What is a Biblical Church
Though there are many in the Family of God, and there are many in the Kingdom of God, but there are few in the Church of God. The Family of God consists of all Saints living or dead, both Old and New Testament, unborn children and children that died before the age of accountability. The Kingdom of God is made up of all living born again believers. The Church of God is made up of the living members of local churches of the lineage of the church Jesus Christ established and died for.  There are born again believers living here on earth that are not members of the Church of God simply because they do not belong to a Biblically correct Church.
  Many churches today neglect the things of the Bible. Most don’t even believe that Christ has given them a true Bible. Many spend more time in social activities than in preaching of God’s Word. They have Super Bowl and Halloween parties, two things totally anti-Christian. Most professional sports are not only on Sunday but are usually sponsored by alcohol and tobacco companies, have near naked cheerleaders, and are continually blaspheming God by often having a prayer before the event. They allow so called Christian rock, contemporary, and Southern Gospel music in their churches, often as the entire worship service with little or no preaching of God’s Word. The members are indiscernible from the heathens, males wearing earrings and long hair, women looking and acting like men, often running the household. No line of Biblical authority in the family with the man being the head of the house and the wife and kids being in scriptural submission. The kids are often running things at home. No one submitting to the authority of the pastor, everyone in rebellion thinking they know best and then they wonder why their churches and families are in the shape they’re in!
What constitutes a ‘Biblical’ or ‘Scriptural’ Church? Here is the answer.
Three elements of a Biblical Church
 
Lineage
Acts 11:26
  And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
The first requirement is lineage.  All true churches can be traced back to the church of Jerusalem via Antioch.  They have been known by many names. Paulicians, Tertullians, Waldenes, Ana-Baptist, and many others. The true line was never a part of the Catholic Church or any Protestant groups. The method of church planting is still the same as then. A missionary is sent from an established local church to start a mission. When the mission breaks from the sending church it organizes into a local church under the authority of Jesus Christ. There may still be fellowship between these churches, but each is separate from the other each answering to Jesus Christ alone and not a man made authority figure outside the local church.

Authority
   Jesus Christ has been given sole authority over the church by God the Father. He is the head and the church is the body. The Pastor is the physical authority (Under Shepherd) using the Bible as the final authority as to all matters pertaining to the church and the lifestyles of the members. Guidance is given to the church through the Bible by the Holy Spirit. Deacons are mentioned 2 times in the Bible. Acts 6: 1-7. The church had grown to 20,000 or 30,000 members and Pastor James heard the pleas of the Grecian members that felt their widows where being neglected. They elected 7 Deacons to serve tables and other physical task of servitude. These are the duties of a Deacon. To be an example of servitude, not to govern over the Pastorate.   This was so the Pastors could continue in Prayer, Study, and Preaching.  Nowhere in Scripture are Deacons a governing board over anything.The Deacons are servants of the Chief Servant the Pastor.  If a Pastor is derelict in his duties or living a life contrary to Scripture, then if it is needed the church body will deal with the Pastor as a whole, and appropriate action will be taken as in accordance with Matthew 18:15-17.  A Pastor can be disciplined as described in 1 Cor: 5, but he should be relieved of all positions of leadership permanently.  1Timothy 3 list the qualifications of a Deacon.

3 John 1
 1.  The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
 2.  Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
 3.  For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
 4.  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
 5.  Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;
 6.  Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:
 7.  Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.
   
   There is to be no outside authority such as a Government body be it on a local, state, or federal level.
    Incorporation and Tax Exempt, not for profit 501-C3 organizations.
     By the U.S. Constitution, a church is tax free, not tax exempt. Tax exempt status is reserved for 501-C3 not for profit organizations. By IRS definition they are no longer a church but instead a business/organization.  By accepting this status the organization is under the authority of the government. The same holds true for incorporation.  The first paragraph of incorporation papers state that the State is head of the incorporation.
    What about ‘Tax Exempt’ status?
 The foundation for this comes from the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.
  The Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

   No law means exactly that. NO LAW! For a church/ministry to be required to either become state incorporated or to apply for tax exempt status would imply law.

