What We Believe
Our Beliefs
Our methods and our expression might seem progressive to some, but our doctrine is traditional and quite similar to the vast majority of Christian churches. Element Church collaborates with a large number of churches ranging from charismatic to conservative evangelical. And even though we are a non-denominational church, we affiliate with several evangelical organizations including the Association of Related Churches, the Next Level Relational Network and the Campus Changer Network. Below is a list of a few of our essential beliefs.
We believe that the Holy Bible, and only the Bible, is the authoritative Word of God. It alone is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. The Bible, in its original writing, is both inspired and inerrant. (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20-21; Proverbs 30:5; Romans 16:25-26)
We believe that the Godhead eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, having precisely the same nature, attributes and perfections, and are worthy of precisely the same homage, confidence and obedience. (Mk 12:29; John 1:1-4; Mt. 28:19-20)
We believe that Jesus Christ is God the Son, the Second Person of the Trinity, conceived by the Holy Spirit in the Virgin Mary. Jesus Christ is 100% man and 100% God. He is the only man ever to have lived a sinless life and is the Son of God. (Matthew 1:18, 20, 23; Luke 1:27-35; John 1:1 & 14, 20:28; I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Php.2:5-6; I Timothy 2:5)
Man was created good and upright, but by voluntary transgression he fell; his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (Genesis 1:26-31, 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21)
We are saved by grace (which is undeserved and unearned) through faith in Jesus Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection. Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works or of any human efforts. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16, 3:8; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 16:31; Hebrews 9:22)
Because Jesus Christ lived a sinless life, His blood shed on the cross of Calvary is 100% sufficient to cleanse us of all sins when appropriated individually through repentance and faith. Jesus allowed Himself to be punished for the sins we have committed, enabling all who believe to be freed from the penalties of sin. (I John 1:7; Revelation 1:5, 5:9; Colossians 1:20; Romans 3:10-12 & 23; 5:9; John 1:29)
Repentance is a commitment to turn away from sin in our lives and to follow Christ. It is a change in the way we think, and therefore, in the way we live. (Acts 2:38, 3:19)
A Christian is a person who has invited the Lord Jesus Christ to come and live inside him by the Holy Spirit. He is putting his trust in what Christ accomplished for him when He died, was buried, and rose again from the dead. (John 1:12, 14:17, 23, 15:4; Romans 8:11; Revelation 3:20)
After receiving Jesus Christ, the new believer is instructed by the Word of God to be baptized in water in the Name of the Lord Jesus: The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38)
The church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of Christ’s great commission. Every person who is born of the spirit is an integral part of the church as member of the body of believers. (Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23)
The Lord’s Supper is a unique time of communion in the presence of God when the elements of bread and wine/juice from grapes, expressing in some spiritual way the body and blood the Lord Jesus Christ, are taken by believers in remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. (I Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-25; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12, 8:36-38, 10:47-48; Matthew 26:26-28)
Initiated at Pentecost, this ongoing baptism (or infilling) is the promise of the Father, given by Jesus after His ascension, to empower the Church to supernaturally communicate the gospel throughout the whole earth (Acts 1:8; 8:15-16; 19:2; Mk.16:20). With this regular infilling, the believer has the potential of experiencing various manifestations such as scripturally based prophetic experiences, unknown tongues, and other visible outward signs. (Acts 10:46; 19:6; 8:18; 2:4-6; 7-18)
Sanctification is the ongoing process of being set apart for God, characterized by our yielding to God to complete the development of Christ’s character in us. A lifestyle of developing righteousness and holiness is the evidence to all men that Christ’s Spirit lives within us. (I Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23; II Corinthians 3:18, 6:14-18; II Thessalonians 2:1-3; Romans 8:29, 12:1-2; Hebrews 21:11)
Healing of the sick is illustrated in the life and ministry of Jesus and is included in the commission of Jesus to His disciples. Healing is a provision of Christ’s atonement on the cross and is given as a sign which is to follow believers. (Matthew 8:16-17; Acts 8:6-7; James 5:14-16; III John 2; Psalm 103:2-3; Isaiah 53:5; Mark 16:17-18) (Note: This does not imply the false concept that immediate healing always accompanies true faith. There are many righteous people in scripture who didn’t immediately receive healing in this life. Rather, healing can also be a process which is finalized by entrance into heaven.)
We believe Heaven and Hell are literal, as outlined in Scripture, and that our destination is determined by our response to the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 5:3,12,20; Matthew 6:20; Matthew 19:21; Matthew 25:34; John 17:24; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 11:16; 1 Peter 1:4; Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:43-48; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 14:9-11; Revelation 20:12-15;Revelation 21:8)
We believe that Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body three days after His death on the cross. One day all believers in Christ will also be physically resurrected in glorified bodies to their reward in heaven with God. (Luke 24:16, 36, 39; Philippians 1:21-23, 3:21; I Corinthians 15:42, 44; John 2:19-21, 20:26-28, 21:4; Acts 24:15)
Jesus Christ will return to establish His kingdom. This will occur at a time undisclosed by the Scriptures. (Revelation 1:7; Acts 1:9-11; Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; I Thessalonians 4:15,17; II Thessalonians 1:7-8)
Frequently Asked Questions
One of the challenges in discussing a biblical view of sexuality today is that questions are often shaped by unseen, personal pain. In recent history, the church has frequently mishandled this topic—focusing more on what Scripture forbids than on the dignified and beautiful vision it presents. Because of this complexity, we want to clearly define both what we believe and how we live out that belief—both matter equally.
Belief
We hold to the historic Christian understanding of marriage and sexuality: that marriage is a lifelong covenant between one biological man and one biological woman, and that all sexual expression outside of that covenant is sin.
