What we believe as a ministry is commonly known as church doctrine. This serves as the fundamental unifying statement that is designed to provide clarity and understanding to all who want to know how this ministry understands and applies Biblical precepts.  Our doctrine is the foundation by which we as a ministry and body of believers serve God. Shiloh Military Ministries doctrinal statement is organized into categories, however, it is essential to recognize that while presented in sections, the doctrine espoused here must be understood in unity, as the sections are interrelated and interdependent.

The Scriptures

Every word in the original writings that comprise the Protestant Bible (66 books beginning with Genesis and ending with Revelation), is the inspired Word of God and is without error. It is accurate in all matters to which it speaks (spiritual, historical, and scientific) and is presented in various forms ranging from poetry and history to prophecy. The Scriptures consist of 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books which are the foundation of the faith and practice at all Shiloh Military Ministries locations. (II Tim. 3:16; II Pet. 1:21)

Law

Jesus Christ came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill the law.  In that, SMM recognizes that the law articulated in the Bible falls into categories: the Law, which is the law common to all mankind which provides for the moral basis for all people in all times and which stands to condemn all people who have not received the gift of eternal life; the civil law ordained by God for the people of Israel in their ascendency as a nation; the ceremonial law which governed the conduct of the religious order in Israel before the coming of Jesus and which served as a symbol for the world of the relationship between God and mankind; the law of fellowship which governs the roles, responsibilities, and duties of Christians. 

God

God exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The three have distinct personalities and yet are of the same substance, one God. We believe that God is one. (Gen. 1:1; John 10:30; John 4:24; Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; II Cor. 13:14) 

Man

Man is created in the image and likeness of God. In Adam, all mankind fell into sin with the result that all men are sinners. All people are justly condemned to eternal judgment and can do nothing to merit salvation. (Rom. 2:2,3,5; Eph.  2:8,9; Gen. 1:27, 9:6; Rom. 3:23; 5:12; Eph. 2:1)

Jesus Christ

The eternal Son of God became incarnate in the Lord Jesus Christ, being born of the virgin Mary, and is true and fully God and was true and fully man. He died physically on the cross and was bodily resurrected three days later, and thereafter bodily ascended to heaven. He is the way, the truth and the life and no one can come to God except through Jesus. (John 1:1, 14, 18; 5:18; Heb. 1:1-9; 5:8; I John 5:20; I Tim. 2:5; I Cor. 15:1-5)

Salvation

Salvation is given to those people who are chosen by God and drawn to Christ by the Holy Spirit. The only means to their salvation is belief in Christ’s substitutionary death and resurrection. (Acts 4:12; 13:38,39; I Cor. 15:1-4; Rom. 4:4,5; 5:1; John 3:16; Eph. 2:8,9; Acts 16:31; Eph. 1:4,5; Rom. 8:29,30)

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He regenerates, indwells, baptizes, counsels and seals all believers in Christ at the point of faith in Christ, and empowers those who are yielded to God.  (Matt. 28:19; John 3:3-7; Titus 3:5; I Cor. 6:19; Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 2:12; 12:13; Eph. 4:30; Col. 3:14)

Election

Salvation is given to those men and women chosen (election and predestination) by God and drawn to Christ by the Holy Spirit.  God’s election of those that will be saved was made without thought to any merit of the individual and was made prior to the creation of the world.  We believe that, owing to universal death through sin, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless born again; and that no degree of reformation however great, no attainments in morality however high, no culture however attractive, no baptism or other ordinance however administered, can help the sinner to take even one step toward heaven; but a new nature imparted from above, a new life implanted by the Holy Spirit through the Word is absolutely essential to salvation.  Thus, it can be said that our justification is wrought solely by the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross as He died in our place.  (John 6:44; Rom. 5:6-9, 9:10-29; Eph. 1:4-8; Phil. 3:4-9; Col. 1:13-14; Titus 3:5; James 1:18, 1 Pet. 1:18-21)

Sanctification

Every believer is promised positional, progressive, and ultimate sanctification. This is not the same as justification, which occurs at the point of salvation. Each believer is called to continue in the process of being sanctified. To grow in sanctification, the believer must submit their lives to the work of the Holy Spirit and allow Him; not outside sources to control them. All believers should strive to walk in a manner worthy of their calling.  People who assert that they are a follower of Jesus but who reject to grow in the sanctification process may not serve as leaders in ministry. (Heb. 10:10,14; John 17:15-17; Eph. 4:1-3, 5:18, 5:26-27; I Thess. 4:3,4; I John 3:2; I Cor. 6:11; Rom. 8:29) 

Assurance

All who are born of the Spirit through faith in Christ can have assurance of salvation and are eternally secure in Christ. (Rom. 5:1; I John 5:13; John 10:27-29; 17:12; II Tim. 1:12; Eph. 4:30; John 6:37)

Church

The church is composed of all believers. It is the body and bride of Christ, formed by the baptism of the Holy Spirit and existing in two aspects, universal and local. The universal church is an elect company of believers, baptized by the Holy Spirit into one body. Its mission is to worship the head of the church, Jesus Christ, through bearing witness to all people and all nations. It stands as the earthly Body of Christ that bears witness to His love and state as being alive though not physically present. The church is not limited to a particular denomination, and it will be caught up to meet the Lord, after which He will return to set up His Kingdom. Local churches are comprised of groups of believers who are voluntarily joined together in love to worship God with praise and thanksgiving, and to glorify Jesus Christ through an aggressive effort to disciple others by the preaching of the gospel, and the exercise of spiritual gifts.

