We are nondenominational. When our fellowship began in the 50's, it was out of a desire to follow Christ as individuals and as a local church according to New Testament principles.
If Scripture instructed something be done a certain way (elders having certain qualifications, for example) or indicated in general that the early church did something that we could follow (meeting on the first day of the week), we did.
If there were things Christ instructed (remembering Him in the Lord's Supper) but the style or frequency wasn't mentioned, we made sure we did what was commanded (remember Him) in a way that matched up with other Scripture (let all things be done decently and in order). From there, we do things in a way that makes sense to our body of believers. We want to provide enough of a framework so that what we do is relevant, but not so much that we are tradition-bound.
So, we simply claim Scripture as our guide and filter and don't claim any name other than Christ. Our desire is to follow Him as a group of believers, not have alignment or allegiance to a humanly organized group.
There are other New Testament assemblies in the area - (Nashville, Donelson, etc.) and we partner with them in supporting Horton Haven Christian Camp in Chapel Hill, and we keep up with what the others are doing, and we love and pray for each other, but we have no formal connection or governance.
So, when you visit on a Sunday, you're hearing what our leadership believes our congregation needs to hear, understand and experience.
Now, this relates to the second question. We don't have a pastor (i.e., one man with that title who does all the preaching and leading and visitation and approving) because Scripture doesn't describe that role in church leadership.
The Bible outlines expectations and partial roles of elders and deacons, as well as the ministry roles of all believers in the church. So we are led and governed by (currently) six elders and six deacons (the number fluctuates by need) who meet the qualifications outlined in Scripture.
These leaders function as pastors, plural, in shepherding and leading the congregation together. Decisions are made together, with no significant action taken without all being in agreement. There's no voting anybody down or faction-leading. Sometimes this can slow down the implementation of new ideas, but it helps keep us Scriptural.
The rest of us function as believers with various abilities, gifts, talents, desires and convictions. Nobody has to get approval from a board to do something, but we aren't Lone Rangers, either.
You won't find anyone at the Chapel who criticizes other churches for having pastors - just like the Bible doesn't prohibit driving cars, it doesn't prohibit a pastorship. But we believe that sticking with a plurality of leadership helps us avoid "the cult of personality" and the challenges that come with one person being the leader, the gatekeeper, the hospital visitor and the most overworked person in the body. We all pitch in and all of us do all of those things.
That being said, we do have people in visible positions of leadership. Currently, three men share our pulpit, preaching on various topics and Scripture passages. I serve in leading the music team and coordinating much of the Sunday morning service. We have a youth minister and a secretary/bookkeeper, and all of us have specific responsibilities and areas of expertise.
But during the week and behind the scenes, you'd find the speakers hearing from the elders about what will be preached, the elders asking me to accomplish a certain thing in the service, and my going to the speakers to learn their goals so I can support them...that kind of thing.
A true plurality of leadership can and does work if you want it to and allow the Lord Jesus to be the ultimate Head of the church. If we all defer to Him and work with each other, we'll be fine.
Hope this answers your questions (long-windedly), and hope you'll come see us sometime.
Thanks.
Simply put, whatever the Bible calls sin, we at New Heights call sin. Scripture, both the Old and New Testaments, indicates that homosexual behavior (male-male or female-female) is contrary to God's standard (which is the simple definition of sin). God demonstrated His pattern for couples by creating male-female relationships and sexual fulfillment in marriage. Nothing outside that has ever obtained His approval.
As such, homosexual behavior is sin. And as such, it can be forgiven.
Any sin, at its root, is simply an attempt to meet legitimate needs illegitimately. God created people to fellowship with Him; but the first man and first woman chose their own thinking and preferences over God's. That first sin killed their spiritual life, separating them from free, full fellowship with God. Eve wanted to have what she thought God was withholding. Adam wanted to please his wife more than He wanted to please God. Together, they went on to produce physically living but spiritually dead children.
Several quadrillion sins later, the human race is no closer (or farther) from God than Adam and Eve were after one act of disobedience. Each of us still chooses our own way, follows our feelings instead of God's revealed path, and suffers through consequences we were never intended to experience.
So, if homosexual behavior is a sin and is forgiven, does that mean we believe homosexuals can be "fixed" through reparative therapy or other means?
Well, yes and no. When a person becomes a Christian, regardless of what addictions, problems, habits or needs are present, that person becomes a new creature. The old has passed away, the new has come, and the new person in Christ has a new standing before God. A new child of God is not the rebellious person s/he was before.
However, physically, emotionally, sexually and habitually, homosexual longings and identifications are immensely complicated. If these were just physical, patches or hypnosis or new habits could change outlook and behavior.
But deep down, homosexuality is also a pursuit of something other than God - it is an effort to find one's self-identity and acceptance and love in another person. It is not just sex or a relationship. It is misplaced worship. Which explains why God condemns it.
Yes, we believe some people are healed, delivered or changed - whatever word you prefer - from homosexuality and its accompanying desires and feelings. But many more people formerly involved with homosexual behaviors, who come to Christ, experience a purpose they didn't have before and a strength to resist what they now know is wrong, not an eradication of one brand of lust.
Which brings me to this. Even if reparative therapy is pursued, the Healer is Christ. He knows the desires and needs and will meet them in His own way. It is only through a relationship with Him that homosexuality is revealed to be a cheap substitute for what God intended. And the ultimate goal for anyone is not heterosexuality, but holiness.
I hope this helps, though I may have gone on a wild tangent or two. Thanks again for writing, and feel free to get in touch if you'd like to talk about this more.
Re spiritual gifts: yes, we absolutely believe in the existence and functionality of spiritual gifts as taught in Scripture. We believe that God desires to give every Christian at least one gift to confirm that someone is saved...as a sign to the Jews...and to edify and perfect the Church. These gifts are listed in Romans 12, I Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4.
We believe sign gifts like prophecy, tongues, and healing were given to the early church to establish the credibility of its message. With the completion of the New Testament those gifts, though perhaps still existing, had fulfilled their primary purpose. However, many of the gifts are still valid today and each believer should desire and seek gifts from the Holy Spirit in order to be used, to develop and to equip the Body of Christ.
Often, the primary question regarding spiritual gifts is, "do you speak in tongues in your services?" The answer is no, it's not a practice that we seek; but neither is it one that we criticize or condemn, because after all, it is in Scripture and came from the Holy Spirit. We do not rely on it in our public gatherings as evidence of the Spirit's presence or control.
Re baptism: at New Heights Chapel, we wait until children are old enough to believe and understand the true meaning of baptism before we baptize them. We encourage and practice baptism as a public confession of a personal commitment to Christ. We baptize believers by immersion.
Re music in our services: we now have a music page on this website, though it may not answer all questions. We do use musical instruments in our services; while our goal is not to have a performing "band," current songs demand sounds other than what piano or organ can provide.
Currently, we use a grand piano, electronic keyboard, two acoustic guitars, an electric and/or bass guitar, and drums to support vocalists on the platform and the congregation. We use different combinations of instruments (including none), depending on what a song needs.
Hope all this helps! If anybody needs specific questions answered, feel free to email info (at) newheightschapel.com or call 890-2004.
Thanks! DN
Thank you and God Bless.
Mare
When I read your statement of faith, I felt a continued kinship with you all, though I have not seen any of you in 40 years. Debbie and I live in Reedley, CA with our husbands and are active in our Mennonite Bretheren Church. May Jesus Christ be praised.
