Faith: "the evidence of things not seen"
“Without Faith it is Impossible to Please God”
Faith in the Bible
At East Coast church of Christ, our faith begins and ends with the Bible. We speak where the Bible speaks and keep silent where the Bible is silent. We aim to do Bible things in Bible ways and call Bible things by Bible names. In short, the Bible is our sole authority for who we are, what we do, and what we teach in this life (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Faith in Life
The Bible provides everything we need to know for this life (John 10:10). It teaches us how to live in harmony with ourselves, our fellow man, and with God the Father (2 Peter 1:3). The Bible shows us how to overcome the harmful things in life through the teachings of grace offered to all mankind (Titus 2:11-14). Our faith rests on these teachings to guide us in every aspect of life.
Faith in Doctrine
We provide clear and simple Bible teaching. We follow no creed created by men (Mark 7:8-9). Our goal is to cut through religious confusion and return to the pure source of truth—God’s Word. We carefully examine all we practice and teach to ensure it aligns with God’s authority, not human traditions. This is the foundation of our faith.
Faith in Worship
God commands us to worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). In our services, we partake of unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine to remember the death of Jesus until He returns (1 Corinthians 11:26). We offer members the opportunity to give freely and cheerfully as part of our worship (1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8). We pray to God through Jesus Christ, our Savior (Matthew 6:5-15; Colossians 3:17). Singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with heartfelt sincerity is also central to our worship (Ephesians 5:19; Hebrews 13:15). Our faith compels us to offer praise to God that is acceptable to Him.
Faith in Order
Our congregation operates simply and biblically. Each local congregation functions autonomously, as shown in Scripture (Romans 16:16). There is no earthly authority higher than the local congregation. Every congregation submits to the higher authority of the Bible (John 12:48).
Leadership within the congregation consists of elders who meet specific qualifications outlined in God’s Word (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-16). These elders serve collectively as the eldership, and no authority exists above them within the local body.
Deacons serve under the elders, managing tasks necessary for the congregation’s day-to-day operations. Like elders, deacons must meet biblical qualifications (1 Timothy 3:8-13). In congregations without elders, members submit to one another in unity (Ephesians 5:21). This order reflects our commitment to faith through biblical structure.
A Different Kind of Faith
We understand that our approach may seem different from what many recognize as “Christendom.” Yet, our faith calls us back to the Bible alone. If all churches disappeared today, someone could pick up a Bible in a thousand years, follow its teachings, and once again establish a congregation that looks like the one Jesus built in the first century. No denomination can claim this truth.
When asked what makes us different, our answer is simple: we follow only the Bible. We reject man-made traditions and embrace God’s teachings (Ephesians 5:11). Our worship, organization, and values reflect this commitment. Our desire is to return to the pure source—to be Christians only, as the Bible commands (John 8:31-32). This is the heart of our faith.