Theological Distinctives

NOTE: The following are theological perspectives that help to distinguish who we are as a community of believers. They are important and valuable doctrine, but they are not considered to be the core tenets of our Christian faith. Rather, they are the result of our background, values, experiences, and best interpretation of Scripture. As such, we embrace them, believe them and pursue them, but we humbly recognize that other sincere Christians may not agree with some or all of them. 

 
All People Christian Church also believes... 

There is a New Testament pattern that indicates the legitimacy and importance of an infilling/baptism of the Holy Spirit subsequent to salvation. We believe that every born-again person is marked/sealed by the Holy Spirit upon conversion, and thus any subsequent infilling or baptism of the Holy Spirit does not affect a believer’s status in regard to salvation or spiritual authority. Instead we believe it is an act of grace that is meant to empower the believer to be a bolder witness for Christ, as well as open the door to a greater charismatic life in the Spirit.
Joel 2:28-29; Luke 24:49; 11:13; John 1:33; Acts 1:4-5, 8; 2:4, 38; 8:14-25; 9:17-20; 10:44-48; 19:1-7

That the same Lord who distributed his gifts throughout the New Testament still distributes these same gifts today, and that they are for the purpose of building up the Body, validating the gospel message, and displaying God’s love to mankind. We thus believe in the present-day availability of all the gifts of the Father, of the Holy Spirit, and of the Son.
Romans 12:6-8; 1Peter 4:10-11; 1Cor. 12:7-11, 31; 14:1,39-40; Ephesians 4:11-12; 1Thess. 1:5; Mark 16:15-18; Heb. 2:4; 13:8; Malachi 3:6; James 1:17

That the Bible encourages a freedom of praise and worship, allowing people to worship in an authentic and uninhibited fashion, all the while following the principles found in 1Corinthians 14 by doing so in a manner that is orderly and respectful of others, and that does not draw attention to themselves or away from the Lord.
2Samuel 6:14-23; Psalm 63:3-5; 100:4; 118:24; 149:2-6; 150:3-6: 1Timothy 2:8-10; Philippians 4:4; Ephesians 5:18-20; 1Corinthians 14:23, 26, 32-33, 39-40

That God created the human race to be immutably male and female, to “be fruitful and multiply” through sexual reproduction, and to complement each other as uniquely different but equally valuable. That all efforts to adopt a gender other than one’s birth gender are contrary to God’s plan and original design as revealed in Scripture and creation order. We affirm the Coalition of Biblical Sexuality’s “Nashville Statement” on the Biblical view of sexuality and gender. We also believe Christ's Church is where people of all gender and sexual identities should feel welcomed and valued as we strive to patiently, loving, and honestly seek God and His will together. 

Genesis 1:27-28, 2:18, 21-24, 5:2; Deuteronomy 22:5; Leviticus 18:22, 20:13; Matthew 9: 10-13;19:4; Mark 10:6;  John 4:3-30, 8:3-11; 1 Cor. 5:9-13, 6:9-11; 19-20  

That God has established marriage as a lifelong, exclusive relationship between one man and one woman, and that all intimate sexual activity outside the marriage relationship, whether heterosexual, homosexual, or otherwise, is contrary to God’s commandments and plan as revealed in Scripture. We affirm the Coalition of Biblical Sexuality’s “Nashville Statement” on the Biblical view of marriage. We also welcome and value "all people," no matter their marital history, status, or sexual orientation, as we make room for each person to seek God and His will in a loving, patient, and honest church family environment.
Genesis 2:24-25; Exodus 20:14, 17, 22:19; Deuteronomy 22:13-29; Leviticus 18:6-23, 20:10-16; Matthew 19:4-9; John 4:3-30; 8:3-11; Romans 1:18-31; 1Cor. 5:9-11,  6:9-11, 15-20; Ephesians 5:31-32; 1 Timothy 1:8-11

That women are gifted and called by God to play an important role in the ministry of the church, and can lead others whenever or wherever it is necessary and appropriate. This does not minimize the God-given roles of men as servant leaders, or of women as “helpmates,” especially in the context of family. We also affirm the the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood's “Danvers Statement” on the Biblical role of men and women.
Esther 4:14b;  Judges 4:4-9; 5:7;  2 Kings 22:14-20;  Ruth 1:16-18;  Romans 16:1-6; 1Timothy 3:11-12; Colossians 3:18-19; 1Peter 3:1-7; Galatians 3:28; Genesis 2:18

In the existence of Satan, a fallen and condemned angel formerly known as Lucifer, and in his vast army of demons, also fallen angels. We believe that their primary goal is to “steal, kill and destroy” people, and that they can masquerade as something good. That the Church has authority over these enemies as delegated to it by Jesus Christ, who defeated this enemy when he willingly died for our sins and rose from the grave.
Matthew 4:1-11, 25:41, 28:18;  Ezekiel 28:12-19;  Isaiah 14:12-17;  John 8:44, 10:10; 2 Peter 2:4;  Revelation 12:3-17;  1Peter 5:8;  2Corinthians 4:4, 11:14-15;  

Ephesians 1:20-23;  1John 4:4;  Luke 10:17-19;  Mark 16:17

In the ability and desire of the Holy Spirit to bring emotional and spiritual healing to the soul of the believer, which may include delivering the believer from generational patterns and/or demonic oppression that may be hindering them from experiencing their full victory in Christ. We do not believe that born-again believers can be fully overcome, or “possessed,” by evil spirits. We do believe that they can be oppressed by such spirits however, as well as labor under harmful, generational patterns that are empowered through the sin of themselves and/or others.
John 10:10; Psalm 23:3; 32:5; 3 John 2; 1John 3:8; Ephesians 4:26-27; Proverbs 5:22:26:2; Exodus 20:4-6; 34:6-7; Galatians 3:13-14; Mark 16:17; Matthew 28:18; Luke 10:19; Ephesians 6:11,16, 4:26-27; 1Peter 5:8-9; Exodus 34:6-7

That water baptism by immersion is an initial & fundamental act of obedience for every new follower of Christ. It is an outward declaration of an inward transformation that has taken place in the life of a new believer, and is done in response to salvation rather than as a means of salvation. It is a way for believers to bury their old life by faith while celebrating their new life in Christ.
Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38-41; 8:12-13, 35-38;10:47-48; 16:33; 18:8: 19:3-5; 22:16; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:11-12; 1Cor. 10:1-2; 1Peter 3:20-21

That the Bible teaches believers to pursue love, purity, integrity, honor, and respect in all of their relationships, whether they are with family members, authority figures or members of the opposite sex.

Romans 13:8-10; 15:1-2; Ephesians 4:31 – 5:2; 5:22 – 6:9; Galatians 5:16-26; 1Timothy 5:1-2;  1Thessalonians 4:3-8; 1Corinthians 7:32-38