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In addition to general information about our church and our beliefs, we feel that it is important that we share some of the history of the church. Please follow this link to visit our history page, and click here to see the missionary families that our church supports.
The rest of this page is devoted to our "What We Believe and Why" pamphlet. The entire document, in an HTML format, can be found below.
What We Believe and Why
Table of Contents
Statement of Beliefs
Baptism: What it is and what it is not
Church Membership: What it is and what it is not
Definition of the Church
History of the Amwell Congregation
Conditions for Membership
Organization of the Church
Responsibility of Membership
Gifts
Amwell Church of the Brethren. Stockton, New Jersey. The little white church where the Sandbrook, Lambert and Dunkard Church Roads meet.
Established 1733
What We Believe And Why
Statement of Beliefs
Amwell takes as its cornerstone the belief that God wrote the Bible through forty different men on two continents over a period of 1600 years.
These men came from various backgrounds and stations in life. While each of them wrote one or more separate books, God molded all those books together making them one perfect book without error or
contradiction. It is from this changeless Bible that Amwell accepts the following teachings as absolute truth:
God created all things
God has a plan for all life
God has a plan for each human life
God is three separate and distinct individual persons:
- God the Father,
- God the Son, Jesus Christ,
- God the Holy Spirit.
These three are at the same time one person-God.
Jesus Christ was God in the flesh. He had a human mother and the God of Heaven was His Father. Through the Holy Spirit and this miraculous and mysterious union His mother, a
virgin, gave birth to Him.
Despite a life spent in doing good, He was put to death by crucifixion. This was no accident or rule of man. He died of His own free will, a gift of love to humanity.
His death bridged a gap that long existed between God and all of humanity.
God is sinless and we are not. In order for us to be in a right relationship with Him, we must be like Him - sinless. But that would be humanly impossible. That's the
gap that Jesus filled.
On the Cross He took upon Himself the sins of all humanity. He died so we can live.
Upon His death He was placed in a grave where He remained for three days.
After three days, Jesus miraculously came alive. He stepped through the grave clothes that bound Him and once again walked the Earth. There were many eyewitnesses to this
event.
Soon afterward Jesus left the planet earth and under His own power was transported physically to heaven.
But the story of Jesus doesn't end there for three reasons. First we expect Him to return to earth. We don't know when, but we believe it to be soon.
Second when Jesus left the earth, God sent someone to take His place on earth. That person is the Holy Spirit.
How He takes Jesus' place is the third reason the story of Jesus doesn't end at His departure from earth.
Each individual must at some point in his or her life make a life decision. The question that demands a decision is, "What will you do with Jesus?"
Our belief that Jesus' life, death and resurrection are the mechanisms chosen to bridge the gap between humanity and Himself is the bedrock of God's plan of salvation.
This belief in Jesus is followed by recognizing our sinful nature and asking God to forgive us of our sins and by inviting Jesus to take over our lives.
Jesus called this belief and invitation, "The New Birth."
We believe that after an individual has experienced the new birth, a spiritual maturing must take place. That day to day growth can only occur if certain steps are taken.
They consist of the following:
Soon after the new birth decision, which is an inward expression, a believer must make an outward expression of his faith - that outward, visible expression is called baptism.
The form baptism takes at Amwell is being put under water as a symbol of Jesus death and being brought out of the water as a symbol of His coming alive.
As food nurtures the physical body, so God has provided spiritual food to nurture the spiritual being born at the new birth.
That food consists of daily study of the Bible to learn about God, His plan for our lives and His life principles.
It also consists of prayer. The moment by moment dialogue between God and us in which we convey to Him our love for Him and express our concerns for others as well as ourselves.
God created us as social creatures that we would interact with one another and so it is natural that Christians should want to associate with one another.
Amwell provides many opportunities for the Christian family to get together throughout the week. At these times we share our joys and our sorrows. We support one another in
times of stress and difficulty.
Through our nearness, we let our spiritual Brothers and Sisters know they are neither alone nor on their own. God has put us together to love each other and one of the ways to
express that love is to be there when needed.
For example in sickness we will pray individually and collectively for the sick one. We will visit, send cards or call, and, if asked, we will as an act of faith lay hands on the
loved one and anoint them with oil to symbolically join ourselves to them at this special time. We will ask God to heal them if that is His will through the physician or the medicine or the bed rest or through
a direct touch from Him. We believe all healing is from God. He chooses the method of healing and if healing is not in His plan we pray that this loved one will have the strength and courage that comes
from God to accept his will.
There are two special observances at Amwell we believe are consistent with scripture and that add to spiritual maturity. They are:
Communion: a time of remembrance of Christ's suffering and death. A time of introspection - looking within ourselves through the
"eyes" of the Holy Spirit to determine our current relationship with God and man. If those relationships are not right, we resolve to make them right.
Love Feast: when we reenact the last supper of Christ which involves an act of humility - washing one another's feet, an act of unity - having a
meal together, and an act of consecration - taking communion.
The love feast epitomizes the balance we see as God's plan for our lives and reflects our concern for a right relationship to God and to others.
The beliefs enumerated above are an anchor to us in a swiftly changing world. They are not meant to fix us to our past but to navigate us through the issues and times before us.