  IRS publication 557 states about tax exempt status: Some organizations are not required to file form 1023. These include: Churches, interchurch organizations of local units of a church, conventions or associations of churches, or integrated auxiliaries of a church, such as a men’s or women’s organization, religious school, mission societies, or youth groups.  
Churches: Although a church, it’s integrated auxiliaries, or convention or association of churches is not required to file a form 1023 to be exempt from federal income tax or to receive tax deductible contributions  ( Pub 557 page 14 column 1)
  Contributions to domestic organizations described in this chapter except organizations testing for public safety are deductible as charitable contributions on the donor’s federal income tax return. (Pub 557 page 8 column 1)
IRS code title 26 Code Section 508
Sec. 508 Special rules with respect to section 501 (c) (3) organizations:
Exceptions: (c) 1) Mandatory exceptions, Subsection (a) and (b) shall not apply to-
(A)   Churches, their integrated auxiliaries, and conventions or associations of churches.
    501-C3 status also violates the Constitutional requirement of no state churches, or as some like to say, ”separation of church and state.” When members of a 501-C3 organization make tax deductible gifts to the organization, the IRS is allowing FEDERAL funds to go into the organization without physically (but on record as) going through the federal system. The funds are being directly applied to the organization thereby making it STATE FUNDED/ASSISTED.  This gives the state authority over the organization. Some churches will claim they need the tax exempt status to keep offerings coming in. That the members won’t give as much if it isn’t tax deductible. This is a two fold problem. First, Christ not only owns the cattle on a thousand hills, He owns the hills and everything surrounding them. He will provide. Also this creates a problem in the area of attitude. We should give with the attitude of thanksgiving ,not to get a tax break. If we don’t give in the right spirit the gift means nothing To God.
 As for incorporating. Some claim it is to protect the members and church as a whole from possible lawsuits.  All that can be said about that is:
 Psalms 20: 7.  Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
 Who do you trust to protect you? A government that is slowly taking away your right to religious freedom or the God that gave you the right?
 Licensing of Preachers. This puts the state in authority over the physical head of the local church. Any pastor that accepts a state license is submitting to, and in  acknowledgement of the authority of the state over himself, thereby also acknowledging the states authority over the church. John Bunyan was thrown in prison in England for refusing to take the license of the state (King of England), to preach. He stated that God would tell him what to preach, not the king.  During his years in prison he wrote Pilgrims Progress. God honors obedience and a non compromising stand that glorifies and honors Him.
   The authority issue is also violated by conventions, fellowships, associations, and any other way of organizing churches into a single governing element or any outside authority that claims any governing power over the local church or its inner workings. These are all man made, not God created.
 Jesus will not share headship of the church and the Holy Spirit will not remain in any of these situations.  He will remove their candlestick.

Revelation 2
 1.  Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
 2.  I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
 3.  And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
 4.  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
 5.  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
 6.  But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
 7.  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
 The oil in the candlesticks represents the Holy Spirit. If churches that involve themselves in these practices don’t repent and do away with these unscriptural ways, Jesus promises to take His Spirit out of them.
  To avoid future legal problems any church involved in these practices must dis-ban, totally liquidate, or ‘go out of business.’ Then they can reform as a correct Biblical church ready to work for God unencumbered by the world.
2 Corinthians 6:17.  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
As Pastor Leo DeLorge has often stated,"There are two types of Christians. Those that have given themselves up to do God’s will and those God has given over to do their own will." Many groups are claiming to be doing “God’s” will and are prospering. Seldom in New Testament teaching does the True Church have anything but hard times and adversity, almost always under satanic affliction. The Scripture says that in the end times many will follow false gods and cling to doctrines of demons, following fables and false teachers. Teachers saying what the people want to hear, not what God said.  Take heed lest ye fall into these snares and in the end find yourselves at the Great White Throne Judgment and say Lord, Lord, did we not do many wondrous things in Your name? And the Lord reply, depart from me for I never knew you.  Or when at the Judgment seat of Christ you see your works go up in a bonfire. Many in these days are doing many wondrous works in the name of Christ, but if they are not doing it within God’s will it matters not how great a work it is or how sincere they think they are. It is a work of the flesh and God will consider it as dung. Obedience is better than sacrifice.  Many may claim that it must be “God’s will” as they seem to face no adversity and are growing by leaps and bounds. The Scripture says that all that are doing the will of God will suffer persecution. Earthly prosperity in this world is not the sign of God’s blessings but usually a sign of worldliness and apostasy.  Following the teachings and philosophies of man. Using mans reasoning and not relying on God. Having huge programs with little preaching. The Bible says to “preach”. I have yet to find a scripture about praise service being the scriptural way to win souls to Christ. I also never found where it says to sing for 45 minutes and preached for 20. How can the world be saved lest it hears the Word and how can they hear the Word lest it be preached like God says it is to be preached. Do you endure sound doctrine or do you get upset if the preacher goes for more than 20 or 30 minutes? Someone right with God loves the preaching of His Word and thirsts for it. Their desire is for God to speak to their heart through the preaching. To see themselves as God does through His eyes and to have their heart broken so they can repent of transgressions and grow in Christ, to better know and serve our Lord. How is it people can sit for hours through a sporting event that has NO true value, but can’t be attentive to God’s Word for a short while? II Timothy 3 & 4 cover this area.
What about true believers in an apostate or heretical church trying to follow God’s will? They will either leave and find a correct church or will stay and become ineffective losing all opportunity to do God’s true will for their life. They will never be truly joyful in Christ and often become bitter and disappointed going on to lead carnal lives.
 
