Purpose of Our Statement of Faith

The Elders of Bridgeway believe that it is crucial to the spiritual health and public witness of our fellowship that we articulate and celebrate the glorious truths that God has graciously revealed to us in the Scriptures. These doctrinal truths bring stability to the church in the midst of widespread confusion and equip the people of God to confront both the false religions and secularism of our society.

We believe that it is best and most biblical not to discover how little can be believed simply to get by, or to find the lowest common denominator of doctrine around which all can gather, but to elevate the fullness of biblical truth and to teach and hold fast to the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).

While avoiding arrogant and divisive dogmatism on secondary issues, we do believe that the Bible speaks clearly on the essential concepts of the Christian faith and that it is our responsibility to proclaim “the good doctrine” (1 Tim. 4:6) and to “guard the good deposit” (2 Tim. 1:14) entrusted to us. That is why we have undertaken to define as clearly as possible what we believe to be the foundational principles of the Scriptures.

We do not believe that every article in this statement of faith is of equal importance. Some are considerably more essential than others. Thus we do not believe that every doctrine stated in our statement of faith must be believed in order for someone to be saved.

It should also be understood that this statement of faith is not a requirement for people who attend Bridgeway, as if to suggest that disagreement with any particular assertion disqualifies a person from being actively engaged in the ministries of this local body of believers. We welcome and embrace all who believe in and follow the Lord Jesus Christ, whether or not they can affirm every article of faith in this statement. We welcome and embrace all who are still searching for spiritual truth and have not yet acknowledged Jesus as Lord and Savior. The purpose of this declaration of doctrinal beliefs is to make known where Bridgeway stands on issues of supreme importance to Christian faith and life. These are the biblical and theological truths and boundaries that will be honored by those who teach and preach at Bridgeway, whether on Sunday morning at our corporate celebrations, in our community groups, children’s ministry, formal classroom settings, or any other expression of life and training. Whereas we recognize that differences of opinion and interpretation may exist among the people of this local church, and that robust, yet humble, discussion and debate on these matters is spiritually healthy, nothing contrary to this statement of faith will be either publicly or privately promoted.

We do not claim perfection for this statement of faith. God’s Word alone is inerrant and infallible, not our interpretations of it. Thus we will always be open to correction from Scripture and will refine this statement as the Spirit teaches and guides us.

Our hope and prayer is that we will know how “to contend [without being contentious] for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3), and that by faithfully and humbly holding fast to the word of truth we will both honor the Lord Jesus Christ and be a rich and encouraging blessing to his bride, the church.