perfect decisions, God. We base all of our teaching and practices on the Bible, so we look to Scripture to guide us in challenging areas like these. The Bible teaches that God and his Son Jesus are both holy, loving, and forgiving, and that He created marriage to consist of the spiritual, emotional, and physical union of a man and a woman, with no exception. Church membership at Harvest is reserved for believers in Christ who also accept his teachings in Scripture, and we believe marriage as a union between man and woman is one of those teachings.
Politics
Although we believe that all Christians should be good citizens by respecting and praying for those who hold local, state and federal government office, we will not publicly support any particular candidate or party (1 Timothy 2:2). We do encourage members to vote in the elections, as we believe this is an integral part of our involvement as Christians in the political [or democratic] process.
Use of Alcohol
We believe that the consumption of alcohol is a personal liberty and a personal decision between each believer and God. However, the Old Testament does warn against strong drink. The New Testament also warns against too much consumption, or drunkenness. Drunkenness is intolerable for Christians who are pursuing a life of holiness and righteousness (Ephesians 5:18; 1 Peter 4:3). Also, the New Testament warns believers not to "cause anyone to stumble" (1 Corinthians 10:32). Since there are many recovering alcoholics in our society today, any believer who desires to consume alcohol should be sensitive to those around him/her. With this in mind, we will only use grape juice during our communion. Also, due to the growing teenage drinking epidemic in the United States, we are strongly opposed to consumption of any form of alcohol by any teenager. A good guideline for matters of personal liberty is Paul's exhortation in 1 Corinthians 10:31,". . . whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
Weddings
We believe that marriage is an honorable union to be entered into by a man and woman, who after much thought and prayer believe that God is thus leading them to do so. Any couple (man and woman) who desire to have their marriage officiated by our pastor will be required to participate in at least 5-6 sessions of pre-marital counseling with that pastor prior to the wedding. Generally, our pastors will only officiate in the marriage of two believers, not one believer and one unbeliever (2 Corinthians 6:14). It is up to the discretion of our pastors if they choose to officiate in the marriage of two unbelievers, who perhaps are living together and wanting to "do the right thing." It would be the pastors’ goal in this case, through premarital counseling, to point them to Christ prior to their union.
Women in Leadership
We believe that women are a vital part of this ministry and encourage the use of their gifts in almost every area of ministry. Since the Biblical qualifications for certain roles include being the "husband of but one wife" (1 Timothy 3:2,12; Titus 1:6), we will ordain only men as pastors and elders. Under the direction of the Senior Pastor (and/or elders), women will serve in teaching and leadership roles in other areas of ministry. We also will employ women in significant church staff roles.
1 cf. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. 4, pp. 861-74 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988).
Abortion
Regardless of what society's view is on the issue, we believe that human life is sacred. Every child conceived is precious in God's sight. It takes God's special creative presence to bring each child into being. Our founding fathers said, "There is a higher law. Human beings are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights." Among them are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Although abortion was legalized by the Supreme Court decision, Roe vs. Wade, we believe that aborting an unborn child is a sinful, unjustified action which takes life (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139).
Baptism
We believe that believer's baptism was commanded as part of the Great Commission and is an expression of the believer's faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior. Although no mode of baptism is specified in the New Testament, we practice immersion, which best pictures one's death to sin and resurrection to a new life. There is no saving power in baptism, but rather it is a clear testimony to one's obedience and faith in Jesus. It is a public sign of what has taken place inwardly (Matthew 3:6; 28:19; Romans 6:3-11). Since babies are not old enough to understand salvation or baptism, we do not practice infant baptism. We do offer Child Dedication services which serve to publicly acknowledge the parents' commitment to rearing their children in the ways of the Lord.
Business Solicitation
While we as a church desire that our members succeed in every area of life, we do ask that Harvest members honor the spiritual purpose of our gatherings by not soliciting each other for personal business transactions. For example, it would be inappropriate to use the church directory as a mailing list for one’s business or the church campus for direct solicitation. If you have questions about the propriety of a particular situation, the staff will be happy to discuss it with you.
“Charismatic” Issues
Harvest is neither “charismatic” (“everyone should speak in tongues”) nor “anti-charismatic” (“speaking in tongues is of the devil”) but "non-charismatic" (God is the sovereign giver of spiritual gifts). We love and respect our fellow Christians who hold different views. We encourage believers to desire what the apostle Paul called “the greater gifts” in 1 Cor. 12:31 and deem any teaching as unbiblical which depicts the more “sensational” gifts as an automatic or necessary indicator of spirituality. We do urge Christians to use the spiritual gifts God has given them and to allow the Holy Spirit to govern their lives.
