What We Believe

Tribes Church is an independent local church connected to an international network of churches called Converge (converge.org). While we have a Statement of Faith, listed below, we also realize God has guided the church in faith and conduct for centuries before Tribes was formed. We believe and affirm the work of those who have come before us in forming the Apostle’s, Nicene, and Chalcedonian Creeds. These creeds (inspired by God’s Word and the Holy Spirit) have helped lay the foundation for sound church doctrine.

We believe God is the loving Creator of all that exists, both seen and unseen. God is eternal and completely good, completely just and completely holy, knowing all things, having all power and majesty. God exists in three persons, yet one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God invites us into a relationship of faith, friendship, learning and service to himself through the work of Christ, the son, on the cross and through the conviction of the Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1; John 14:6-9, 15-17; John 16:7-15; Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 4:9-10, John 16:8)

We believe Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He existed before anything else and he holds all creation together. God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ (fully human and fully divine) and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He was born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, was crucified for the sins of all, was buried, rose from the dead and ascended to heaven. Forgiveness of our sins and right relationship with God are found through Him alone. (Colossians 1:15-20, Matthew 1:18-23, Hebrews 7:26, I Peter 2:22 and I John 3:4,5, I Corinthians 5:21, I Peter 2:24, I Corinthians 15:4, Acts 1:9, 11, Philippians 2:9-11, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 4:12)

We believe the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin and draws us to the Father. He baptizes us into the body of Christ, indwelling every believer. He leads us to truth. He counsels us. He teaches us. He empowers us for witnessing. He continually fills us. He is the transforming power at work in the life of every believer, allowing us to live a life pleasing to God. He distributes gifts to every believer. (John 16:8, 1 Cor. 12:13, John 16:13, John 14:16, John 14:26, Acts 1:8, Acts 4:31, Gal. 5:16-25, Eph. 5:18, 1 Cor. 12:4-11, Galatians 5:22-23)

We believe we were all created in the image of God to have fellowship with him but became alienated in that relationship through an act of sin. That sin committed by Adam & Eve is what is referred to as original sin and became part of the human condition. As a result, we are incapable of regaining a right relationship with God through our own efforts. (Genesis 2:26, Genesis 3:6, Genesis 3:23, Genesis 3:14-19, Genesis 2:17, Romans 5:12-19, Ephesians 2:11-18, Romans 3:23)

We believe the church is the body of Christ, of which Jesus Christ is the head. The members of the church are those who have trusted by faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross. While the church is of divine creation, it is made up of imperfect people. The purpose of the church is to worship God, evangelize the world and to equip the community of faith for ministry (1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4:11-12)

We believe the only means of salvation (forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with the Father) is Jesus Christ. He died as a substitute on the cross to pay the penalty of our sins and he offers each of us a pardon for our sins. Salvation is available when we recognize our own sinfulness (repentance: turn from our sins) and we place our trust in Christ’s work on the cross. (Acts 4:12 and John 14:6, I Peter 2:24, Hebrews 9:26, John 1:12)

Baptism in Water
We believe the scriptures teach that all who repent and believe in Christ are to be baptized. Baptism is a public profession of faith in Christ and identification with the body of Christ. It is spiritually symbolic of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. It is a declaration to all that we have died to sin and have been raised with Christ to walk in newness of life. (Matthew 28:19, Romans 6:4, Galatians 3:27-28)
Communion
We believe the Lord’s Supper consists of two elements: the bread and cup. These elements are symbolic of the body and blood of Christ and when we receive these elements, we are remembering Christ’s death and payment for our sin. Communion is a memorial of Christ’s sufferings on the cross and a celebration of our salvation (1 Corinthians 11:17-26)