Philosophy and Statement of Faith

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Philosophy

LightHouse World Evangelism, Inc. (LHWE) recognizes the primacy of the spiritual truth revealed in the Bible and incarnate in Jesus Christ, and acknowledges that all truth, wherever it is found, is of God.  All truth finds its unity in God.  LHWE also recognizes the role of the Holy Spirit in interpreting God’s truth in accordance with the words of the Lord Jesus Christ who instructed His disciples that “when He, the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).

LHWE recognizes that the Father has shown us truth through Christ in nature, history, and above all, in Scripture.  Thus the Bible, as the authoritative Word of God, is central in the quest for knowledge.  Its principles and precepts are integrated throughout the ministry life of LHWE, its seminars and are foundational in the ministries basic philosophy of evangelism.

Statement of Faith

WE BELIEVE-

Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the Son of God; He was eternally preexistent with the Father and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity; He became incarnate as the virgin born Savior of the world; that by His sinless life, atoning death on the Cross and through His bodily resurrection He completed God’s sole plan for the redemption of fallen humanity; Jesus is the King of Glory, who is now ascended to the right hand of God as His Majesty on high, where He ever lives to make intercession for us, and from whence He will return to earth again to reign in righteousness.
(Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1, 10:36-38; Acts 1:9-11, 2:33-36; 1 Corinthians 15:3-5; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 7:24-26, 9:26)

These truths are revealed in the Holy Bible, which is the Holy Spirit inspired and infallible Word of God contained in the books of the Old and New Testament, inerrant as given in their original form; that the Word is the conclusive and final authority provided to humankind, revealing the ultimate Way, the Truth, and the Life – Who alone can satisfy our need and hunger.
(Matthew 5:8; John 5:39, 14:6; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 3:16-17)

The Scriptures join with God’s revelation of Himself in His Messiah and in His Creation to show us the goodness and glory of the Eternal Godhead – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; Creator and Sustainer of all things visible and invisible, as revealed in the scriptures; the everywhere present, almighty, all-knowing – all-loving One, whose benevolent laws have framed humankind’s promise and potential, and whose redeeming grace alone provides for humankind’s salvation and restoration.
(John 1:3, 14:16-21,26; 16:12-15; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:16,17; 1 Timothy 1:17, 2:3-6; Titus 2:11; Hebrews 1:1-3; 1 John 4:15-16; Revelation 1:8)

The Gospel is the full message of His salvation and restoration; announcing that forgiveness of sin, restoration unto the Father’s will and the promise of eternal life are available through repentance and faith in Jesus, the Savior; that this faith brings new birth into the Kingdom of God whereby the Creator’s loving purpose for each individual may be realized by the power of the Holy Spirit.
(John 3:3-7; Acts 16:31, 26:17-20; Romans 1:16, 10:8-10,13: Titus 3:5-7; Hebrews 6:1-2)

The Church is constituted of all those who have believed and received the Gospel; that the global Church’s essential unity is to be rooted in our mutual acknowledgement of the Saviorhood and Lordship of Jesus, the Messiah; that each community and ethnicity within the global Church should receive the respect and acceptance of the other, allowing one another the liberty of doctrinal distinctive, cultural uniqueness or ministry emphasis in the spirit of love and brotherhood.
(John 13:34,35; 15:12-13; Acts 2:36; Romans 15:7; I Corinthians 8:1-3, 12:3; Galatians 3:26-29; Ephesians 2:19-23, 4:1-6; I Thessalonians 4:9-12; I John 4:7-21)

The whole Church is commissioned by Her Lord to take the whole Gospel to the whole world, declaring the message that all may be reconciled to God in Jesus’ Name; that even as Jesus, the Son, was sent as our Redeemer from heaven, the Holy Spirit has been sent to enable the living Church to spread this good news, to minister the love of God in every way consistent with His will and truth.
(Matthew 5:13-16, 24:14, 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; John 16:7-15; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21)

The fullness of the Holy Spirit is the fountainhead of the Church’s capacity for witness and ministry; that as the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit, Jesus Himself directs each of His own to receive His power from on high, that each being filled today in the same way as the earliest believers we may work the same works today, in Jesus’ Name; that the gifts, fruit, and power of the Spirit are essential for the Gospel of the Kingdom to be preached to all the world for a witness, and then the end shall come.
(Matthew 3:11, 24:14; Luke 3:16, 24:48,49; John 14:12, 20:21-23; Acts 1:4-8, 2:1-4; Romans 12:5-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Galatians 5:22,23)

According to the Scriptures, the end of all things is at hand; that vital believers will always balance their care and service of life’s most practical daily issues with their warm expectation of the imminent return of their Savior from heaven; that at His return He will judge the living and the dead according to the righteousness of God, each one receiving their just reward of either eternal gain or eternal loss.
(John 5:28-29; Romans 14:10-12; 2 Timothy 4:1; 1 Peter 4:7; 2 Peter 3:11-14; 1 John 3:2,3; Revelation 20:11-15)

The above affirmations of faith are founded on the revelation of God’s Word and are reaffirmed in the following statements:

