While the following doctrines are not part of our statement of faith, meaning that no one has to hold to these theological distinctives to become a member of Freedom House, they are still an important part of what we teach and practice as a church.
Believer’s Baptism (also called credobaptism):
We believe that the only proper recipient of Christian baptism is a believer in Jesus Christ. It is a misuse of baptism to try to knowingly apply it to a non-Christian, whether it’s perceived as a means to regenerate/convert the individual or for any other reason. In particular, the practice of baptizing infants is not supported by any examples or commands in the Bible to do so.
We see this teaching in a number of ways in the New Testament. For example, being baptized must go hand-in-hand with genuine repentance (see Acts 2:38). And even in a “household baptism” account such as Acts 16:29-34, it is clear that the reason that all who were mentioned were baptized is because all who were mentioned believed in Christ. “And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God” (v34).
Accordingly, anyone who wishes to become a member of Freedom House must receive Christian baptism as a believer. If they have been biblically baptized previously, since baptism ought to be a one-time event, marking their one-time conversion when they were buried and raised with Christ.
Complementarianism:
We believe there are God-appointed differences in the roles of men and women, including in the home and the church.
While both men and women are made in the image of God and therefore equal in worth and dignity, men and women are not interchangeable with one another or the same as one another but are distinct. The Bible teaches that men are called into roles of leadership/headship that women are not, and that with that comes not a privilege to enjoy but a responsibility to be accountable for. The roles that men and women are called to are different from one another but not opposed; they complement one another rather than conflict.
In the home, this means that the husband is the head of the household, with the main responsibility to lead. As both husbands and wives serve one another and their children, husbands have a special responsibility to love, lead, and protect their wives in a self-sacrificial way, while wives have a special responsibility to respect and submit to the leadership and God-given authority of their husbands (Ephesians 5:22-33).
In the church, this means that the main teaching and governing office (elders, also known as pastors) is a role to be filled only by men. For example, 1 Timothy 2:8-15 addresses men and women in different ways and in particular says that, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man.” The leadership or “headship” role of elder/pastor, which involves preaching/teaching the congregation and exercising authority over the congregation by governing it (1 Timothy 5:17), is therefore reserved for men. This authority means that the congregation is responsible to submit to these men, and it also means that these men will have to give an account of how they handled this charge (Hebrews 13:17).
In all these things, mere men are never the ultimate authority; only Jesus Christ is.
The Five Solas of the Reformation: These are five Latin phrases that summarize the basic theological beliefs of the Protestant reformers.
A Calvinist understanding of the doctrine of salvation: Also known as “Doctrines of Grace” or by the acronym T.U.L.I.P.
Calvinism also maintains that because of our fallen nature we are born again not by our own will but God’s will (John 1:12-13); God grants that we believe (Philippians 1:29); faith is the work of God (John 6:28-29); God appoints people to believe (Acts 13:48); and God predestines (Ephesians 1:1-11; Romans 8:29; 9:9-23).
Believer’s Baptism (also called credobaptism):
We believe that the only proper recipient of Christian baptism is a believer in Jesus Christ. It is a misuse of baptism to try to knowingly apply it to a non-Christian, whether it’s perceived as a means to regenerate/convert the individual or for any other reason. In particular, the practice of baptizing infants is not supported by any examples or commands in the Bible to do so.
We see this teaching in a number of ways in the New Testament. For example, being baptized must go hand-in-hand with genuine repentance (see Acts 2:38). And even in a “household baptism” account such as Acts 16:29-34, it is clear that the reason that all who were mentioned were baptized is because all who were mentioned believed in Christ. “And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God” (v34).
Accordingly, anyone who wishes to become a member of Freedom House must receive Christian baptism as a believer. If they have been biblically baptized previously, since baptism ought to be a one-time event, marking their one-time conversion when they were buried and raised with Christ.
Complementarianism:
We believe there are God-appointed differences in the roles of men and women, including in the home and the church.
While both men and women are made in the image of God and therefore equal in worth and dignity, men and women are not interchangeable with one another or the same as one another but are distinct. The Bible teaches that men are called into roles of leadership/headship that women are not, and that with that comes not a privilege to enjoy but a responsibility to be accountable for. The roles that men and women are called to are different from one another but not opposed; they complement one another rather than conflict.
