What We Believe
Our Beliefs
About us
Bemiss United Methodist Church is part of the United Methodist tradition in which we bear witness to Jesus Christ as the center of the church’s life. As United Methodists, we believe God’s grace is essential to our faith. "Grace" means God loves us even when we think we don’t deserve it. At Bemiss UMC, we believe that no matter who you are or what you’ve done, there is a place for you here. We believe in new beginnings, friends that become family, and the radical love of Jesus that breaks down all barriers.
United Methodists share a common heritage with all Christians. According to our foundational statement of beliefs in the UMC Book of Discipline, we share the following basic affirmations in common with all Christian communities:
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The Trinity
We describe God "in three persons." Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are commonly used to refer to the threefold nature of God.
Sometimes we use other terms such as Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer.
God
We believe in one God, who created the world and all that is in it. We believe that God is sovereign; that is, God is the ruler of the universe.
We believe that God is loving and that we all can experience God’s love and grace.
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Jesus
We believe that Jesus was both human and divine. He lived as a man and died when he was crucified. He is also the Son of God.
We believe that God raised Jesus from the dead after he was crucified on the cross and that the risen Christ lives today. We believe that Jesus is our Savior. In Christ we receive abundant life and forgiveness of sins. We believe that Jesus is our Lord and that we are called to pattern our lives after His.
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is what comforts us when we are in need and convicts us when we stray from God. We believe that the Holy Spirit awakens us to God’s will and empowers us to live obediently.
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Human Beings
We believe that God created human beings in His image. We believe that humans can choose to accept or reject a relationship with God. We believe that all humans need to be in relationship with God in order to be fully human.
The Church
We believe that the church is the body of Christ, an extension of Christ’s life and ministry in the world today.
We believe that the mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. We believe that the church is “the communion of saints,” a community made up of all past, present, and future disciples of Christ. We believe that the church is called to worship God and to support those who participate in its life as they grow in faith.
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The Bible
We believe that the Bible is God’s Word. We believe that the Bible is the primary authority for our faith and practice.
We believe that Christians need to know and study the Old Testament and the New Testament (the Hebrew Scriptures and the Christian Scriptures).
The Kingdom of God
We believe that the kingdom of God is both a present reality and future hope. We believe that wherever God’s will is done, the kingdom of God is present. It was present in Jesus’ ministry, and it is also present in our world whenever persons and communities experience reconciliation, restoration, and healing.
We believe that the fulfillment of God’s kingdom–the complete restoration of creation–is still to come. We believe that the church is called to be both witness to the vision of what God’s kingdom will be like and a participant in helping to bring it to completion. We believe that the reign of God is both personal and social. Personally, we display the kingdom of God as our hearts and minds are transformed and we become more Christ-like. Socially, God’s vision for the kingdom includes the restoration and transformation of all of creation.
The Sacraments
Like most other Protestants, United Methodists recognize those sacraments in which Jesus himself participated: baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
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Baptism
For United Methodists, baptism joins us with the church and with Christians everywhere. It’s a symbol of new life and a promise of God’s saving love… and a sign of God’s forgiveness for our sins.
Baptism may happen at any age - from infant to adult - and may be conducted either by sprinkling or immersion in holy water. A person receives this sacrament only once in his or her life.
We recognize baptisms from all Christian traditions.
The Lord's Supper (holy Communion)
The Lord’s Supper was a holy meal of bread and wine that Jesus shared with his disciples the night before he died. It symbolizes the body and blood of Christ and celebrates the unity of all the members of God’s family. By sharing this meal, we give thanks for Christ’s sacrifice and are empowered to go into the world in mission and ministry.
We practice “open Communion,” welcoming all to participate who love Christ, repent of their sin, and seek to live in peace with one another.
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Salvation
Jesus Christ came to reconcile us to God. He lived a life without sin and willingly died on the cross for our transgressions. God raised him from the dead and now, by grace, offers the free gift of liberation and salvation from sin to all who follow Christ, by faith, as their Lord and Savior.
More Information
Learn more about our United Methodist beliefs by clicking here to visit the United Methodist Church's main website.
