All About Jesus
What We Believe
Anthem Hayden Church strives to be unified in our “major” beliefs while allowing for differing opinions in the “minor” things. We are a church made of people from many different backgrounds, but in Jesus we have become one body. Jesus said that the world would know we are His because of our unity and love for one another. We would rather know and reflect Jesus to our community than argue with other believers over non-salvation issues. A couple of very important questions we seek to answer are: How can we agree rather than disagree? And, how can we apply the truth of scripture in ways that show our love for the Lord and our love for one another so that Jesus is glorified in all we do? However, what we as a body believe is important. In an attempt to bring helpful clarification, we at Anthem Hayden have divided our beliefs (doctrine) into two primary categories: closed-handed and open-handed. Some doctrine is non-negotiable. These are Christian essentials that separate and distinguish Jesus-followers from all other religions. All who call themselves Christians must believe and support these fundamental issues of the faith that the scriptures explicitly declare are essential. We refer to these as our closed-handed beliefs; each is set in stone, written in blood, and unalterable.
Other doctrine, while helpful, is of a less essential nature. These are subjects that are not explicitly declared in our scriptures. They are not of first importance nor fundamental to the Christian faith. They are non-salvation topics and issues on which, despite biblical study, sincere believers might hold differing points of view. At Anthem Hayden we seek to have unity through agreement on the essential closed-handed doctrine and commit to being loving and respectful of those with differing perspectives of open-handed doctrine. Even if we don’t see eye-to-eye, we still love and accept each other as fellow Christians, followers of Jesus, and valuable members of the body. The doctrine in the open hand includes, but is not limited to:
“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” – Rupertus Meldenius
Anthem Hayden and those who represent Anthem Hayden will reflect this approach in all doctrinal matters.
More On What We Believe
Closed Handed Doctrine
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The Bible is God’s inspired and inerrant word, fully trustworthy for faith and conduct.
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There is one eternal God, who exists as Father, Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit.
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God created the universe.
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All humans fall short of God’s glory and are separated from Him by our sin and rebellion.
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Jesus, born of a virgin, was fully God and fully man, and was without sin.
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Jesus’ sacrificial death paid the price for our sin, and defeated evil and death.
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Jesus physically rose from the dead, ascended to Heaven, and now reigns as Savior of the world.
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By God’s grace alone, humans are justified through faith in this Savior, Jesus Christ.
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There is no other name by which people may be saved, except that of Jesus Christ.
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The Holy Spirit indwells every believer as a guarantee of our eternal inheritance.
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Every believer is empowered by the Holy Spirit through the impartation of spiritual gifts.
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God establishes His people as the church, His priesthood of all believers.
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Each believer is called to proclaim Christ’s gospel and live out His kingdom-life on earth.
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Christ will personally and visibly return to fulfill God’s salvation plan.
Open Handed Doctrine
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Bible translation or version (with few exceptions)
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Days of worship (Saturday, Sunday, etc.)
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How often communion is taken
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Modes of baptism (immersion, sprinkling, pouring)
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Prevailing Calvinist/Reformed, Armenian views of theology
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End times (eschatology, millennial, pre-millennial, post-millennial, amillennial, etc.)
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Earth age (See Anthem Hayden Position Paper on Creation)
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Types or styles of music
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Total abstinence or permissiveness of drinking alcohol
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Divorce and remarriage
- Civil disobedience