Creation
We believe that the world and everything in it was created in six literal 24 hour days in accordance with the account of creation found in Genesis chapters one through three, based on the normal usage of the Hebrew word for day, “yom,” which when used with a numeral refers to a period of twenty-four hours. It is used this way, for instance in Exodus 20:11. In addition, the Genesis account of Creation is referred to, without qualification, in the New Testament by Jesus, Paul, and Peter (Matthew 19:4-6; 1 Corinthians 11:8,9; 1 Timothy 2:13,14; 2 Peter 3:5,6). We further believe that the world was created perfect, and was subjected to corruption by the entrance of sin into the world through the Fall of Adam and Eve in Genesis chapter three, the guilt of which we share according to Romans 5:12.
Evolution
We believe that the Theory of Evolution is contrary to the teaching of the Word of God. We further believe that Theistic Evolution, far from reconciling the Biblical account with science, creates more problems for the Christian than it solves. For instance, in evolution, millions (billions) of years of death and decay would precede the appearance of humans on earth, yet the Genesis account teaches that sin, and its consequence, death, came into the world AFTER the creation of Adam and Eve as a result of their disobedience (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12). Furthermore, the fossil record cannot be reconciled with the order in which God created in Genesis chapter one. We do not reject the fossil record but believe it is more fully accounted for by the universal, worldwide flood of Genesis chapters six through eight. For this and other reasons we believe that theistic evolution is inconsistent with the Biblical record.
Marriage and Human Sexuality
We believe that the only Biblically legitimate marriage relationship (described as a joining in a “one-flesh” relationship) is that of one man to one woman. According to Genesis 1:26-28; 2:24 marriage is a monogamous, heterosexual, lifelong union. Genesis 2:24 is repeated several times in the New Testament (Matthew 19:4-8; Mark 10:7-9; Ephesians 5:31).
We further believe that all forms of sexual union outside of marriage, as described in the above paragraph, are sinful and perversions of God’s purposes for sex. This would include: pre-marital sex (fornication), adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, incest, and bestiality. By extension we believe that pornography and any attempts to alter one’s sexual identity by surgery or physical appearance are a rejection of God’s Word and as such sinful. (Genesis 2:24; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29; 1 Corinthians 5:1,9-11; 6:9-11)
Abortion and Euthanasia
We believe that human life begins at conception and that an unborn child at every stage of development from conception forward is fully human, thus any attempt to abort a fetus whether chemically or surgically is sin. God alone is sovereign over life and death (Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:41, 44; Psalm 51:5). For similar Biblical reasons we reject euthanasia. Since God is the author and sustainer of human life we have no right to decide that a person’s life is no longer worth living. The issue Biblically is not quality of life but the presence or sanctity of life. Therefore though death should not be prolonged (that is, when it is “imminent and inevitable” nothing is done to hasten death, but at a patient’s request nature is allowed to take its course), and life should not be prematurely ended (that is, death should not be hastened by the direct action of a doctor or another person to end the person’s life) even in the face of disability, pain, or depression. (Genesis 1:27; 5:1-2; Exodus 20:13)
Charismatic Movement
We believe that “sign gifts” such as speaking in tongues are not for today. We believe that God heals today but not through “healers” (those with a so-called gift of healing). We believe God is still in the business of the miraculous today but not through “miracle-workers” (those with a so-called spiritual gift of miracles). In the case of speaking in tongues, we base this belief upon: 1) the grammar and syntax of 1 Corinthians 13:8 (“where there are tongues they will be stilled”, a middle voice verb, which means that tongues will simply fade out of existence); 2) church history which shows that from the early church until the early 1900’s tongues only existed in heretical sects and the current movement of tongues speaking began in the early 1900’s on the basis of errant theology and a false prophecy; 3) the testimony of Hebrew 2:3,4 which infers that sign gifts were not experienced after the first generation of the church; and 4) a misunderstanding of the gift of tongues as it relates to salvation, and the ministries of the Spirit such as Baptism and Filling. Sign gifts, such as speaking in tongues, have often been a source of division rather than a source of unity within a church body; a source of spiritual pride rather than of humility. The gift of tongues, for instance, is only one of many gifts and in each case is listed as one of the least of the spiritual gifts, yet it is given undue prominence today as a sign of being saved, or Spirit-filled, or of having experienced the Baptism of the Spirit, or the sign of superior spiritual standing (though 1 Corinthians 12-14 challenges these assumptions). Overemphasis on spiritual gifts diminishes the important work of the Spirit in producing spiritual maturity and holy living in the believer (Galatians 5:13-26). For these reasons, we request that those who claim to possess these sign gifts not propagate their teachings or engage in their practice at any meetings or functions sanctioned by DRBC. While we respect our Pentecostal and Charismatic brothers and sisters in Christ, and appreciate their many admirable qualities, we believe that they are in error concerning these sign gifts.
