FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I become a member?
We at Countryside Christian Church believe that committing to and being involved in the life of the local church is vital to one’s spiritual growth and development (Hebrews 10:25; 1 Timothy 4:13). Therefore, we encourage attendees to become formal members of our church.
The process includes profession and evidence of saving faith in Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-14), and completing an interview with our elders.
Do you baptize infants?
We teach “believer’s baptism.” That is to say, we believe a person is commanded to be baptized (immersed in water) only upon placing their faith in Christ for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38). Baptism is an act of obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a public declaration which by a person professes faith in Jesus as the only satisfying ransom for the penalty of their hell-bound soul and then as an act of obedience joins with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection (Romans 6:1-11). Infants cannot comprehend this therefore we practice and celebrate “believer’s baptism” and do not “baptize” infants.
That being said, we do however strongly encourage parents to on special occasions come forward during our worship service for and participate in a child dedication. Meaning that after the parents acknowledge their commitment to following Christ and to raising their children in the way of the Lord, they stand in front of the congregation to offer up before the Lord their precious loved ones. A prayer of blessing is spoken and the congregation pledges its support to the parents and child.
Can I rent your church for my wedding?
We are thankful to God for the beautiful property and building He has entrusted to our care and we desire to be faithful stewards. Because of that conviction, we only allow regular attenders and formal members usage of the property and building for approved events.
Do you have a dress code?
When God’s people gather to worship Him, the most important concern is the attitude of their heart. God looks through anything we wear – regardless of the price tag – and examines our hearts. Therefore, we want to come together and offer God sacrifices of praise from a pure heart that is cleansed of sin and a soul that enjoys the blessed reconciliation with our Creator.
Attire is therefore a matter of personal choice and conviction. We have people who wear their Sunday Best to those who dress more casual. Modesty is always welcomed.
What do you teach about spiritual gifts?
We teach that every follower of Jesus Christ receives at least one spiritual gift sovereignly given by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:7, 11). When believers exercise their gifts in the Body, they contribute to the working and maturing of the Body of Christ (Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:4-31, Ephesians 4:1-16). We strongly encourage the discovery and exercise of each believer's giftedness.
That said, we recognize that some brothers and sisters in Christ desire to exercise what are commonly known as the revelatory gifts and sign gifts (speaking in tongues, interpreting tongues, prophesying, apostleship, word of wisdom, word of knowledge, working miracles, gifts of healing). We believe these gifts to have been foundational in their purpose (Ephesians 2:20), revelatory in their nature, and confirmatory in their function for the generation of apostolic witnesses (Hebrews 2:1-4). Whether or not these gifts are still operable today is debatable even by followers of Christ whose scholarship is comparable. Our church recognizes the interpretative ambiguity and thus we stop short of saying that these gifts have ceased but do require that if they are employed, it be done in private and not in any of the public gatherings of Countryside.
In addition, there are some brothers and sisters in Christ who teach that after a person comes to faith in Jesus, they are to then seek to be "baptized in the Spirit." Meaning, the initial evidence that a person is a true follower of Christ is “speaking in tongues.” We believe this interpretation to exceed the boundaries of Scripture.