What We Believe
What is the Gospel?
The Good News
Wherever you find yourself in life, you may be asking, “What is the gospel?”
You’ve heard words like “Jesus and the cross,” “sin and salvation,” “heaven and hell,” and you’re asking, “What does this all mean?”
This video lays out a simple explanation of what the Gospel is and what it means to be a Christian.
What Do I Do Now?
If you just prayed to receive Christ for the first time or have any questions about the Gospel, please give us a call (901-888-4673) or email us and let us know! We would love to help you grow in your faith, because accepting Christ is just the beginning of an awesome life-long journey!
If you’re a new Christian, your next step is baptism. We believe that baptism is how we outwardly express our belief in and love for Jesus Christ. You can find out more about baptism here.
What We Teach & Our Beliefs
Every church is unique. But our doctrine (beliefs) shouldn’t be.
Acts 2:42 lays out the basics for what a church does. “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” At Central, you’ll find that much of what we do is centered around those very things. We don’t try to invent new rules, new scripture, or new practices. We passionately cling to God’s Word as the first and final basis for everything we do.
Below, you can read our core beliefs that stand as the foundation for what we believe at Central Church.
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The Scriptures
The entire Bible is the inspired Word of God, and men were moved by the Spirit of God to write the very words of Scripture. Therefore, we believe the Bible is without error and is our highest authority.
God
We believe in one God who exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that Jesus Christ is the second member of the Trinity (the Son of God) who became flesh to reveal God to humanity and to become the Savior of the world.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is equal to the Father and the Son. He is present in the world to make humanity aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides Christians with the power to live, an understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian should strive daily to live surrendered to His control.
Humanity
All people were created in the image of God to have fellowship with Him, but all became alienated in that relationship through sinful disobedience. People are incapable of regaining a right relationship with God through their own efforts.
Salvation
The blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, provides the sole basis for the forgiveness of sin. Therefore, God freely offers salvation to those who place their faith in Christ, His life, death, and resurrection, for the forgiveness of their sins.
The Christian Life
All Christians should live for Christ and not for themselves. By abiding in Christ through faith, praying to the Father, obeying the Word of God, and daily yielding to the Spirit of God, every believer should mature and conform to the image of Christ.
The Church
The church is the body of Christ, of which Jesus is the Head. The members of the church are those who have trusted the finished work of Christ through faith in Him. The purpose of the church is to glorify God by loving Him and by making disciples of Jesus among the nations.
The Ordinances
Christ instituted the ordinances of the church, which are Baptism and Communion.
- Individuals should be baptized after they have trusted Christ as Savior, which is an outward sign of their identification with Christ. Baptism does not merit salvation; it is an act of obedience.
- Communion is a commemoration of Jesus’ death until He comes again, the elements being symbols of His body and blood. The Communion table is open to all self-examined believers, regardless of church affiliation.
What We Teach (Confession of Faith)
If you want to take a deeper dive into our beliefs, you can download our complete doctrinal statement here. The Confession of Faith document lays out our full doctrine (beliefs) and is the guiding document on what we teach at Central Church.
Our Beliefs Concerning Cultural Issues
Our Beliefs and What We Teach represent the core of our faith.
But we also understand that culture has a huge impact on how we live, so we will continue to update this section as questions in our culture shape the conversation around us. If you’re interested in more in-depth answers on our beliefs, download our full doctrinal statement.
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Abortion & the Sanctity of Life
We affirm Psalm 139 and believe that life begins at the moment of conception. All human life is deserving of dignity, care, and protection. The murder or disregard of a human life, beginning as an embryo, is a grievous sin, whether inside or outside the womb.
Alcohol & Other Substances
We are all called to live lives that reflect the character of Christ. Ephesians 5:18 says, “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.”
At Central Church, we desire to cultivate a community that honors Christs and supports one another in love and care. We believe Christians must live in a manner that upholds the integrity of the gospel and avoid controversies that distract from gospel ministry. We encourage our church family to prioritize the weaknesses and struggles of fellow members of the church family over personal freedoms in Christ.
However, substances that can be used in moderation without leading to intoxication or impairment are a matter of personal conscience. Additionally, some substances may have legitimate medicinal uses when taken under proper guidance. In such cases, their use is also left to the individual’s conscience, provided they are used appropriately.
Gender & Identity
Genesis 1:27 shapes Central’s understanding of gender, affirming that God created two sexes—male and female—and that gender and biological sex are not separate categories:
“So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.”
—Genesis 1:27
Because we live in a fallen world, we recognize that there is confusion regarding gender identity. We affirm that every person, including those who experience intersex conditions or gender identity confusion, is fully made in the image of God and worthy of love, compassion, dignity, and biblical truth.
For a more in-depth explanation, please refer to the section titled “Man” in our Confession of Faith document.
Marriage & Sexuality
We believe marriage is a sacred institution ordained by God as the lifelong union of one man and one woman. While God hates divorce, Scripture permits it in cases of adultery or abandonment by an unbelieving spouse.
We affirm that sexual intimacy is designed by God exclusively for marriage between one man and one woman. Any sexual activity or desire outside of this covenant is contrary to God’s plan for humanity.
For a fuller explanation, see the sections titled “Marriage as God’s Institution,” “Marriage Roles,” “Sexual Ethics,” and “Divorce & Remarriage” in our Confession of Faith document.
Social Justice
At Central Church, we affirm that every person, no matter their background, is made in God’s own image and infinitely valued by Him. Therefore, believers are called to live humbly and pursue justice in our land. True justice flows from God’s righteous character and His Word. We believe Scripture defines justice, never changing cultural trends or political movements. Because culture’s definition of justice does not always match Scripture’s definition of justice, we must be careful not to let woke cultural ideologies redefine the gospel or replace the authority of God’s Word.
Acts of service for the abused and vulnerable must never replace gospel proclamation. We believe Christians proclaim biblical justice when they proclaim the righteousness of God, the judgment we rightly deserve for our sins, and the forgiveness offered in Christ. Political movements and social reform cannot save anyone from the righteous wrath of God. We can only be saved by repenting of our sins and putting our trust in Jesus alone.