ST. MARK'S LUTHERAN CHURCH
West Bloomfield, Michigan
What we believe...
"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our
fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to
us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things,
through whom also he created the world" (Hebrews 1:1-2).
As Jesus' disciples, we receive Him as our one, true teacher. As
such, we are called to listen to Him and confess His Word as
Truth. Below, you will find a summary of the beliefs of our
congregation.
...about God.
We believe that God is triune. That is, He is three divine persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and yet only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19). He is the only true God and worthy of all praise both in heaven and on earth (Isaiah 45:22).
...about Jesus.
We believe that Jesus is the divine Son of God, who became true man for our salvation (Galatians 4:4). In His great love for us, He came to live a perfect life in our place and to bear the punishment for our sin through his death on the cross (Matthew 20:28). But on the third day He rose again from the dead and now lives forever as victorious Lord of all (Ephesians 1:22). Soon He will return in glory to judge all people, both the living and the dead (Matthew 25:31-32).
...about sin.
We believe that God originally created this world to be good (Genesis 1:31). But our first parents, Adam and Eve, quickly turned away from God. From that moment on, we are all now born sinful (Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:10-12). Therefore, we continually deserve eternal condemnation and need one thing above all else—God’s forgiveness.
...about forgiveness.
We believe that God has mercifully secured forgiveness for all people in the perfect life and innocent death of Jesus, His Son. He now invites all people to repent of their sins and to be baptized into His name for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38), promising that all who believe in Him will be saved (John 3:16).
...about faith.
We believe that faith is entirely the work of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14). Therefore faith is not a human “decision” but instead a gracious and miraculous act of God (John 15:16). As such, both infants and the mentally disabled can believe.
...about Holy Baptism.
We believe that in Holy Baptism God forgives our sins, adopts us as His children, opens heaven to us, and gives us His Holy Spirit—all by the death and resurrection of Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17; Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21). Therefore, we practice the baptism of infants (Acts 2:38-39).
...about Holy Communion.
We believe that in Holy Communion (also called the Lord's Supper), our Lord Jesus gives us, under bread and wine, His own body and blood to eat and drink for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:26-28). Here, we believe that the bread and wine aren't just symbols of Jesus' body and blood, but rather, according to Jesus' words, truly are His body and blood.
...about the Bible.
We believe that the Bible is God’s Word to us. Therefore, it is without error and ought to hold the highest authority in the church (2 Timothy 3:16).
...about creation.
We believe that God, as an act of divine love, supernaturally created us and all things over the course of six 24-hour days, as revealed in the Scriptures (Genesis 1) and as taught by Jesus Himself (Mark 10:6). This world was originally created good (Genesis 1:31); only because of humanity's fall into sin was it later subjected to death and decay (Romans 8:20). We believe that God has entrusted to us the care of His creation (Genesis 1:26) and, furthermore, we believe that Jesus will soon return and will restore creation for those who believe, bringing them forever with Him into the "new heaven and earth" (Revelation 21). We therefore reject the theory of evolution, recognizing that this theory has profound weaknesses and ultimately promotes a worldview of meaninglessness and moral relativism. Instead, we confess that the evidence within creation points toward a Creator, who cares for us and to whom we are accountable (Matthew 5:45). In the words of Psalm 19, "The heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalm 19:1).
...about gender.
We believe, in accordance with common human experience and the scientific findings of genetics and biology, that God has created humankind to be “male and female” (Genesis 1:27). Our duty, therefore, is to receive with obedience and thanksgiving whichever of these two sexes God has assigned to us, as is evident at birth. While we acknowledge the sincere personal struggles of those who feel as if their biological sex is somehow incorrect, we believe that the most loving response in such circumstances is not affirmation, but sound medical and mental health care.
...about marriage.
We believe that marriage is the life-long, sexually faithful union of one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24). According to God’s created design, it is built upon mutual commitment, forms the foundation of the family, and is the only proper setting for sexual activity. It is fundamentally a biological union, in which a man and a woman, through the act of sexual intercourse, become “one flesh” (Matthew 19:4-6). Therefore, we believe that divorce is always bad (and is only permissible in certain exceptional cases), that adultery is sinful (even with consent, as in so-called “open marriages”), and that “homosexual marriages,” as well as “group marriages,” are not legitimate marriages. Sadly, when people act against God’s pattern for marriage, it is often the children who suffer. Therefore, for their sake, as well as for the sake of all husbands and wives, we lovingly confess the truth about marriage, as revealed in both nature and God’s Word.
...about sex.
We believe that sex is a gift of God. It unites a man and a woman in the most comprehensive way possible and is the means by which God graciously brings new human life into this world. Therefore, it is reserved solely for the relationship between husband and wife. We believe that God calls us to resist any sexual temptation that might fall outside of these bounds, such as the use of pornography, sex outside of marriage, and homosexual activity. We recognize the harm done by today’s “hook-up culture,” and believe that following God’s commands regarding sex promotes the fullest sort of life.
...about life.
We believe that all life is valuable to God and is loved by Him, especially all human life. Furthermore, we believe that life begins at conception (Psalm 139:13) and ought to be cherished and protected until natural death. Therefore, we seek to uphold all life, especially that of the most vulnerable, standing firmly against abortion, euthanasia, murder, suicide, and all types of abuse. We recognize that those who have committed such sins often carry around a great deal of guilt (especially in cases of abortion), and so we seek to receive them with gentleness and sensitivity, confessing that there is forgiveness and healing in Christ for all sin.
...about racism.
We believe that all people are descended from Adam and Eve (Genesis 2) and, therefore, all human beings belong to one family and to one race. No people group can claim a natural superiority over any other, especially based on skin color or any other external feature. God calls us to love and to serve our neighbors, no matter what they look like or where they come from. Racism, in all its forms, is sinful.
For more information about our beliefs, please click here to visit our Synod's website.