It's falling out of fashion in some churches to make an issue of doctrine, or even to have a doctrinal statement.  "Doctrine divides people", we hear, "and love unites".  So why make an issue of ideas that often seem theoretical?

At CCC we're committed to the importance and practical relevance of all biblical teaching.  We have a doctrinal statement in our constitution for the following reasons:

• because the New Testament writers themselves give the example of simple doctrinal summaries. Consider these New Testament examples:

Acts 2-3 , Peter's summary of Old Testament support for the deity and messiahship of Jesus
1 Corinthians 15:1-5 , Paul's summary definition of the gospel, with allusions to "the Scriptures" (in modern times this would be followed by extensive footnotes)
Philippians 2:6-11 , Paul's summary of the incarnation, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus
1 Timothy 3:15-17 , Paul's summary of the mystery of godliness
Hebrews 5:11-6:2 , a summary of the elementary principles of the oracles of God
1 John 4:2 , John's test for faithfulness to a right understanding of who Jesus is

• because the apostles referred to a Body of Truth that could be identified, believed, retained and defended.

Romans 6:17 , Paul identifies a form of teaching to which the believers were committed
2 Thessalonians 2:15 , Paul alludes to apostolic traditions handed over to new believers in person or by letter
2 Timothy 1:13-14 , Paul commands that the standard of sound words heard from him be held and communicated to the next generation.  This body of Truth must be seen as a treasure entrusted to each generation of Christians.  Its defense can only be achieved through the power of the Holy Spirit.

• because retaining the Body of Truth is crucial to local church health and growth. The doctrines of the Bible are like the human body's DNA; local church defense of and application of the Bible's truth is like the body's immune system.  Without truth to believe and obey there can be no genuine spiritual life.  Without loving, authoritative imparting of truth to the next generation of believers, there can be no true local church health.

2 Timothy 2:1-2 , Paul commands his disciple Timothy to entrust the message he has been received from Jesus via Paul to faithful people, who will in turn be able to teach others.
Titus 1:9 , Paul calls the doctrinal truth he taught to all the churches "sound doctrine", that is, healthy doctrine.  The name emphasizes that local church health can be achieved only by knowing and obeying this truth, which produces spiritual health in every Christian.

• because Christian ethics require that what we teach be open, not secret. Jesus and the apostles always publicly taught without any hidden agenda.  His followers should do the same.  CCC's doctrinal position is a matter of public record.

While the apostles' methods and examples support the writing of statements of faith as an aid to passing on the deposit of Christian Truth to succeeding generations, the Bible does not support creedalism.  Creedalistic groups establish a church hierarchy to enforce a formalized cluster of beliefs upon the conscience of their members and appeal to confessions of faith — not to the Bible — for their identity.  Therefore, we must always . . .

• prove the rightness of a teaching from the Bible, not from the church doctrinal statement;
• emphasize Scripture memorization more than memorizing a statement of faith;
• be prepared to improve, clarify or correct any statement of faith in the light of new controversy and/or further research.  This is the spirit of the Berean Christians (Acts 17:11 ), who nobly "checked things out."

The doctrinal statement is available in pdf format here.