Some of the considerations which guide our thinking concerning these issues include the following:
1. The book of Acts is not designed as a paradigm for the individual experiences of believers, but as a record of the outward movement of the gospel—geographically, racially, and theologically.
2. The “tongues” in Acts were known languages given to specific groups for the purpose of attesting the gospel. There are many references to people being filled with the Spirit without any indication of speaking in tongues (e.g., Acts 4:8, 31; 6:3, 5; 7:55; 9:17; 11:24; 13:9, 52). The tongues which occur in 1 Corinthians 12-14 differ in that they come to individuals rather than groups; may be used in private; must be translated if used in public; and do not serve the purpose of attestation.
3. One of the problems at Corinth was that too much was made of certain gifts; hence, Paul urged the believers there to seek the “greater gifts” (1 Cor. 12:31). We want to avoid “triumphalism”—the spirit that looks down on other believers because they do or do not have the same gift(s) we do.
4. While we want to avoid the excesses of some charismatic settings, we applaud and hope to incorporate the good conveyed in other charismatic environments, such as a spirit of true worship and an expectation for God to be actively at work in His church today.
5. Unfortunately, in the debate concerning whether or not one should speak in tongues, people have often lost sight of the centrality of the Holy Spirit as the guarantee of the believer’s full inheritance and the intimate relationship with God the Father He makes possible for believers in this era. We hope to avoid that error.
6. We do not believe in “faith healers,” but we do believe that God does heal people today in response to prayer (cf. James 5:13-16). On the other hand, we recognize that not all sickness is necessarily from Satan, and that sometimes God chooses to respond to those prayers by pouring out His grace to the sufferer rather than by removing the suffering (e.g., Paul’s thorn in the flesh, 2 Cor. 12:7-10).
7. Finally, we seek to major on those issues which are explicit in Scripture (e.g., the command for every believer to be filled by the Holy Spirit, Eph. 5:18), and not to overemphasize what is either minor or not as clear in the Bible. In our public worship services, we will often ask people to participate by sharing a personal experience, Scripture or prayer, and we ask this to be done in understandable language and for the glory of God. We want to create an atmosphere in which everyone feels welcome in our body.
If you desire further study on this topic, we recommend the excellent Biblical treatment provided by D. A. Carson, Showing the Spirit. A Theological Exposition of 1 Corinthians 12-14 (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1987).
Communion
We believe that the Lord's Supper commemorates the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We do not believe that this is a "sacrament," which imparts saving grace automatically. All believers should participate after prayerful examination of their lives. We will commemorate our Lord's Supper every 4-6 weeks in order to focus on all that Jesus Christ has done for us and to thank Him for His ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our sins (Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28).
Divorce and Remarriage
We believe that marriage is for life. There are only two reasons given in Scripture which permit divorce. First, the act of fornication mentioned in Matthew 5. Fornication, which includes a broad range of sexual sins, breaks the marriage bond. However, one is not required to divorce, but rather encouraged to attempt reconciliation. A second reason, given by Paul in 1 Corinthians 7, is if the unbeliever departs. According to Paul, in 1 Corinthians 7:15, a "believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances." If these Biblical grounds are met for divorce, then a believer would be allowed to remarry.
We believe that divorced people, even if for the "wrong" reasons, should be forgiven and restored to useful service (e.g. singing, teaching). However, Biblically they are generally disqualified from serving as an elder or deacon (1 Timothy 3:2, 12). Because of the complexity of these situations, qualifications for service as an elder, deacon, or pastoral staff member will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. This applies especially to the situations of those who experienced divorce before conversion to Christ or for one of the two Biblical reasons stated above.
Gender
In recent years American society has embraced strange and harmful ideas about gender, but we hold that God clearly created male and female (Genesis 1-2). We will love those who question or struggle with this issue without compromising what the Bible teaches.
Giving
In the Old Testament, God’s people were required to give tithes from their earnings. Since the noun “tithe” means “tenth part,” most people today have assumed that the Old Testament responsibility was to give 10%. However, more than one tithe was required: (1) a tithe to the Levites (Number 18; Deut. 14:27); (2) a second tithe, from the remaining 9/10, was set apart and eaten by the household, presumably in Jerusalem (Deut. 14:22-26); and (3) a third tithe was for the poor, and was given only in the third year (Deut. 14:28f). Therefore, the tithing rate in the OT may have been as high as 28-30%! By giving the tithes, the Israelites were (1) returning a portion of their income to the Lord who had prospered them (Deut. 26:10-15); (2) recognizing the validity of the role of the priests and Levites as God’s representatives and acknowledging their right to receive support for the spiritual service they performed on behalf of the people; (3) sacrificing to God and imitating His concern for the poor and needy; and (4) setting themselves apart as a holy people who belonged to God alone (Deut. 14:22-29).
