What We Believe

The Bible Is Our Guide In Serving God: 
We are governed in faith and conduct by the Bible alone. While recognizing and heeding the guiding principles of the Old Testament (1 Cor. 10:1-11; Heb. 1:1-2), we seek to conform to the teachings of the New Testament (Rom. 1:1-7). We accept the Bible as being both inspired and infallible in content (2 Pet. 1:20-21; 1 Cor. 2:11-13; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).  Consequently, when the Bible speaks upon any given subject in matters of faith and morals, its pronouncement is accepted as final. By its own testimony, no one may add or take away a single word of it (Deut. 4:2; Prov. 30:6; Rev. 22:18-19).

We Strive To Be The Same Assembly Described In The New Testament: 
It is our purpose to be obedient to the model of Christianity described in the New Testament. While we believe this to be possible for all who are guided by the teaching of the word of God, we realize we are fallible and must also rely on the grace and mercy of God. We refer to ourselves as the St. Cloud church of Christ, His assembly in St. Cloud, His body, the Lord's church in St. Cloud, or some other scriptural description - not in an attempt to be "sectarian," but on the contrary, to identify ourselves as an assembly belonging to Christ.

Scripture Is Our Ultimate Authority: 
Christ is the head of the assembly (Eph. 1:22-23) as He is the head of the body of believers (Col. 1:18). According to the authority of Christ, when a congregation matures to the point where men meet the qualifications, elders (also called bishops or pastors) are appointed as shepherds to look after the spiritual welfare of the congregation (1Tim. 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9). However, the congregants are also to hold the elders accountable to the authority of the word.

Our Plea Is For Unity And Love: 
We plead for unity and love among those who, in heart and deed, obediently respond to the doctrines and commandments given in the New Testament.  This is in harmony with the prayer of Jesus and the pleadings of the apostle Paul (Jn. 17:20-21; 1Cor. 1:10; Eph. 4:1-6). We also note that unity and love for each other was a mark of discipleship in the early assemblies (Jn. 13:34-35; Acts 2:44-46; Acts 4:32). And since division most often has been the result of departure from "the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3), we endeavor to openly and honestly conform to the mold of discipleship revealed by the Holy Author of the New Testament through His inspired word.