Final Authority for Matters of Belief and Conduct

The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs.  The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe.  For purposes of Heritage Holiness Church faith, doctrine, practice, and discipline, our Pastor and Church Board is Heritage Holiness Church’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female.  These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God.  (Genesis 1:26-27.)  Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.

We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning:  the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture.  (Genesis 2:18-25.)  We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a natural born man and a natural born woman who are married to each other.  (1 Corinthians 6:18; 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4.)  We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage between a natural born man and a natural born woman.

We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God.  (Matthew 15:18-20; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.)

We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Heritage Holiness Church as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the Heritage Holiness Church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by Heritage Holiness Church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality.  (Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:22.)

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.  (Acts 3:19-21; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.)

We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity.  (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31.)  Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of Heritage Holiness Church.