Frequently asked questions
We do what we do and teach what we teach because we believe these things to be biblical. But we also understand that some of it comes across as odd or mere traditionalism. Here are some brief answers to some of these questions. Come worship with us, and let’s talk more about it.
Why does the pastor wear a robe?
For similar reasons that doctors wear coats, cops uniforms, and judges robes—to represent the calling in a special way. The robe simply represents the office of minister and reminds everyone that he speaks on God’s behalf rather than his own opinions (2 Cor. 5:20). It’s about the Lord, not the pastor or his personality.
Why don’t you observe holidays like the 4th of July or Mother’s Day?
Ordinary holidays can be wonderful celebrations with family, friends, and neighbors. But Sunday is the Lord’s Day, sometimes called the Christian Sabbath, and the worship service is set aside specially for focusing on Jesus and his saving work for sinners like us.
Your service is very formal. Are you Roman Catholic?
The word “catholic” means universal. In this important way, we are catholic because we belong to Christ’s church across time and space. But we are not Roman Catholic. Our tradition is from the Protestant Reformation, which protested the abuses of the pope and the Roman church back in the 1500s.
Why are there so many different parts to your worship service?
Worship is a holy conversation between God and his people (like in Ps. 136). We believe each part of our service is biblical—whether a call to worship (Ps. 95:6), confession of faith (1 Tim. 3:16), songs (Eph. 5:19), preaching (2 Tim. 4:2), benediction (Num. 6:24–26), or others.
Why don’t you sing praise & worship songs?
The Bible itself tells us to “worship God acceptably with reverence and awe” (Heb. 12:28). We believe the best worship songs stick to this, which leads us to sing the Psalms (God wrote them!) and other biblically-rich songs.
Why does the pastor raise his hands during some parts of the service?
That’s what Jesus did when he blessed his followers (Luke 24:50). We believe Jesus still blesses us from heaven even today, and this happens formally through ministers of the Word during a service, specifically during God’s greeting (Rev. 1:4–5) and the benediction (2 Cor. 13:14).
Why do you baptize children, even babies?
Because baptism is a sign of the new covenant, and the children of believers belong to this covenant no less than their parents (Acts 2:38–39). Does the water regenerate kids (or anyone) automatically? No. But in baptism, God himself proclaims the gospel to us and our children and formally brings us into his church.
You repeat a lot of the same things week-to-week. Isn’t that just dead religion?
Jesus forbids “vain repetitions” (Matt. 6:7), not repetition altogether. In order to get good at anything, we have to learn repetition—times tables for math, dribbling for basketball, routines for a job. Why should we abandon this principle in worship? The Bible doesn’t (see Ps. 136; Matt. 6:9–13; Rev. 4:8).
Why do the kids stay in your service?
Because they were in the services of the early church, and because the church is the context where our covenant children learn faith and obedience. That’s why Paul gives children a command and a promise in Ephesians 6:1–2.
Why are the Ten Commandments read during the service? We’re not under the law anymore.
We’re no longer under the condemnation of the law. But the Ten Commandment express God’s unchanging moral standard. All 10 of them are repeated & interpreted in the New Testament, and they guide us in our obedience to the Lord.
Sometimes in the service, everyone reads from a catechism. Why?
A catechism is just a teaching tool for Christians in the form of questions & answers, used to pass down the teachings of the Christian faith. We use the Heidelberg Catechism, a faithful summary of Scripture’s doctrines. To remind us of these core teachings, sometimes we recite parts of the catechism during the service.
Do you speak in tongues at church?
“Tongues" in Acts 2 were the languages of the nations. The miracle was that the Spirit gave the disciples the ability to preach the gospel in languages they did not previously know. In 1 Cor. 14, the tongues being spoken were also known languages (vv. 6-13). Paul’s point is that the worship needs to be done in a language that everyone knows, or else an interpreter needs to be present. It isn't about ecstatic utterances, but about people understanding the gospel.
Do you practice faith-healing?
God does whatever he pleases (Ps. 115:3). If he chooses to heal, then amen! But the healing ministry of Jesus and the Apostolic community was for confirming the authenticity of their message (Heb. 2:1–4). We believe, along with the overwhelming majority of Christians in history, that once the foundation of Scripture was laid (Eph. 2:20) these gifts were no longer necessary. By faith, our souls are healed in this life. But the Lord may delay the healing of our bodies until the resurrection. Until then, these trials are meant to strengthen our faith in the Lord until he returns (James 1:2–4; 5:13–15).
DO YOU TEACH THAT Christians receive a second blessing of the Holy Spirit?
A couple times in Acts, Christians receive the Spirit sometime after believing in Jesus (like in 19:1-6). But this had to do with whether or not an apostle was present to lay hands. Ordinarily, there is no gap in this timeframe and no special second blessing that comes later. Paul teaches this clearly when he says that all Christians have been blessed “with every spiritual blessing” (Eph. 1:3). In other words, if you believe in Jesus, you have the fullness of the Spirit. When we ask God to fill us with his Spirit, we are asking for an increase of the grace of the Spirit and of a deeper sense of his presence in our lives. And that is good news indeed.
Your service doesn’t feel very Spirit-filled
We believe that God the Holy Spirit promises to dwell in the Church and to be present with us powerfully when we worship, and these promises are certain whether we feel it or not (Eph. 2:22). It is our deeply-held conviction that the Spirit uses every element of the service—Word, singing, prayer, sacraments, blessings, etc.—to nourish, equip, and guide us so that we walk in step with Him (Gal. 5:25).