STATEMENT OF FAITH

STATEMENT OF FAITH: 2024

In 2018 we crafted and adopted our initial Statement of Faith. Since then attacks against Jesus and His Church have accelerated. Churches were asked to temporarily cease gathering, in-person, at the beginning of the COVID outbreak of 2020. Once approved to re-gather, some local municipalities even requested churches stop singing songs of worship in their gatherings. At the same time the rise of protests led to many churches feeling the pressure to adopt stances on racism and social justice. Schools began to promote similar positions, along with taking strong pro-LGBT+ stances. Our culture has widely accepted the false notion that there are more than two genders and that men can become women (and vice versa). If there has ever been a time to be confident and unwavering in what we believe as the Church, it’s now.

While our previous Statement of Faith clearly defined where we stood on the issues of abortion, gender, and marriage, and we seek to echo those beliefs, it left much to be desired. This newly adopted Statement of Faith will help us maintain the unity of our local church while standing firm in what we believe for the following reasons…

Articulate a more detailed stance on what we believe about the Word of God. If we truly believe it’s the complete and final authority for all matters of faith and practice then we should give it more than just 3 abbreviated sentences.
Expand key doctrines and bring clarity to several theological issues like…
- The Sufficiency of Scripture
- Civil Government
- Divorce & Remarriage
- The Role of Women
Provide Scripture references.
Point people towards other confessions and statements that we are in agreement with.
Protect the flock from false teaching and false teachers.

For these reasons the elders at The Way Church have unanimously recommended the following newly crafted Statement of Faith as follows…

DOCTRINE OF SCRIPTURE

While God has generally revealed Himself through creation (Ps. 19), God gave us specific revelation in His Word. It is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16)

God spoke a complete revelation for His will for salvation, through human authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:20-21) in sixty six books, divided into the Old and New Testaments. God’s Word is without error in the original language (Gal. 3:16), and has authority over our lives today. It’s the complete and final authority for all matters of faith and practice.

THE SUFFICIENCY OF SCRIPTURE

Contrary to what many have taught throughout history and continue to teach, Scripture itself is sufficient to interpret Scripture. The reformers believed sola Scriptura, a Latin phrase meaning Scripture alone. Their point was that only Scripture can compel faith and obedience among God’s people. Many have undertaken to proclaim a word from the Lord, but we don’t need a word when we have the all-sufficient word (Ps. 19:7-11).

DOCTRINE OF GOD

One God (Deut. 6:4), the creator of all things, eternally exists in three equally divine Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is holy, infinitely perfect, and possesses limitless knowledge and sovereign power. He alone is deserving of worship (Deut. 6:5). God works to redeem a people to Himself and to make all things new for His glory.

THE FATHER

God the Father is the Creator of heaven and earth (Eph. 3:9). He orders and disposes all things according to His own purpose and grace (Ps. 145:8-9). His fatherhood involves both His designation within the Trinity and His relationship with mankind. As Creator He is Father to all men (Eph. 4:6), but He is spiritual Father only to believers (Rom. 8:14).

THE SON

Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God (Col. 2:9) and fully man (Phil. 2:7). Jesus, Israel’s promised Messiah, was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, and was put to death on the cross. Jesus was raised from the dead, ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate (1 John 2:1).

THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit glorifies the Son, Jesus Christ, in all that He does (John 16:14). He convicts the world of its sin, and seals the believer at the moment of conversion (Eph. 1:13). The Holy Spirit regenerates sinners (Titus. 3:5), and in Him they are baptized into union with Christ. He also indwells, illuminates, guides, equips, and empowers believers as they walk with Jesus.

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD

No belief held by the Church is more despised than the truth that God is absolutely sovereign. The salvation of humanity is fundamentally the work of God. God orders everything, controls everything, and rules over everything. In love He predestined His people for adoption (Eph. 1:4-6). Apart from the intervention of God, humanity cannot choose of his own accord to worship God and pursue righteousness (Rom. 3). While the human mind on this side of eternity may never fully understand how they correspond to one another, Scripture affirms both human responsibility and the absolute sovereignty of God.

DOCTRINE OF CREATION AND PROVIDENCE

God created the world from nothing. (Gen. 1:1-2; Ps. 24:1) His creative work is the overflow of the love present within the Trinity. Creation, according to God’s design, was good (Gen. 1:3-31).

God created man and woman in His image (Gen. 1:27). God wonderfully and immutably creates each person, biologically, as male or female. These two defined and distinct complementary genders (Gen. 2:18), together, reflect the image and nature of God.

THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE

God created mankind in His image (Gen. 1:27). All human life is sacred and created by God. Human life, therefore, should be protected against all forms of human violence including oppression, human trafficking, abuse, and many other forms of evil that are violations of the sanctity of life. From conception (Ps. 139:13, 16) human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, and the physically or mentally challenged. Life must be defended, protected, and valued and we believe begins at conception.

God created marriage as a reflection of His being. Because God exists eternally in community, we too are created to do the same. Marriage is a God designed institution between one man and one woman. In marriage, the two leave their father and mother and become one flesh (Gen. 2:24). God created marriage to be exclusively the union of one man and one woman, and that intimate sexual activity is to occur exclusively within that union.

DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE

God hates divorce (Mal. 2:16). Divorce is only permitted in the Scripture because of man’s sin. Since divorce is only a concession to our sin and not part of God’s plan for marriage, followers of Jesus should hate divorce like God does and pursue it only when there is no other recourse. With God’s help we believe every marriage has a chance of survival.

When all other means are exhausted, the New Testament gives us only two grounds for divorce: sexual sin (Mt. 5:32) or desertion by an unbeliever (1 Cor. 7:12-15). Remarriage is only permitted for the faithful partner in such cases.

God created all authorities and He ordained civil government for the good of mankind (Rom. 13:1). Human government was created to commend good, punish evil (1 Pet. 2:13-14), maintain peace (1 Tim. 2:1-2), and protect the oppressed (Isa. 10:1-2). God disciplines nations and rulers that depart from His plan (Jer. 25:12).

CIVIL GOVERNMENT

While governments seek to bring about justice, human governments will never fully and permanently redress wrongs. Followers of Jesus are to be subject to the governing authorities that God has put in place over us (Rom. 13:1) in matters in which God has given the state authority. Issues such as faith and family are not under the government’s realm of control. We recognize that the community of redemption isn’t the state but the Church.

God doesn’t let the world exist. He makes the world exist. He upholds the universe by the word of His power, and He holds the world together in Himself (Col. 1:17).

DOCTRINE OF MAN

God created Adam and Eve in His image (Gen. 1:27), but they sinned when tempted by Satan (Gen. 3:6). In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, separated from God (Col. 1:21), and are under His wrath. On his own man is hopelessly lost. Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued, reconciled, and renewed.

DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH

God gathers believers to Himself and towards each other. The Church is God’s ordained vessel of ministry to the world. Though there are many churches, all believers from every tribe, tongue, and nation, together make up the Church. The purpose of the Church is to glorify God by gathering for the building up of itself in the faith (Eph. 4:13-16), the instruction of the Word (2 Tim. 2:2), fellowship (Acts 2:47), keeping the ordinances (Lk. 22:19) of baptism by immersion and communion, and advancing the gospel to the ends of the earth (Mt. 28:19).

BAPTISM BY IMMERSION

The precedent we find in the New Testament is baptism following conversion by immersion into water. Baptism is meant to symbolically depict the believer’s union to Christ in His death and resurrection (Rom. 6:1-14).

Jesus is the head of the church, the body. Serving under Christ and over the assembly are elders (also called pastors) and deacons, both of whom must meet Biblical qualifications (1 Tim. 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9). These leaders have Jesus’ authority in directing His Church and the congregation is to submit to their leadership (Heb. 13:7).

THE ROLE OF WOMEN

Men and women are absolutely equal in essence, dignity, and value but are distinct by divine design. As part of God’s good created order, men and women are to have different yet complementary roles and responsibilities in the home and the church. As it relates to the church, men and women are both expected to serve; however, the office of elder is reserved for qualified men (1 Tim. 3; Titus 1).

The Church is called to partner with God as He accomplishes His purpose in the world (Eph. 4:12). To that end, He gives to each member of the body of Christ spiritual gifts for the edification of the Church (Rom. 12:5-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-31).

SPIRITUAL GIFTS

God equips believers for Christian service and for the edification of the Church with various spiritual gifts. While all gifts are valuable and needed in the Church today, some gifts have ceased. Tongues, among other miraculous gifts, were for the temporary purpose of pointing to and authenticating the apostles as revealers of truth (2 Cor. 12:12).

DOCTRINE OF SALVATION

God created Adam and Eve to exist in community, but creation was broken when sin entered the world (Gen. 3:7). Because of sin we were dead (Eph. 2:1) and separated from God, but because of God’s grace we’ve been made alive. God gave His one and only Son (John 3:16). Jesus died the death we deserved and was raised from the dead so that we can have life. Salvation is a gift of God that cannot be earned by works, but is freely given to all who put their faith in Jesus (Eph. 2:8-9).

