Statement of Faith

 

All people have a view of the world (a "worldview") which is shaped and informed by many different factors. A person's worldview is a description of how he or she thinks, acts and speaks and is revealed in what he or she imagines and desires. In other words, a worldview is an explanation of how someone generally lives in and looks at the world. Someone can be conscious of his or her own worldview or not. In our ACC Community, we seek to uphold and affirm the ancient and classical ideals of the Christian Faith: in what we believe to be true (the Apostles' Creed), in how we live (the 10 commandments and Jesus' summary of the law) and in how we pray (the Lord's prayer). Here are a few specifics:

 

• We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.  We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity.  Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture or the community policies. (Mk 12:28-31; Lk 6:31, Acts 3:19-21; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 6:9-11)

• We believe that the Bible commands Christians to make every effort to live at peace and to resolve disputes with each other in private or within the Christian community in alignment with the biblical injunctions of 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, Matthew 5:23-24, and Matthew 18:15-20.

• We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Psalm 139:13-16)

• We believe we are united as the Body of Christ beyond personal opinions, doctrines, or denominations. We strive to preserve this unity by showing respect to each other as well as the host facility. (1Cor 12:12-31, Romans 12: 4-5, Eph. 2: 19-22)

• We believe parents have a God given authority over their children both academically as well as in Biblical teaching, character building, and correction. (Proverbs 22:6, Eph 6:4, Deut 11:19, 1 Tim 3:4, Proverbs 29:17)

• We believe children have been given the Biblical instruction to submit to the authority of their parents and those their parents have put in authority over them when in community. (Eph 6:2-3, Col 3:20)

• We also believe in honoring those given the stewardship of leadership. This includes facility staff, all community directors, fellow community members. (Hebrews 13:17, 1 Peter 2:13-25)

• We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person. Gender identity is determined by biological sex and not by one’s self-perception – a perception which is often influenced by fallen human nature in ways contrary to God’s design. (Gen 1:26-27, Ps 139:13-14, Rom 1:19-25, Eph 4:17-18)

• We believe this country was built on Biblical principles and want to honor and show respect and appreciation by pledging to the American flag each week. (Psalm 33:12-22, Romans 13:1-5)

• We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. We believe marriage between one man and one woman for life uniquely reflects Christ’s relationship with His Church, and that marriage serves as the foundational unit of a stable society (Gen 2:18-25, Matt 19:4-6, Eph 5:21-33, 1 Cor 6:14, 7:2, Titus 1:6).

• We believe the Bible calls us to love our neighbors more than ourselves. This applies to children, young adults, and parents. One way to do this is by dressing modestly when at community. We do not want to cause a “brother to stumble” or offend those around us by our wardrobe. ( 1 Cor 6:19-20, 1 Cor 10:31, 1 Cor 8:9)

Statement of Final Authority for Matters of Faith and Conduct

This Local Belief Statement does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs.  The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God in the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For the purposes of Accokeek community’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy and discipline, final interpretive authority rests in local leadership of ACC and the Staff/Authority of Christ Church Accokeek.

 

Family Attestation to Accokeek Community’s Local Belief Statement

☐  I have read and understand the Accokeek Community’s Local Belief Statement.  My family is willing to uphold, respect, and not detract from, the Accokeek community’s belief statement when I am in community or at an ACC Sponsored event on campus.