  • We believe in the Trinity of the Eternal Godhead
    —Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, perfect in unity as Creator, Redeemer, and Restorer of Humankind.
  • We believe in the plenary verbal inspiration of the Bible
    —the completed canon of the Old and New Testaments, inerrant in the original manuscripts and infallible in its truth for faith and life.
  • We believe in the creation of the universe, the fashioning of earth for human habitation, and the historicity of primeval history as presented in the Scriptures.
  • We believe in the literal existence of the devil and in the reality of the invisible war against demonic hosts who seek to tempt and separate humankind from the Father.
  • We believe in the literal reality of each—the virgin birth, reconciling death, bodily resurrection, personal ascension, and promised Second Coming of Jesus, the Messiah.
  • We believe in the essential unity of the Church under the Saviorhood and Lordship of Christ, with a commitment to respond to His prayer “that they may be one” in the Spirit of humility and love.
  • We believe in the Savior’s great commission to go into all the world preaching the Gospel, baptizing, and making disciples.
  • We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit’s gifts and works of power and through the Church, beginning with the believer’s receiving the Baptism with the Holy Spirit as at the beginning.
  • We believe in showing love and good works toward all humanity in serving human need, that the Gospel not be reproached, and that God’s love be seen in practice as well as proclamation.
  • We believe in the final judgment of all humankind into eternal union or eternal separation from God; ministering in this light with the passion of those who believe that

    “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

    LightHouse World Evangelism, Inc. subscribes to the historic creeds of the Church, including the Apostle’s Creed and Nicene Creed, and to the Statement of Faith of the National Association of Evangelicals (USA), and to the Declaration of Faith of the Pentecostal Charismatic Churches of North America.

LHWE Standards of Conduct

Recognizing LightHouse World Evangelism, Inc. as a community of believers, the ministry expects its interns, volunteers, and LHWE team members to exemplify biblical standards of conduct in all areas of their lives, both in and out of the office, and in interpersonal and community relationships.  The ministry expects its members to demonstrate integrity in their personal lives and in their academic or professional work, and to show respect, concern, and proper behavior towards their colleagues and those in authority.

The LHWE Code of Conduct is a central criterion of behavior for all who are a part of The LHWE community.  It represents a standard of Christian maturity based upon a biblical philosophy, reverence for God, esteem for humankind, and personal integrity.

Recognizing that preparation for and involvement in Christian service requires personal commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ, LHWE expects all members of its community to seek spiritual growth and maturity in their Christian life. The following are expected of community members:

    1. Study the Word of God.  Regular and consistent personal study of the Word is essential for spiritual growth.  I Peter 2:2 encourages us to “long for the pure milk of the Word.”  The Word has the power to reach the inner most parts of our being (Hebrews 4:12) and to enable us to stand firm for Christ (Ephesians 6:17)
    2. Communion with the Father.  Christianity is essentially a love relationship with the living God (James 4:8).  To personally know the Father we must have communion with Him. Jesus Christ gave us the example to pray regularly and consistently. The Apostle Paul encourages us to “pray continually” (I Thessalonians 5:17) including prayer in the Spirit (I Corinthians 13).
    3. Discipleship.  Paul instructs believers to “join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us” (Philippians 3:17).  Discipleship is developing personal relationships for spiritual goals.  Community members are encouraged to form personal friendships, structured accountability relationships, and/or small groups.
    4. Church Attendance.  Hebrews 10:25 instructs believers not to forsake “assembling together.”  It is expected that all members of The LHWE community will establish a church home and regularly attend worship services.
    5. Christian Ministry.  The Father has called every believer to do the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:16-18).  The Word declares “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10).  It is anticipated that all members of the community will be involved in some expression of Christian service and that all are encouraged to exercise spiritual edification of gifts for the body.

Recognizing that preparation for and involvement in Christian service requires a lifestyle consistent with an effective Christian witness and one which exemplifies a life of integrity and Christian values, the following are expected of community members:

    1. Maintain a blameless testimony.  Scripture declares that God has created all persons in His image (Genesis 1:26) and that we are not to be conformed to this world (Romans 12:2), but are to be “holy in all” our conduct (I Peter 1:15,16).  To maintain a blameless testimony as Christian leaders, interns, volunteers, and employees should not participate in fornication, adultery, homosexual activities, profanity, obscenity, and dishonesty including plagiarism, or use pornography, illegal drugs or addictive substances.
    2. Respect for Peers and Authority.  LHWE expects every member of the community to demonstrate love, respect, and honor to all other members of the community, whether it is with one’s colleagues or with those in authority (Romans 12:10, I John 4:21, I Peter 2:17, Hebrews 13:16,17).
    3. Discrimination/Harassment.  In valuing the rights of all individuals and their contributions (I Corinthians 10:24), we acknowledge all forms of discrimination to be violation of God’s laws (Acts 10:34).  LHWE is committed to providing a working environment that is free of discrimination.  In keeping with this commitment, unlawful harassment, including sexual harassment, is strictly prohibited.
    4. Dating and Marriage.  LHWE expects the highest standard of moral purity to be maintained by members of its community regarding both dating and marriage.  God’s Word does not condone either pre- or extra-marital sexual activity (I Thessalonians 4).
    5. Appearance and Dress.  Scripture calls believers to be examples to those around them (I Timothy 4:12) and to give no offense to others (I Corinthians 10:32).  Thus LHWE requires its members to follow the standard of modesty in dress and appearance.  We should never allow our appearance to be a stumbling block to another.