Some have said that followers of Jesus are obligated to follow Jewish laws and practices from the Mosaic Law (Acts 15:1). Certain groups have even elevated extra biblical rabbinic teachings and traditions to the same level as Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The Apostle Paul refuted this teaching throughout his epistles. In Acts 15 we read of the Jerusalem Council rejecting the notion that Gentile believers must follow the Law of Moses. Ultimately, the Law was given to point to our need for a Savior (Gal. 3:19).

DOCTRINE OF RETURN

The Church awaits and hopes for the personal and bodily (Lk. 24:39) return (Acts 1:11) of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to the Father (Mt. 24:36), demands constant expectancy (Rev. 22:7) and motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service, and energetic mission.

HOW THEN CAN I BE SAVED?

We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, as revealed by Scripture alone, to the glory of God alone.

If you’ve made the decision to follow after Jesus, we’d love to pray with you!

APPENDIX A: OTHER STATEMENTS, CONFESSIONS, & CREEDS

Occasionally, the elders will find a statement, confession, or creed that we are in alignment with in order to clarify certain positions or better highlight our beliefs. Below is a regularly updated list of statements, confessions, or creeds that we are in total and complete agreement with.

Baptist Faith & Message 2000
1987 Danvers Statement
Nashville Statement
Statement on Social Justice & The Gospel (Signed)

APPENDIX B: FALSE TEACHERS

Jesus told his followers to beware of false prophets, who come in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. (Mt. 7:15) Later on in the New Testament, Paul uses similar language when he tells the Ephesian elders to pay careful attention and to care for the church of God by being on alert for fierce wolves. (Acts 20:28-29) He reiterates that sentiment later on in his letter to the Romans by saying to avoid them. (Rom. 16:17)

It’s difficult to avoid those you don’t know. Followers of Jesus should be discerning, alert, and watching for wolves in sheep’s clothing. More than that, Paul goes on to say that we should rebuke them publicly. (1 Tim. 5:19-20) Throughout the N.T. Paul does exactly that; he lists at least six false teachers the church should watch out for. (1 Tim. 1:19-20; 2 Tim. 1:15; 2:17; 4:10)

In order to honor God’s command to protect the flock, the elders of The Way Church have sought to compile a regularly updated list of false teachers that we might expose them and minimize the spread of the gangrene (to use Paul’s language in 2 Tim. 2:17). We don’t seek to do this out of spite or hatred but, rather, a sincere love and care for the people that God has placed in our care.

OUR PROCESS: 4 FACTORS

The elders have agreed to the following 4 factors in order to help us determine whether or not to publicly recognize an individual as a false teacher…

The seriousness and deceitfulness of their error. Did they break away from a core doctrine of the faith or was it what we’d consider a distinctive?
The duration of their ministry. Did they make one error or does this reflect a consistent pattern?
The size of their audience. Does their reach overlap into our church body?
The opportunity for their deception. Do they have an opportunity to deceive our flock?

With those 4 factors in mind the elders have recognized the following teachers and/or ministries as false teachers listed below and strongly encourage you to avoid them and the material they produce. If you have questions, concerns, or would like more clarity as to why we came to the decision we did, please don’t hesitate to reach out to an elder directly or email contact@findandfollow.org.

Benny Hinn
Bill Johnson, Bethel Church (Redding, CA), Bethel Music
Brian Houston, Hillsong Church (Sydney, Australia), Hillsong Worship
Joel Osteen
Joyce Meyer
Kenneth Copeland
Steven Furtick, Elevation Church (Charlotte, NC), Elevation Worship
T.D. Jakes
Todd White

APPENDIX B001: BENNY HINN

The following is an abbreviated rationale for why the elders of The Way Church recognize Benny Hinn as a false teacher…

The seriousness and deceitfulness of their error. Benny Hinn is an advocate for the Word of Faith movement (as highlighted in the documentary American Gospel). Hinn also promotes what’s referred to as “little god” theology where, he claims, each person of the Trinity is actually his own trinity. Hinn clearly rejects the Doctrine of God as outlined in our Statement of Faith.
The duration of their ministry. Hinn began performing miracles and conducting healing services in 1983.
The size of their audience. Tens of millions of people attend his crusade gatherings every year worldwide. Streamed on CBN, Hinn’s audience is global. It’s estimated that Benny Hinn Ministries has an annual revenue of $26m.
The opportunity for their deception. Households around the globe are able to tune in daily to CBN to watch Hinn’s daly program. With books available in most Christian bookstores, it’s possible that even some of our flock are being impacted by Benny Hinn.

