the father

We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. He is sovereign over all things, the Creator and sustainer of life, who rules with justice, mercy, and love. From the beginning, He created humanity in His image to live in fellowship with Him. Though sin brought separation, the Father has been working His redemptive plan throughout history, calling us back to Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ. As Father, He adopts all who believe in Christ into His family, delights in His children, and provides for them with perfect wisdom and care. To Him belong all glory, honor, and praise forever (Gen. 1:1, 26–27; Deut. 32:6; Isa. 64:8; Mt. 6:9–13; Jn. 1:12–13; Rom. 8:14–16; 1 Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:6).

the gifts of the holy spirit

We believe the gifts of the Holy Spirit are active and continuing today, given by God for the building up of His Church and the advancement of the Gospel. These gifts did not cease with the Apostles but remain as evidence of God’s presence and power among His people. The Spirit distributes gifts as He wills, equipping believers to serve, encourage, and strengthen one another in love until Christ returns. The gifts are both a foretaste of the life to come and a testimony of God’s Kingdom breaking into the present. We are called not only to believe in the gifts but to eagerly desire them, pray for their operation, and faithfully walk in them as the Spirit leads (Rom. 1:11; 1 Cor. 1:7; 12:4–11, 31; 13:1–3; 14:12; 2 Tim. 1:6–7; Heb. 6:5).

baptism

We believe baptism in water is commanded by Jesus for all who repent of their sin and place their faith in Him as Savior and Lord. Baptism is a public declaration that we have died with Christ, been buried with Him, and raised to walk in newness of life. It is an outward sign of an inward reality—a testimony to the world of God’s saving work in us. Through baptism, believers identify with the Body of Christ and joyfully enter into a life of discipleship and obedience to Him (Mt. 28:19–20; Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3–4; Col. 2:12; Gal. 3:27).

Communion

We believe the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Jesus as a covenant meal for His followers. Through the bread and the cup, we remember and proclaim His sacrificial death, celebrate our fellowship with Him and with one another, and anticipate His promised return. Communion is more than a symbol; it is a means of grace that points us to our union with Christ and gives us a foretaste of the wedding feast to come. As we participate, we are called to examine our hearts, give thanks, and proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes again (Mt. 26:26–29; Lk. 22:19–20; 1 Cor. 10:16–17; 11:23–26; Rev. 19:9).

human identity: male and female

We believe God created humanity in His image as two distinct and complementary sexes: male and female. From the womb, God forms each person with one unmistakable gender as part of His good design, with rare exceptions of biological ambiguity. Scripture does not separate biological sex from gender identity or expression. To drift from God’s design for us is to drift from God Himself, from His Word, and from His heart. Because of sin and the fall, confusion and distortion about identity exist, yet God calls us back to Himself, where our true identity is found (Gen. 1:26–27; Ps. 139:13–14; Mt. 19:4; Mk. 10:6–7).

marriage

We believe God Himself designed marriage as a sacred covenant between one man, one woman, and Himself. From the beginning, marriage was created to reflect the love of Christ and His Church, to provide companionship, and to be the foundation for family and community. Because of this biblical design, we affirm marriage only as the union of one biological man and one biological woman. Therefore, the pastors and elders of LEV Church will solemnize and participate only in weddings that honor this covenant pattern established by God (Gen. 2:24; Mt. 19:4–6; Eph. 5:25–32; 1 Pet. 3:7).

race and unity in christ

We believe every human being is created in the image of God and equally loved by Him, without preference or favoritism. From one man, God made all nations, and in Christ, He is redeeming a people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. Racism in any form—whether prejudice, discrimination, or hostility—is evil, a result of sin, and stands against God’s heart for humanity. The authority for understanding and addressing racism is found in Scripture, which calls us to love our neighbor, pursue justice, and live as one new family in Christ. Therefore, we reject Critical Race Theory and any other system that sets itself up as a rival authority to Scripture in diagnosing or resolving the problem of racism. Our hope and healing are found only in the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Gen. 1:26–27; Mk. 12:31; Acts 17:26; Rom. 2:11; Gal. 3:28; Rev. 7:9–10; 2 Tim. 3:16–17).

the sanctity of life

We believe all human life is sacred and valuable because every person is created in the image of God. Life begins at conception and continues until natural death, and each human being is a unique creation known and loved by God. As stewards of life, we are entrusted with the responsibility to protect and honor the worth and dignity of every person. Therefore, we affirm the right to life and oppose the taking of innocent life in all forms, including abortion and euthanasia. Instead, we are called to uphold life with compassion, justice, and care, reflecting the heart of our Creator (Gen. 1:26–27; Job 31:15; Ps. 22:10; Ps. 127:3–5; Ps. 139:13–16; Jer. 1:5; Acts 17:25).

ECUMENICISM

We believe that Jesus calls His Church to walk in unity. In the essentials of the faith, we hold firm; in non-essentials, we extend liberty; and in all things, we pursue love. Unity is never uniformity, nor is it compromise of truth, but a Spirit-led commitment to keep the bond of peace and reflect the love of Christ to the world. While believers may differ on secondary issues such as eschatology or certain theological frameworks, these should not divide the family of God. Instead, we seek to build bridges, showing respect and humility toward one another for the sake of Christ’s Kingdom (Ps. 133:1; Jn. 17:20–23; Acts 15:1–21; Eph. 4:2–6; Phil. 2:1–2; 2 Cor. 13:11).