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Here at Goshen Christian Church...
We exist to honor God by helping people COME to faith; GROW in faith; SERVE the faith and SHARE their faith in Jesus Christ through ministry in the family, the church, the community and the world.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
About the Bible...
We believe the Bible (both Old and New Testament) is the infallible Word of God. It is our only rule of faith and practice. We have no other creed, no other doctrine. We believe the 66 books of the Bible are:
"...able to give the wisdom that leads to salvation which in Christ Jesus." (2 Tim. 3:15)
"...inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness." (2 Tim. 3:16)
About God...
We believe the Bible when it declares, "in the beginning God" (Gen. 1:1). We understand this to mean God is eternal in nature. Nothing made god, He has always existed and always will.
We believe there is only one truth God who, in the beginning, created the sun, the moon, the stars and the planets. He created our world and everything in it (1 John 1:3). He created man in His image to enjoy fellowship with God for all eternity.
About Jesus...
We believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God (Matt. 16:16). He is God (John 1:1), in the flesh (John 1:14), who came from Heaven, born of a virgin, to redeem fallen man. He is the Messiah, the Savior of the world, who died on a cross to save us from the penalty of sin.
We believe Jesus when he said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through me" (John 14:6).
About the Holy Spirit...
We believe the Holy Spirit is the indwelling presence of God who marks us as Christians
(Eph. 1:13). He is given as a gift to all who repent and are baptized (Acts 2:38). He empowers us to accomplish works of service (1 Cor. 12:7). He is the Helper sent by God that we might walk in such a way to bear faithful witness (John 15:26-27). Through Him we are able to bear godly fruit in our lives (Gal. 5:22).
About Salvation...
We believe a person is saved by God's love and mercy and by God's grace. Nothing man can do would ever earn him the salvation of God. It is a free gift from God attained through faith and obedience (Eph. 2:8). In receiving this gift of grace, an individual will respond in faith by:
-Hearing the Gospel (Rom. 10:7)
-Believing in Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Acts 16:31)
-Repenting of one's sins (Acts 2:23; 17:30)
-Confessing Jesus as Lord & Savior (Rom. 10:9)
-Being baptized into Christ by immersion (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-6; 1 Peter 3:21)
-Living and loving by the example of Jesus (Matt. 25:31-46)
-Being faithful unto death (Rev. 2:10; 1 Cor. 15:58)
The Restoration Movement
Goshen Christian Church was established in 1979 with a handful of faithful believers from the Christian Church in Milford, Indiana. GCC traces its heritage back to the Restoration Movement. Understanding the Restoration Movement will help you understand Goshen Christian Church's stances on certain doctrinal issues.
The Restoration Movement is often referred to as the Stone-Campbell Movement or the American Restoration Movement. The Restoration Movement sought to restore the unity and biblical essentials of the New Testament Church. Led by individuals such as Thomas & Alexander Campbell, Barton Stone, Walter Scott and others, these leaders developed several "slogans" that existed to clarify the movement:
"NO CREED BUT CHRIST"
The Restoration Movement (and by effect, Goshen Christian Church) strongly rejects any man-made creeds as a test of congregational fellowship. Creeds (including these slogans) may be helpful in delineating certain beliefs, but are never seen as a means of salvation or bringing an individual into church membership.
"IN ESSENTIALS, UNITY; IN OPINIONS, LIBERTY; IN ALL THINGS, LOVE."One of the main ideals of the Restoration Movement leaders was Christian unity which is found in Jesus' prayer in John 17. The phrase helped to show how all believers should treat one another. When it comes to matters of the essentials of Christian faith (Christ's Divinity, Authority of Scripture, etc.), Christians should be united. But the Restoration Movement acknowledges that not all believers will agree on certain "non-essentials" (things that have no effect on one's salvation). In such cases we are to respect the opinions of others and never exclude from fellowship those who have differing opinions.
Above all, we are to treat fellow believers with love. While disagreements will appear in the church, they should always be handled with love and prayer.
"WE ARE CHRISTIANS ONLY, BUT NOT THE ONLY CHRISTIANS."
Another ideal of the Restoration Movement was to do away with denominationalism. Many Restoration Movement leaders felt that allegiances to denominations were becoming stronger than allegiance to Christ. They believed that denominationalism was a strong dividing force between brothers and sisters in Christ. Therefore, Restoration Movement leaders sought to be called only "Christians" as opposed to Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Catholic, etc.
That's why many churches tracing their heritage back to the Restoration Movement are usually called "Christian Church" or "Church of Christ."
And that's why most of our churches are completely independent and free of a denominational over-structure and hierarchy. Though we call ourselves Christians only, we not claim to be the only true Christians. We believe that you can find good and true Christians throughout all groups of believers. We do, however, pray for the unity of the Church just as Jesus did in John 17.