In the home, this means that the husband is the head of the household, with the main responsibility to lead. As both husbands and wives serve one another and their children, husbands have a special responsibility to love, lead, and protect their wives in a self-sacrificial way, while wives have a special responsibility to respect and submit to the leadership and God-given authority of their husbands (Ephesians 5:22-33).
In the church, this means that the main teaching and governing office (elders, also known as pastors) is a role to be filled only by men. For example, 1 Timothy 2:8-15 addresses men and women in different ways and in particular says that, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man.” The leadership or “headship” role of elder/pastor, which involves preaching/teaching the congregation and exercising authority over the congregation by governing it (1 Timothy 5:17), is therefore reserved for men. This authority means that the congregation is responsible to submit to these men, and it also means that these men will have to give an account of how they handled this charge (Hebrews 13:17).
In all these things, mere men are never the ultimate authority; only Jesus Christ is.
The Five Solas of the Reformation: These are five Latin phrases that summarize the basic theological beliefs of the Protestant reformers.
- Sola Scriptura (“Scripture Alone”): The Bible alone is our highest authority.
- Sola Fida (“Faith Alone“): We are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ.
- Sola Gratia (“Grace Alone”): We are saved by the grace of God alone.
- Sola Christus (“Christ Alone”): Jesus alone is our Lord, Savior, and King.
- Soli Deo Gloria (“To the Glory of God Alone”): We live for the glory of God alone.
A Calvinist understanding of the doctrine of salvation: Also known as “Doctrines of Grace” or by the acronym T.U.L.I.P.
- Total Depravity: Sin has affected all parts of man. The heart, emotions, will, mind, and body are all affected by sin. We are completely sinful. We are not as sinful as we could be, but we are completely affected by sin.
Calvinism also maintains that because of our fallen nature we are born again not by our own will but God’s will (John 1:12-13); God grants that we believe (Philippians 1:29); faith is the work of God (John 6:28-29); God appoints people to believe (Acts 13:48); and God predestines (Ephesians 1:1-11; Romans 8:29; 9:9-23).
- Unconditional Election: God does NOT base His election (that is, His choice to save someone) on anything He sees in the individual. He chooses the elect according to the kind intention of His will (Ephesians 1:4-8; Romans 9:11) without any consideration of merit within the individual. Nor does God look into the future to see who would pick Him. Also, as some are elected into salvation, others are not (Romans 9:15, 21).
- Limited Atonement: Jesus died to eternally save only the elect. Though Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient for all people, it was not efficacious for all. Jesus only bore the sins of the elect. This is implied by the fact that God always accomplishes all His purpose yet not every person is saved, but more specific support for this position is drawn from such scriptures as Matthew 26:28 where Jesus died for ‘many'; John 10:11, 15 which say that Jesus died for the sheep (not the goats, per Matthew 25:32-33); John 17:9 where Jesus in prayer interceded for the ones given Him, not those of the entire world; Acts 20:28 and Ephesians 5:25-27 which state that the Church was purchased by Christ, not all people; and Isaiah 53:12 which is a prophecy of Jesus’ crucifixion where he would bore the sins of many (not all). (Isaiah 63:17, Joshua 11:20)
- Irresistible Grace: When God calls his elect into salvation, they cannot resist. God offers to all people the gospel message. This is called the external call. But to the elect, God extends an internal call and it cannot be resisted. This call is by the Holy Spirit who works in the hearts and minds of the elect to bring them to repentance and regeneration whereby they willingly and freely come to God. Some relevant passages are Romans 9:16 where it says that "it is not of him who wills nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy"; Philippians 2:12-13 where God is said to be the one working salvation in the individual; John 6:28-29 where faith is declared to be the work of God; and John 1:12-13 where being born again is not by man’s will, but by God’s. “All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out," (John 6:37).
- Perseverance of the Saints: A Christian cannot lose his or her salvation because God will preserve them in the faith. Because the Father has elected, the Son has redeemed, and the Holy Spirit has applied salvation, those thus saved are eternally secure in Christ. Some of the verses for this position are John 10:27-28 where Jesus said His sheep will never perish; John 6:47 where salvation is described as everlasting life; Romans 8:1-3 where it is said we have passed out of judgment and that our sin has already been condemned in Christ in our place; 1 Corinthians 10:13 where God promises to never let us be tempted beyond what we can handle; and Philippians 1:6 where God is the one being faithful to perfect us until the day of Jesus’ return.