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Baptism
What it is and what it is not
Baptism does not save a person. Only belief in Jesus does that: "...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved..." Acts 16:31
Baptism does not forgive sin (including original). Only Jesus' shed blood does that: "...and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all
sin." 1 John 1:76
Baptism is an outward symbol of an inward experience: First you accept Jesus Christ as savior, lord and king, then you are baptized so others
might identify you with Christ: "...and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized." Acts 18:86
Baptism symbolizes our identification with Jesus in his death and burial: "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were
baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death..." Romans 6:3,4a
Baptism symbolizes our identification with Jesus at His resurrection: "...like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should walk in newness of life." Romans 6:46
Baptism symbolizes our identification with Christ's body - the Church: "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body..." 1 Corinthians 12:13a
Who should be baptized? A person who believes in Jesus Christ as savior, lord and king and has invited him into his or her heart: (Peter speaking of
Gentile converts) "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" Acts 10:47
What is the method of baptism used at Amwell? We believe the Biblical method of baptism is immersion in water: "Jesus... went up straightway
out of the water" Matthew 3:16 "Philip and the eunuch... went down both into the water... and... they were come up out of the water..." Acts 8:38,39
The believer immersed in water is a sign to the world that he or she has died, been buried and resurrected and is now living for Jesus: "Buried with
him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him." Colossians 2:12
When in the baptismal water you are immersed three times: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Matthew 28:19
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Church Membership
What it is and what it is not
Definition of the Church
The Amwell Church of the Brethren does not perceive itself as THE CHURCH of Jesus Christ on earth, but, rather, as a part of the universal body of believers called the Church.
This is consistent with scripture. The Bible teaches there is the local body of believers: "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are
sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:" 1
Corinthians 1:2 "And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:" Philemon 1:2
universal body of believers: "Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the
Gentiles." Romans 16:4 "For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God." 1 Corinthians 15:9
The Church is not the building in which we meet; our brethren ancestors chose to call the building the meeting house, not the Church, for the Bible
teaches the Church is the people: "Now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular." 1 Corinthians 12:27
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History of the Amwell Congregation
Amwell is the fourth oldest Church of the Brethren congregation in the United States, being founded in 1733 under the leadership of the Holy
Spirit and in the care of our founder John Nass.
Complete details of the Church of the Brethren and Amwell in particular may be found in a number of texts in the Church's library (and on the
History page of our website).
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Conditions for Membership
Belief in Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord and King: "He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou are the
Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it
unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:15-18
Asking the Lord into your heart, turning from sin and being baptized: "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts 2:38 "And as they went on their way,
they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with
all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." Acts 8:36-37
Understanding and willingness to follow the beliefs and teachings of Amwell: "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and
fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." Acts 2:42
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Organization of the Church
The head of this Church, its true leader, is Jesus Christ: "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the
dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." Colossians 1:18
The Bible describes a church government comprised of the Pastor, Deacons plus teachers and others called out of the members of the
congregation to carry on the work of the local church: "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors
and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:" Ephesians 4:11-12
As members we have a responsibility to those leaders: "And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in
the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves." I Thessalonians 5:12-13
(For more details on church organization see our by-laws.)
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Responsibility of Membership
Support church functions and activities by your attendance and participation. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the
manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." Hebrews 10:25
Love the church, remembering that Christ, our example, loved the church. "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and
gave himself for it;" Ephesians 5:25
Support the church financially. "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be
no gatherings when I come." I Corinthians 16:2 "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity:
for God loveth a cheerful giver." II Corinthians 9:7
Adhere to the Scriptural format for problem solving and conflict resolution. "Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the
unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy
to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?" I Corinthians 6:1-3
"Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained
thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be
established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican." Matthew 18:15-17
Care for one another. "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;" Romans 12:10
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Gifts
God has given "gifts" (special abilities to serve the needs of the church) to each of us.
Just about everything you need to know about spiritual gifts can be found in I Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4.
In I Corinthians we find:
- God wants us to know all about spiritual gifts. "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant." I Corinthians 12:1
- Every believer possesses at least one gift. "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." I Corinthians 12:7
- There are a variety of gifts. "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit." I Corinthians 12:4
- Your use of your gift is essential to the Church. "For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not
the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body;
is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in
the body, as it hath pleased him." I Corinthians 12:14-18
Some gifts recorded in the Bible were specifically for the early church under the Apostles. Those gifts were:
- Prophesying
- Healing
- Tongues
- Interpretation of tongues
Gifts are distributed to believers in the church today by the Holy Spirit are:
- Ministering
- Teaching
- Evangelizing
- Helping
- Exhorting
- Giving
- Pastoring/Teaching
- Administering
- Ruling
- Showing mercy
- Faith
How can you know your gift? Step one is prayer. Remember the Holy Spirit gave you your gift and He will reveal it to you. Step two is Scripture
meditation. Study these Scriptures:
- I Corinthians 12
- Romans 12
- Ephesians 4
- I Peter 4
When your gift or gifts are revealed, put them to work in the Church so that you may be a blessing in the Lord's work. "And he gave some,
apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:" Ephesians 4:11-12
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