How we live out our belief
We are fully committed to welcoming and loving all people. We believe every person is made in God's image and is deserving of dignity, honor and respect (imago dei | Genesis 1:27). In short, everyone is welcome at Element Church.
One of the most compelling realities of Jesus’ life is that those who least aligned with His moral teachings were often most drawn to Him. While Jesus and the religious leaders of His day often shared similar moral convictions, they expressed them very differently. The religious often felt that being doctrinally right was enough while they missed caring for the human person standing in front of them. By contrast, Jesus, without compromise, welcomed people with love, compassion, and clarity. As the Body of Christ, we are called to embody Jesus' moral Truth and Jesus' Compassionate Heart of Grace (John 1:14). Grace and Truth are actually two sides of the same coin and contribute to the same end: they are manifestations of God's nature and the exact prescription for healing humans stuck in the human condition.
In this area, three convictions shape how we live:
First, we aim to be a living display of covenant love. The church is not called to critique the world but to embody a distinct, compelling way of life. We seek to faithfully live out singleness and marriage in such a way that points to the fullness of life Jesus offers.
Second, we lead with love and compassion. Our doors—and our lives—are open to all. No one is excluded from gathering with us because of misaligned beliefs.
Third, we distinguish between acceptance and agreement. In our culture, these are often treated as the same. In Jesus, we see the opposite: people who disagreed with Him felt deeply accepted by Him. We are committed to being that kind of community—fully aligned with Jesus’ teachings, and fully committed to welcoming and loving all people.
Traditionally, a Christian “denomination” is an organized religious institution or group, such as the United Methodist Church, Southern Baptist Church, Presbyterian Church, or Lutheran Church. Churches within these denominations often have:
- a set of core beliefs and customs established and shared by the broader organization
- shared worship practices, teachings, and leadership structures
- organizational structures to help them stay connected to the broader denomination
- standardized belief system established by their respective denomination
- a hierarchy, direction and/or leadership that come from the denomination
- sometimes shared legal, financial and/or legal structures
Element is Non-Denominational because it is not structurally directed by a larger organized Christian denomination or authority. Instead Element’s authority structure consists of three localized groups that offer checks and balances for accountability, direction and stewardship (under the ultimate authority of Jesus Christ).
Element Church is: guided by pastors, protected by trustees and strengthened by overseers.
1. Guided by Pastors
The Pastoral staff team is led by the Lead Pastor. This team oversees the day-to-day ministry and operations of the church. These staff pastors serve the congregation and are responsible for the development of the spiritual life of the church. The Pastoral Leadership Team members serve as Staff Elders.
2. Protected by our board of Trustees
The Trustees are members of the congregation who oversee the finances and direct the provision of the facilities needed by the church. As the board of our 501c3 they provide counsel to the Pastoral Leadership Team regarding the major financial commitments of the church. The Trustees serve as Non-staff Elders.
3. Strengthened by Overseers
The Overseers are pastors of respected congregations and ministries who love Element Church and are willing to provide spiritual protection to the church. They may be called in to help in accountability matters relating to the Lead Pastor and/or Pastoral Staff if requested by the Pastors or Trustees. The Overseers serve as Apostolic Elders.
The question of how men and women serve in church leadership—especially as pastors and elders—has been debated throughout church history. Some believe Scripture restricts these roles to men, while others believe God calls and gifts both men and women to lead. Our responsibility is to study Scripture, depend on the Holy Spirit, and treat those who differ with humility and respect. This is not a question of Biblical authority, but of Biblical interpretation; faithful Christians and healthy churches hold convictions on both sides.
Across the narrative of Scripture, several convictions shape our position and practice:
Women and men are created equal in the image of God.
Equality does not mean sameness; each gender reflects God’s image in distinct and meaningful ways.
Leadership in the church is given on the basis of grace, calling, spiritual gifting, obedience, and character.
Both women and men can and should lead, preach, pastor, and minister.
Men and women serving together lead to a fuller expression of Christ’s love and grace.
At Element Church, we believe women and men are gifted and qualified to serve as co-laborers in every area of church leadership, including the role of elder, pastor and Sunday teachers. We do not simply permit this—we actively value it.
If you would like more information about the process of Scriptural Interpretation around this issue, we recommend a resource from Bridgetown Church. The document is the result of a 3 year Scriptural study done by their Elder team that approaches this topic with a high view of Scriptural Authority, a careful interpretation of specific debated passages, and respect for individuals and churches holding differing perspectives. It includes helpful guidance for those who are part of our church while holding a different conviction.
It is written from Bridgetown Church but expresses similar views to ours here at Element. Please click the button below :
“Giving is one of the central themes in the Bible. Jesus talked more about this subject than Heaven, Hell or prayer. To understand what it means to be a Christ follower we must also understand what it means to be a giver.” – Chris Hodges
2 Corinthians 9:7
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Malachi 3:10
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”
At Element Church we recognize tithing both as an act of worship and as God’s primary method of advancing His work: the support of His body: the local church. We believe giving 10% of our income is the Biblical standard for generosity and as followers of Jesus it is our goal to practice Biblical giving. This is not an obligation to God, properly understood it is an invitation from Him. We understand giving in three ways:
1. Tithe
The tithe, or “first fruits” of our labor/income belong to God. We find this principle all through God’s Word. Tithing, giving God the first 10% of our income to the local church, is the primary, practical way we acknowledge that God is first (Proverbs 3:9–10).
2. Offerings
An offering is giving over and above the tithe. The Bible says that by giving generously, we are able to “take hold of the life that is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6:18–19).
3. The Gift of Giving
The gift of giving is a spiritual gift that God gives to some people (Romans 12:8). It is a Spirit given capacity and desire to serve God by giving of your material resources, far beyond the tithe, to further the work of God.