Doctrine
We practice what is known as the ‘Baptistic’ Doctrine.  It is called that because it is the Doctrine taught by Christ and He went to John the Baptist to be baptized. Baptist is a Biblical name.  Jesus walked over 60 miles to be baptized by ‘The Baptist.’
What is the ‘Doctrine’ of a Biblically correct church? Doctrine is what you ‘do’. What you ‘do’ is what you believe, no matter what you ‘say’. Actions are stronger than words. Much of the following is taken from Bro Harold Boyd’s sermon, ”Seven Point Baptist”. It sums up the Doctrine issue fairly well in an easy way to remember.


Matthew 3
 1.  In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
 2.  And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
 3.  For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
 4.  And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
 5.  Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
 6.  And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
 7.  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
 8.  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
 9.  And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
 10.  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
 11.  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
 12.  Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
 13.  Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
 14.  But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
 15.  And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
 16.  And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
 17.  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
 Also take note that it was “The Baptist”, not a or one of the , but “John The Baptist.” Which lends to the possibility that John was the only one except for Jesus teaching repentance at this point in time.  From the moment of Matthew 3:16 there has an unbroken line from Jesus of the True Church that He established to the Proper New Testament church of today.
Born again
To be a part of a proper church you must be born again.
John 3
 1.  There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
 2.  The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
 3.  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
What does it take to be ‘born again’? First you must realize why you need to be born again. You must know Who Jesus is and what He has done from the foundation of time. That you are a sinner headed for hell because of the fallen nature and that He has provided a way of redemption through the atonement of His Blood. So who is Jesus? He is the second person of The Trinity, The Son, The Creator of all, and The Lamb that was slain from the foundation of time for all mankind.  Full well knowing that when He created man, that man would need a Saviour, He was still willing to create man and be that sacrifice. Coming to earth in the form of a man to suffer and die the cruelest of deaths, death on a cross.  Born of a virgin, lived a sinless life because He had not the nature of man, but of God and could not sin. He was not as some teach 100% God and 100% man. He did not have the nature of man, a sin nature, but the nature of God because He was God in the form of a man. (Phil 2:7) He came to earth and humbled Himself to the lowest of positions. He is The Creator of all yet He came not as a King but as a servant. He allowed Himself to be put to death by the cruelest form of torture.  Put to an open shame hung naked for the entire world to see. All to pay a debt He did not owe and we could not pay, all for you and me. With His death on the cross, He fulfilled the law and paid the debt of sin in full with His pure, innocent blood, the only payment God the Father would except for the debt of mankind. Now He sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven making intercession for His saints.
 That is Who Jesus Christ is. The same yesterday, today, and forever.

John 1
 1.  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
 2.  The same was in the beginning with God.
 3.  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
 4.  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
 5.  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
To be born again you must realize that you are a sinner and there is nothing you can do to save yourself. That you must repent of sin and put all of your faith in Jesus Christ to save you. You can add no works to the act of salvation.  Salvation is by grace through faith. All trust must be in the finished work of the cross. That Christ blood was payment for your sin and it is a free gift that you must accept as is, to receive the promise of eternal life in heaven.
Authority
We believe in the authority of the Bible, the inspired (IITim3:16), infallible (John
10:35), inerrant (Matthew 24:35), preserved (Psalms12:6&7)  Word of God.  Many
try to break the scripture, attempting to make scripture say what they want it
to say. They fail and the scripture breaks them.   Many try to sit in judgment of the
scripture. The scripture sits in judgment of us. This is the reason many people deny
the perfection of scripture. They want a standard that doesn’t make them look as
bad as they are. They want to be ‘ok’ in their own eyes. That’s why they will
compare themselves with another person instead of using Jesus as the standard.
They know that compared to Christ they will always come up short.
The authority of the church. There is no outside authority over the church and any ministries outside the church must be under the authority of the local church or they are not under God’s will.  The authority of the church includes the authority to practice the great commission, to baptize, to practice the Lord’s Supper, to ordain preachers, deacons, and evangelist, and to discipline inside the church. The authority of the pastor to be the physical head of the church and to oversee all activities therein. He is to preach and teach in a matter consistent with scripture so as to reach the hearts of the unsaved to bring them to repentance and salvation and to bring the saved to a closer walk with God. If your pastor doesn’t step on your toes or prick your heart on a regular basis, one or both of you have a problem. The pastor is to administer discipline as needed in the church. Too many churches today have members that don’t grow in Christ but retain their standing in the world. Never changing, just maintaining. Living the same way they did before they where saved, looking, acting, and being part of the world. Growth is often stunted in physical and spiritual children by lack of Biblical discipline.
Priesthood of believers
We believe in the Priesthood of the believers. When Christ said “It is finished”, the veil in the Temple was split to show that access to God is allowed by individual believers without going through a priest. He is our High Priest making intercession for us to God the Father. It’s still good to have others pray for and with you, but we have direct access to God through Christ the Mediator.  Each true believer has as much access to the Throne of Grace as any other believer. This is not to say that every believer is to head off on his or her own as a Lone Ranger for God. We are still to be part of a local New Testament church under the authority of a pastor.    