APPENDIX B002: BILL JOHNSON, BETHEL CHURCH (REDDING, CA), BETHEL MUSIC

The following is an abbreviated rationale for why the elders of The Way Church recognize Bill Johnson of Bethel Church in Redding, CA and Bethel Music as a false teacher…

The seriousness and deceitfulness of their error. Bill Johnson could be called the modern day father of the NAR (New Apostolic Reformation) movement. He has promoted many unbiblical “manifestations of the Spirit” including grave sucking, prophetic cards, prophetic dancing, waking angels, fire tunnels, and holy laughter. Johnson also has an erroneous view of Jesus. He has taught that “he performed miracles, wonders, and signs as a man in a right relationship to God…not as God.” This view contradicts the Doctrine of God.
The duration of their ministry. Bethel Church was established in 1952 and has been led by Bill Johnson since 1996. Before accepting the call to lead Bethel, Johnson led a previous church from 1978-1996.
The size of their audience. With a congregation in Redding, CA of 11k members and, according to Bethel, an additional reach through Bethel Music of 2 million+ monthly listeners and 4 million+ through social media, the size of Bill Johnson and Bethel Church’s audience continues to grow.
The opportunity for their deception. With songs written by Bethel Music sung in churches across the globe and individuals being trained and sent-out through their Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry, it’s safe to say that their false teaching has already made it’s way into our region and our church.

APPENDIX B003: BRIAN HOUSTON, HILLSONG CHURCH (SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA), HILLSONG WORSHIP

The following is an abbreviated rationale for why the elders of The Way Church recognize Brian Houston of Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia and Hillsong Worship as a false teacher…

The seriousness and deceitfulness of their error. Houston and Hillsong Church have embraced the word of faith movement, claiming that “God wants to heal and transform us so that we can live healthy and blessed lives in order to help others more effectively”, along with the prosperity gospel. Hillsong Church has also criticized its leaders for taking a position on homosexuality, a violation of the Doctrine of Creation.
The duration of their ministry. Brian Houston founded Hillsong Church in the 80’s. In 2022, after an internal investigation concluded that he had engaged in inappropriate behavior with two women connected to the church, Houston resigned from his position.
The size of their audience. With their flagship campus in Sydney, Hillsong has locations in 30 countries on 6 continents. With albums, conferences, and college, With a weekly attendance of 150k, it’s hard to accurately determine the scale of Hillsong’s influence.
The opportunity for their deception. With Houston’s teaching influencing every corner of the globe, and Hillsong music found everywhere, it’s safe to say that Brian Houston and Hillsong Church have already influenced the Church with their false teaching.

APPENDIX B004: JOEL OSTEEN

The following is an abbreviated rationale for why the elders of The Way Church recognize Joel Osteen as a false teacher…

The seriousness and deceitfulness of their error. Osteen has been associated with several troublesome teachings including the prosperity gospel as well as holding to the belief that mormons are “brothers in Christ”. Viewed as a whole, the teaching of Joel Osteen would easily lead one to believe that we are being saved from a life of failure and unhappiness, not sin and the wrath of God.
The duration of their ministry. Lakewood Church officially recognized Joel Osteen as senior pastor in 1999 after the death of his father, John. Joel and his wife have led Lakewood Church, while they’ve seen immense growth, for roughly 25 years.
The size of their audience. Joel Osteen is the pastor of one of the largest churches in the United States, Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. His television program is viewed by 20 million people every month in almost 100 countries globally. Osteen has published many best-selling books and has a sizable social media presence.
The opportunity for their deception. Being a household name, and with content found on television, radio, and almost every bookstore, it’s safe to say that the false teaching of Joel Osteen has already influenced millions.

APPENDIX B005: JOYCE MEYER

The following is an abbreviated rationale for why the elders of The Way Church recognize Joyce Meyer as a false teacher…

The seriousness and deceitfulness of their error. Joyce Meyer has held several contradictory positions to the Doctrine of God, including that Jesus stopped being the Son of God and that he was born again.
The duration of their ministry. Meyer reports that in 1976 she heard God call her name. Meyer joined a local church, began leading a Bible study, and within a few years was the church’s associate pastor. In 1985 she resigned and founded her own ministry, airing her radio show on 6 stations from Chicago to Kansas City. In 2005, Meyer was listed in Time magazine’s “25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America”.
The size of their audience. As a New York Times bestselling author and with a social media following in the tens of millions, Joyce Meyer boasts a large ministry following.
The opportunity for their deception. The elders of The Way Church have recognized several individuals within our local body who have already been impacted by the false teaching of Joyce Meyer. While we seek to protect the names of those individuals, it’s easy for us to see that the opportunity for her deception has already found its way into our flock.

