Reasoning Tree Church

The Reformation began as a return to the authority of Scripture as the ultimate guide for faith and practice. We value the doctrines that Martin Luther and John Calvin recovered in the Reformation especially those outlined in the Five Solas. Although our service format does not follow prescribed Reformed Church guidelines we have discovered by experience with visitors that people from a Reformed or Reformed Baptist background find the services inspiring and Biblically sound.

We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, and that its teachings should shape every aspect of our lives because it is, Inerrant: The Bible contains no errors or contradictions in its original manuscripts; Infallible: The Scriptures are completely trustworthy, reliable, and authoritative in all matters they address; and Sufficient: The Bible provides everything necessary for faith and practice; it is our sole authority for doctrine, morality, and worship.

Biblical Preaching: Our pastor and teachers are committed to preaching the Word of God as it is written. We expect our sermons to be faithful expositions of Scripture, with no additions or subtractions from its teachings.

Scripture-based Worship: Our worship services are guided by the principles and patterns set forth in Scripture. We sing, pray, and celebrate the sacraments according to biblical guidelines.

Faithful Teaching: Our church’s education programs and discipleship initiatives are designed to help believers grow in their understanding of God’s Word and its application to everyday life.

Discipline and Governance: When dealing with matters of doctrine, morality, or worship, we turn to Scripture as our final authority. We strive to govern the church according to biblical principles, even when it means facing challenges or disagreements.

We encourage all believers to regularly read and study God’s Word, seeking to understand its teachings and apply them to their lives.

Financial Stewardship.

Accountability and Community: As a church, we value the importance of accountability among believers. We strive to create an environment where members can share concerns, ask questions, and receive guidance from Scripture-informed leaders.

Disputes and Controversies: When disagreements arise within the church or in the broader Christian community, we seek to resolve them through patient discussion, biblical analysis, and prayerful consideration of Scripture’s teachings.

We believe that salvation is a gift from God, graciously bestowed on those who trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior. This faith comes not just from the head but from the heart, and it’s a personal, individual experience with God. Our church emphasizes the importance of repentance, faith, and good works, all rooted in Scripture.

We affirm that human beings made in the image of God have a degree of self-determination. However, our sinful nature makes it impossible for us to come to faith on our own terms or through our own efforts. It’s only through the empowering work of the Holy Spirit that we can respond to God’s offer of salvation.

We recognize two primary sacraments, baptism and the Lord’s Supper (or Communion). Baptism is a symbol of our union with Christ, representing death to sin and new life in Him. The Lord’s Supper is a sacred ordinance where we celebrate Christ’s sacrifice through bread and wine, remembering His body broken for us and His blood shed for our sins. We practice Believers Baptism.

Although it is true that we have neither a Sunday School nor Children’s Church, it is incorrect to say we have nothing for Children. We prefer events structured around the entire family which naturally involves the children. To that end we have yearly picnics, movie nights, Fall Festival and Christmas dinner, etc. This emphasis is supported first by our own experience and by research which shows that children who engage with adults are more likely to remain in church as they grow up than children who are always segregated from their parents during worship time.

We are also actively engaged in strengthening the family through our Roots Homeschool Co-op which meets monthly providing fellowship and activities for multiple ages.

The church has no stated Bible preference. That is, we do not insist on our members or attendees using a particular version. Although the Pastor frequently quotes from the KJV as well as other versions he typically uses the English Standard Version. We acknowledge that no English translation is perfect and only a few translations are considered truly bad. Therefore the Pastor encourages the people to use the version which most helps them grow in their Christian walk.

We utilize a combination of Traditional Hymns (Just As I Am, Amazing Grace, Great is Thy Faithfulness, How Great Thou Art, It Is Well With My Soul, etc.), and some more recent compositions. Some of the traditional hymns have alternate renditions which for some people deepen the meaning of the song. Regardless of style we strive to ensure that all our songs are Biblically accurate, mentally stimulating, and conducive to emotional engagement.

The main three viewpoints in this area are Premillennialism (Christ comes before the Millenium), Amillennial (A period of time between the first and second coming of Christ), and Postmillennial (Christ comes at the end of the Millenium). The Reasoning Tree Church has no stated requirements for members in this area of belief. The Pastor, if asked, is satisfied that Amillennialism is Biblically accurate, but does not see a particular view as essential to Christian faith and living.

We affirm that many sincere Christians see the modern-day Jewish state as fulfillment of Old Testament restoration prophecies. We affirm the Geo-political nation of Israel’s right to exist and to exercise the power of a sovereign nation in protecting its citizens from potential harm inflicted by enemies. We do not believe that potential war crimes or atrocities can or should be overlooked on the basis of that right.

Nor do we agree with the view that any nation or individual Christian must honor the Geo-political nation in all it does or else suffer punishment from God as is often inferred by the quotation of Genesis 12:3 “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse.” This tends to be a vague and unrealistic perspective and cannot be said to have implications for one’s salvation if for no other reason than the Geo-political nation did not exist from 70 AD until 1948, thus rendering it pointless for the generations of Christians living between those dates.

These historic creeds allow us to be familiar with the fundamental beliefs which the Christian Church has held to since its inception. While there is disagreement with many views of the Church Fathers the principles enshrined in these statements of faith are typically affirmed by a broad cross section of the global Christian community. They serve as a bridge back to the historic church, out to our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world, and as doctrinal guardrails to prevent our drifting into theological error.