1 Timothy 2
 1.  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
 2.  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
 3.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
 4.  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
 5.  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;    
Two Ordinances
Baptism and Lords Supper
Baptism is an act not a requirement of salvation. It is a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection. Death to the old life, Buried to sin, and resurrected to a new life in Christ. Only immersion baptism is scripturally correct. Many claim that baptism is required for salvation. This denies the finished work of Christ and calls Him a liar. This would also be salvation by works. Baptism is a requirement of membership in a biblically correct church. Only those that testify to have been born again are to be baptized. This proves infant baptism as being in error according to scripture.              
The Lord’s Supper (also called communion),is also an act not requirement of salvation. It is symbolic of Christ body and blood He offered as a sacrifice once and for all. We also believe in closed communion. This means only members of the local church can partake. Some practice close or open communion. Close means as long as they are of like faith, open means anyone that walks through the door and feels like partaking. This is scripturally wrong. If possible the Lord’s Supper should be a service all on it’s own, not included in or tacked onto a regular service.
 Many cults misuse it and count is as necessary for and to keep saved. This is also denying the finished work of Christ and is a works salvation. The Catholic cult even claims that the priest through incantations turns it into the literal body and blood of Christ. That would be cannibalism.  Also it would say that the priest has the power to pull Christ from heaven and return Him to earth. Christ said that when we heard someone claim He was on earth to count them as anti-Christ as all would see His return, as the lightning from the east to the west.
Independent
Local church independent of all outside authority. Independent of all, dependent on One, Christ Jesus. There are no scriptural texts that condone or even hint at any type of authority of a group of ‘bodies’ of believers. Every time the church is mentioned it is always in reference to a local church or separate churches (plural), never as a single conglomeration of congregations.  
Separate
Separate from the world including Governments, worldly groups, and/or religious organizations. Even if we agree in principal with another group, to join with them would be saying we condone their teachings and practices. We are not to give even the appearance of evil. If someone teaches a different Christ than you do, why would you want the world to associate you with them? That would make you a hypocrite and tarnish your witness to the world. What fellowship has light with dark? Be ye not unequally yoked. We also are not to look like the world, sound like the world, have the same entertainment as the world, or any other association with the world that would cause confusion as to where you stand in Christ. Don’t become like the world thinking it will win them to Christ. It won’t. Only preaching of God’s Word will do that. If you compromise to be like the world you will become like the world and will lose your witness.
2 Corinthians 6:17.  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
Triumphant Return of Christ
We believe that Christ will come again in all His glory just like He said He would.
Matthew 24:30
 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Being a member of a Baptist (or any other) Church will not save you. You must be born again.
John 14:6.  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
There are many teachings and philosophies these day. But what did Jesus say?
Matthew 7
13.  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
 14.  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15.  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
 16.  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
 17.  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
 18.  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
 19.  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
 20.  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
 21.  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
 22.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
 23.  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
 24.  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
 25.  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
 26.  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
 27.  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
 28.  And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
 29.  For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Scripture tells us to test every spirit.  You can be the best, most humble and decent person to have ever lived.  You can do every good work that you have the opportunity to do. You can try every religion and be the most faithful member of the best church ever to be on earth, but if you put your trust in anything besides the blood of Jesus Christ as payment in full with Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour you will spend eternity in hell.
 This is a very narrow view, but Christ said, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man shall come unto the Father but through Me.’  He left no other options.
 To those that this may have offended;
Psalms 119:165.  Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
Those with the true Spirit of Christ, living and walking daily and Biblically
in Christ’s will cannot be offended.