In the New Testament, rather than the command to tithe, Christians are urged to give generously, according to a plan, and with a cheerful heart (2 Cor. 9:6-7). Paul uses the example of how much Christ was willing to sacrifice for the sake of others to urge believers to “excel in the grace of giving” (2 Cor. 8:7-9).1 Today, our generous giving to the Lord’s work also: (1) is returning a portion of our income directly to God; (2) recognizes the validity of the ministry of vocational Christian workers and enables them to serve in an unencumbered fashion by providing their financial support; (3) imitates God’s concern for the needy; and (4) is a part of our commitment to belong exclusively to God. Although we will not mandate a percentage, we do urge believers to establish a regular, generous, cheerful and sacrificial plan of giving. The principal and basic OT tithe went to the “storehouse.” Similarly, since the primary source of your spiritual nourishment and care will be this church, we encourage you to give first and foremost to Harvest. As a church, we designate 17.5% of all the offerings received for missions. Above your regular giving to HCC, we urge you to support other Christian ministries (especially missionaries) as God leads you. If God required tithing “under law,” how much more should we willingly do “under grace”?
Homosexuality/LGBTQ
Contrary to the growing view of our society, we do not believe that homosexuality is an alternate lifestyle or hereditary behavior. Homosexuality is a sin against God. According to Leviticus 18:22, the act of homosexuality is "detestable." We do not agree with the ordination of practicing homosexuals, since homosexual activity is forbidden by Scripture. Although we will not condone or overlook this sin, we will love those involved in this sinful act with the hope of winning them to Jesus Christ.
Can a LGBTQ person attend Harvest? Everyone is welcome to attend worship services at Harvest. Regardless of whatever differences people have, we want to embrace everyone and hope they find us welcoming. We refuse to judge or condemn any individual, leaving that to the only One who is capable of rendering perfect decisions, God. We base all of our teaching and practices on the Bible, so we look to Scripture to guide us in challenging areas like these. The Bible teaches that God and his Son Jesus are both holy, loving, and forgiving, and that He created marriage to consist of the spiritual, emotional, and physical union of a man and a woman, with no exception. Church membership at Harvest is reserved for believers in Christ who also accept his teachings in Scripture, and we believe marriage as a union between man and woman is one of those teachings.
Politics
Although we believe that all Christians should be good citizens by respecting and praying for those who hold local, state and federal government office, we will not publicly support any particular candidate or party (1 Timothy 2:2). We do encourage members to vote in the elections, as we believe this is an integral part of our involvement as Christians in the political [or democratic] process.
Use of Alcohol
We believe that the consumption of alcohol is a personal liberty and a personal decision between each believer and God. However, the Old Testament does warn against strong drink. The New Testament also warns against too much consumption, or drunkenness. Drunkenness is intolerable for Christians who are pursuing a life of holiness and righteousness (Ephesians 5:18; 1 Peter 4:3). Also, the New Testament warns believers not to "cause anyone to stumble" (1 Corinthians 10:32). Since there are many recovering alcoholics in our society today, any believer who desires to consume alcohol should be sensitive to those around him/her. With this in mind, we will only use grape juice during our communion. Also, due to the growing teenage drinking epidemic in the United States, we are strongly opposed to consumption of any form of alcohol by any teenager. A good guideline for matters of personal liberty is Paul's exhortation in 1 Corinthians 10:31,". . . whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
Weddings
We believe that marriage is an honorable union to be entered into by a man and woman, who after much thought and prayer believe that God is thus leading them to do so. Any couple (man and woman) who desire to have their marriage officiated by our pastor will be required to participate in at least 5-6 sessions of pre-marital counseling with that pastor prior to the wedding. Generally, our pastors will only officiate in the marriage of two believers, not one believer and one unbeliever (2 Corinthians 6:14). It is up to the discretion of our pastors if they choose to officiate in the marriage of two unbelievers, who perhaps are living together and wanting to "do the right thing." It would be the pastors’ goal in this case, through premarital counseling, to point them to Christ prior to their union.
Women in Leadership
We believe that women are a vital part of this ministry and encourage the use of their gifts in almost every area of ministry. Since the Biblical qualifications for certain roles include being the "husband of but one wife" (1 Timothy 3:2,12; Titus 1:6), we will ordain only men as pastors and elders. Under the direction of the Senior Pastor (and/or elders), women will serve in teaching and leadership roles in other areas of ministry. We also will employ women in significant church staff roles.
1 cf. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. 4, pp. 861-74 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988).