SMM can be described as fundamental, evangelical, non-charismatic and denominationally unrelated. (Eph. 1:22,23; 5:24-30; I Cor. 12:4-13,27)

Gifts

Spiritual gifts are God-given abilities for service and are provided to people for the equipping of the saints for the work of service to the building up of the body of Christ.  (Eph. 4:1-16; I Cor. 12:7,11; I Pet. 4:10; Rom. 12:1-6).  All believers receive at least one spiritual gift, but not one gift is universal to all believers. (1 Cor 12:7, 11, 12-31)

Christian Life

Christians are called to a holy life of service and testimony in the power of the Holy Spirit, which service includes the propagation of the gospel message to the whole world.  There is promised reward in heaven for their faithfulness in such service, which is distinct from the promise of heaven found only in grace through faith. Christians are called to live a Christlike life, to adhere to the mandates of the Bible, to love universally, and to be circumspect in their choices. Christians are called to fellowship with each other, to sit under sound teaching, to be discipled, and to make disciples. (I Pet. 1:15, 16; Acts 1:8; I Cor. 3:12-17; John 14:1-3)

Ordinances

The Bible sets forth two ordinances, the Lord’s Supper, and water baptism. The Lord’s Supper is to be celebrated regularly in remembrance of Christ’s death on the cross, and in expectation of His return. Water baptism is an outward testimony of a person’s belief in Christ. Immersion is the ideal means set forth in Scripture. In this, we believe that these are specific ordinances provided by God but are not sacraments. There is no act that can be taken by any person that merits favor or salvation. No person is saved by participating in the ordinances; however, they serve as marks of obedience by those who follow Jesus. (Matt. 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16; Acts 8:12,36-38; 9:18; 10:47; I Cor. 11:23-26)

Angels

Angels were originally created holy, but now because of Satan’s rebellion, there is also an unholy angelic kingdom. (Col. 1:16; Job 38:6,7; Ps. 148:2-5; Jude 6; Matt. 25:41; Eph. 6:11,12; I Tim. 5:21; Rev. 12:9)

Dispensations

God has revealed different dispensations or stewardships with corresponding rules of life, of which the present dispensation is the stewardship of grace. (Eph. 3:2-6,9-11; Col. 1:25-27; Rom. 6:14; Heb. 7:18,19)

Second Coming

There is no earthly thing that must happen before Christ returns.  His return may be described today truly as “at hand” just as it was true that it was “at hand” in the first century. Jesus will return without warning and will do so in a series of distinct events.  The events of the return of Christ take place in the following order: the rapture of the church, the tribulation, the second advent, the establishment of the reign of Christ on earth for one thousand years, and finally the eternal state of punishment for the unsaved and the eternal state of blessing for the saved.  (Titus 2:13; I Thess. 1:10; 4:13-18; 5:4-10; John 14:1-3; Matt. 24:21, 29, 30; 25:31-46; Rev. 3:10, 20:1-6; 11-15)

Giving

We believe that financial giving is to be led by the grace of God, to the glory of God.  Its purpose is to further God’s work by supporting the church, His vocational ministers, widows, orphans, and those in need.  It is never to be done begrudgingly or under compulsion but with great joy from a cheerful heart.  Giving is a great privilege that God calls all believers to. (2 Cor 8 and 9 is the guideline for New Testament giving as well as: Gal 6:6; James 1:27; 2:15-17)

Marriage

God designed, ordained, and established marriage to be a union of one biological man and one biological woman for life. Men and women are created in God’s image and procreation along with companionship is one of the joys of a Christ centered marriage. The husband and wife are to be sexually committed to one another for life and be considerate of the other’s needs.  Marriage represents the relationship that Christ has to His church and should be held in high esteem. (Gen. 2:18, 1:28; 1 Cor 7:1-5; Heb 13:4; Eph 5:22-33)

Role Distinction

We believe that both men and women are created in the image of God. We believe both men and women are fully equal and are empowered by God to fulfill specific, distinct, and complementary missions within the family and church.  This role distinction is known as complementarianism.  We believe the Bible teaches that the men in the church bear the responsibility to provide spiritual leadership and training, thus the office of elder/pastor/teacher is reserved for men only (I Tim. 3:1-7). The women are to exercise their spiritual gifts in any way that Scripture allows—the only prohibition is “to teach or to assume authority over a man” (1 Tim. 2:12).

We believe this doctrine applies to our military ministries as well.  Thus, only men will teach and have authority in co-ed groups in SMM. This distinction does not carry over to secular structures in that there is no biblical prohibition against a woman having authority in a civil government, society, or private enterprise. SMM affirms that this complementarian position comes directly from Scripture and applies to Christians in the governance of Christians in SMM, in a church, in a ministry, and in the family. (Gen 1:26-28; 2:18-23; Gen 3:1-6, 16-19; 1 Tim 2:12-14; Eph 5:22-33)

Purity

Sexual purity is defined as abstaining from sexual relations of any kind outside of marriage and can only be truly found within the confines of marriage between one biological man and one biological woman.  Any sexual relations outside of marriage in any context is sin and dishonors God and is not to be practiced among believers. SMM affirms that all people experience temptation to violate the standard that defines God’s calling to sexual purity; however, the rebellion against God’s moral law as manifest in willingly engaging in, refusing to repent from, embracing, or celebrating sexual sin stands as a refusal to follow God’s Word and as a rejection of clear Biblical teaching. (Rom 1:26-27)