The first step of living out this distinctive is to have faith that the Bible is truthful and trustworthy.

The second step is to interpret the Bible.  What is the meaning of scripture?  This is a fundamental question to answer.  If you don’t settle this in your mind, you could interpret the Bible to mean anything you want.  We use the Historical, Grammatical (contextual) Interpretation of the Bible.  What was the intended meaning of the scripture to the people it was originally spoken or written to?  Next we interpret the Bible as a whole.  You might say that scripture interprets scripture and not our experiences or prejudices.  And finally, we believe the Bible is God centered and not “me” centered.  This may seem obvious, but most Christians today read the Bible looking for something that will benefit them.  We read it looking for God and for ways to have a healthy, pleasing relationship with Him.

The third step is to use the Bible as the final word on how we live our lives.  The Bible is the final word-not our interpretation, philosophy, or traditions.  This method prevents legalism, liberalism, and false teaching, while producing a balanced, biblical life and belief system.

Everyone has sinned and is in great need of forgiveness.  Without this forgiveness it is impossible to be with God who is holy. The only way for us to be forgiven is to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of our lives.  This process results in what Christ called the “new birth.”  You become a new person who is acceptable to God’s holiness, allowing you to inherit heaven as your eternal home.  Those who reject Christ, the Savior, condemn themselves to eternal hell.  It is important to know God wants everyone to escape damnation.  This is why He sent His only Son to die on the cross as payment for those sins.

At Life Community Church of God, sharing this good news is our main focus.  We share it with our friends, family, and strangers we meet every day.  We give people the opportunity to receive salvation in almost every worship service.

Distinctive #3

According to Jesus, the two greatest commandments are to love God and your neighbor.  It is impossible to love God if you cannot love your brother (fellow Christians regardless of denomination).  Therefore, we love God, each other, and the people who make up our community, nation, and world.

Let me say something just to the men reading this.  Love is not for wimps.  Love takes courage, strength, and selflessness.  Love leads a man into all sorts of adventures.  Heroism is based on love.  I’m a man’s man.  I bow hunt, fish, ride motorcycles, bungee-jump and more.  I’ve played semi-pro football, rugby (in England) and competed in power lifting.  I served 21 years in the military.  I am not a wimp, but I love, sometimes to the point of tears.  So don’t run from this distinctive because you think love is for the weak.

Now, how do we live out this distinctive?  We tell people about the love of God and the good news that Jesus has paid the price for their sins and because of that it is possible to have a relationship with God that will never end.  We prefer each other over ourselves.  We look out for each other and when we can, we help each other.  When we get offended, we forgive without being asked for forgiveness.

This all translates into being a loving family of Christians who are not in competition with other churches.  It translates into supporting missionaries around the world, sending people, supplies, and money to places like the Gulf Coast after Katrina, the poorest section of Jamaica, and to the Philippians.  It translates into tens-of-thousands of dollars given to the needy of this community.  Love must have hands, feet, and a mouth.

Distinctive #4

The power of the Holy Spirit in the church is the means by which we succeed in doing God’s will.  There are a lot of labels placed on churches.  Protestant, Evangelical, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Reformed, Contemporary, and on and on and on the labeling never stops.  I hate labels.  I love being a follower of Christ Jesus.

On one occasion, while He (Jesus) was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” … “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The Bible is replete with promises, instructions, and examples of the power of the Holy Spirit being given  to those who follow Christ Jesus.  No tradition, philosophy, or reasonable interpretation of the Bible can do away with it. The Holy Spirit is the life God has breathed into the Church body so that it can continue to minister to the people in this world just as Jesus did.  Jesus is the head of the church; the church is the Body and the Holy spirit is the life and power. 

In the same way no tradition, philosophy, or reasonable interpretation can do away with the Bible’s description of the power of the Holy Spirit; no tradition, philosophy, or reasonable interpretation can add to it.  In other words, Life Community Church of God will not let fanatics, charlatans, exhibitionist, or false teachers lead our congregation into silly, “unbiblical” antics which take the focus off God and place it on man.

Balance is what the Bible teaches and balance is what we insist upon.  Balance between fr4eedom to let the Holy Spirit empower the church and order which prevents people from bringing a reproach upon the church.  Read this verse and I’ll explain how balance works.

2 Chronicles 7:1-3

When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.  2 And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’s house.  3 When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD,… (NKJV)

After King Solomon and the Priests had finished all that God had told them to do, God interrupted the order.  Without order there can be no visitation.  However ,order is not an end in and of itself.  It is not order we desire but the visitation of God.  Therefore, we put His church in order, in order for us to experience His presence and power.