APPENDIX B006: KENNETH COPELAND

The following is an abbreviated rationale for why the elders of The Way Church recognize Kenneth Copeland as a false teacher…

The seriousness and deceitfulness of their error. Kenneth Copeland has been a major voice in the word of faith movement, and a proponent of several false teachings including a twisted view of God and an inflated view of man. Copeland has claimed that the earth is “a copy of the mother planet where God lives”. For decades he has described God as someone “very much like you and me…” a clear contradiction of the Doctrine of God and the Doctrine of Man.
The duration of their ministry. In 1967, Kenneth and his wife Gloria founded Kenneth Copeland Ministries (KCM). With 6 international offices, he preaches prosperity theology as part of the word of faith movement.
The size of their audience. KCM currently has a televised & live-streamed program on many major stations.
The opportunity for their deception. With a major social media following and teaching on several large platforms, Copeland’s false teaching could easily find it’s way into our flock.

APPENDIX B007: STEVEN FURTICK, ELEVATION CHURCH (CHARLOTTE, NC), ELEVATION WORSHIP

The following is an abbreviated rationale for why the elders of The Way Church recognize Steven Furtick of Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC and Elevation Worship as a false teacher…

The seriousness and deceitfulness of their error. Steven Furtick has often been associated with the prosperity gospel, sharing the stage with other false teachers (Joel Osteen, T.D. Jakes, Brian Houston, & Joyce Meyer). In a 2015 sermon, Furtick claimed that “God broke the law for love”. Not only is this illogical, but it’s also unbiblical. For God to break the law, which is perfect, would be for Him to become a sinner; a clear contradiction of the Doctrine of God.
The duration of their ministry. Furtick started in ministry as a worship leader in 2004. In 2006 he moved to Charlotte, NC and founded Elevation Church.
The size of their audience. In 2006 Elevation Church began with 8 families. Today, across 20 campuses, their weekly attendance is over 14,000 people. As a NY Times best selling author with a social media following in the 10’s of millions Furtick’s audience continues to grow to this day.
The opportunity for their deception. With content easily found on Amazon and online, along with Elevation Worship releasing chart-topping content, the false teaching of Steven Furtick can be found in homes across the globe, including those of our flock.

APPENDIX B008: T.D. JAKES

The following is an abbreviated rationale for why the elders of The Way Church recognize T.D. Jakes as a false teacher…

The seriousness and deceitfulness of their error. T.D. Jakes has been associated with several troublesome teachings including the prosperity gospel and holding to an unorthodox position on the Trinity known as Modalism. Jakes believes and teaches that the Father, Son, and Spirit do not refer to distinct persons of the godhead, but to different modes of existence of a single person. While he denies being a modalist, Jakes continues to use manifestations in place of persons and continues to affirm this false belief. His belief is in clear rejection of the Doctrine of God as outlined in our Statement of Faith.
The duration of their ministry. Jakes started doing ministry in 1982.
The size of their audience. With a 30k member congregation and a social media following of over 10 million collectively, the size of Jakes’s audience continues to grow to this day.
The opportunity for their deception. With content easily found on CBN and Amazon, the false teaching of T.D. Jakes can be found in homes across the globe, including those of our flock.

APPENDIX B009: TODD WHITE

The following is an abbreviated rationale for why the elders of The Way Church recognize Todd White as a false teacher…

The seriousness and deceitfulness of their error. While, on the surface, White seems to be another prosperity gospel preaching following in the footsteps of his mentors, Benny Hinn and Kenneth Copeland, but White’s teachings are far worse. White has claimed to be a “new-breed” of Christian that’s pure and sinless, and he challenges everyone to follow in his footsteps. Unfortunately, Todd’s life and teaching are not evidence of his holiness but of his ignorance to God’s holy law. This teaching is in clear rejection of the Doctrine of Salvation as outlined in our Statement of Faith.
The duration of their ministry. Todd White began his ministry relatively recently, in 2014.
The size of their audience. White Todd doesn’t currently pastor a local church, his ministry has reached many through social media as well as various speaking events. His growing popularity resulted in many evangelical leaders criticizing his beliefs on the documentary American Gospel. Later, Todd responded by calling the documentary “demonically inspired”.
The opportunity for their deception. In 2023, Todd White spoke at a nearby church. The elders of The Way Church are aware of some individuals within our local body who were in attendance for Todd’s message. While we seek to protect the names of those individuals, it’s clear that the opportunity for Todd White’s deception has already found its way into our flock.