Statement of Faith

• We believe the Bible, the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, to be the only infallible, inspired and authoritative Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
• We believe there is only one God, eternally existent in three persons, God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19-20).
• We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:1, 14; Colossians 2:9), in His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23), in His sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15), in His miracles (John 2:11, 20:30-31), in His atoning death through His shed blood (1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 John 2:2), in His bodily resurrection (Acts 2:32), in His ascension to the right hand of the Father (Luke 22:69), and in His personal return in power and glory (Matthew 16:27; Acts 1:11; Revelation 22:12).
• We believe that God created man, male and female, in His own image (Genesis 1:26-27; Matthew 19:4). It pleased God to create man two distinct biological sexes, male and female, and each man bears the life-long responsibility of confessing and fulfilling God’s law and purpose for the biological sex which God alone unalterably assigned him at the moment of conception (Deuteronomy 22:5; Psalm 139:13-16; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
• We believe that Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God brought sin into the world (Genesis 3; Romans 5:14-21). Man thus alienated himself from God, his neighbor, and the world (Isaiah 59:2; Colossians 1:21). All mankind except Jesus Christ are sinners, have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:9-20).
• We believe Jesus Christ is the ONLY Savior of sinners, the ONLY way to the Father (John 3:16, 14:6). Christ died as a substitute for sinners and was raised from the dead so that man could be reconciled to God (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
• We believe that eternal life is a gift of God received personally through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone (John 3:16; Acts 16:14). Eternal life is neither deserved by anyone nor can it be earned by good deeds (Ephesians 2:8-9).
• We believe that the Holy Spirit has come to glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to our hearts (John 3:3-8). He convicts us of sin and draws us to the Savior (1 Corinthians 2:11-14). Indwelling our hearts, He gives new life to us, empowers and imparts gifts to us for service (Romans 8:14). He instructs and guides us into all truth (John 16:13), and seals us for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30).
• We believe that the true Church is composed of all persons who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, are united together in the body of Christ (Romans 12:4-5; Ephesians 2:19-22). The Church finds her visible, yet imperfect, expression in local congregations where the Word of God is preached in its purity (2 Timothy 4:2); where the sacraments of Baptism (Acts 2:38; Matthew 28:19) and the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) are administered in their integrity; where scriptural discipline is practiced (Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5:1-5); and where loving fellowship is maintained (Acts 2:42).
• We believe that the term marriage has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Genesis 2:18-25). We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other (1 Corinthians 6:18; 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4). We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.
• We believe that God has charged parents with the responsibility of bringing up their children in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4).  Christian schools can be of great assistance to the parents in this crucial task.

The LCA Statement of Faith contains fundamental Christian doctrines that Lighthouse Christian Academy teaches and holds unreservedly.  These foundational doctrines will be enthusiastically affirmed by the faculty in the classrooms at LCA.  Faculty, staff, parents, and students should also be aware that certain positions not found in the Statement of Faith are primarily left to the teachings of the student’s home and church.  These include, but are not limited to the following:

 

1. Church government, authority,  and manner of discipline
2. The time and mode of baptism
3. Predestination and security of the believer
4. The timing of future events
5. The “second work of grace” – baptism of the Holy Spirit
6. Sinless perfection
7. Gifts of the Spirit
8. The manner of worship
9. The nature of Biblical history, the  application of Biblical law, and Dispensationalism

 

LCA’s neutrality on these issues is intended not to inhibit, but rather to stimulate vigorous discussion of such doctrinal issues in a biblical, historical, and age-appropriate manner within the educational setting.  LCA desires to remain united in the salvation and love of Jesus Christ, avoiding the discord which these issues so often generate. Teachers may allow discussion of them in class, but should not use their authority to endorse particular positions.  Anyone concerned about what is appropriate in specific cases should ask the Principal.  More general policy problems and concerns regarding doctrinal and spiritual issues will be referred to the Spiritual Life Committee by the Board or Administration.

The Bible prohibits specific behaviors and limits marriage to a covenant relationship between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:21-25; Ephesians 5:22-33).  LCA will instruct students in these teachings.  Behaviors prohibited in the Bible include, but are not limited to:

 

• Heterosexual activity outside of one-man-one-woman marriage. For example, premarital sex, cohabitation, or adultery (John 8:1-11; I Corinthians 6:9-20; Hebrews 13:4);
• Homosexual or bisexual activity or any form of sexual immorality (Romans 1:21-27; I Corinthians 6:9-20);
• Practicing alternate gender identity or any other identity or behavior that violates God’s ordained distinctions between the two sexes, male and female (Genesis 1:26-27; Deuteronomy 22:5);
• Sexual harassment, use or viewing of pornographic material or websites (Psalm 101:2-3; Matthew 7:12, Ephesians 5:3);
• Sexual abuse or improprieties toward minors as defined by Scripture and federal or state law (Matthew 18:5-6; Luke 18:15);
• Drunkenness or the use of illicit drugs (Ephesians 5:18, Romans 13:13-14);
• The use of vulgar and profane language (Ephesians 4:29, 5:4; Colossians 3:8);
• Deceit – Deliberately falsifying materials or misrepresenting facts by lying (Matthew 5:33-37);
• Theft – The act of stealing (Exodus 20:15, Ephesians 4:28);
• Any illegal activity (Romans 13:1-5).

 

The Lighthouse Christian Academy philosophy of Christian education is based upon the Biblical teaching that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. Only a Christ-centered education can have meaning and can validly prepare youth for time and eternity. The goal of all education is to help man glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Since a true understanding of the world in which we live cannot be gained apart from the knowledge of the Creator, all aspects of the curriculum should be distinctly Christian, taking into account God’s revelation of Himself. A primary portion of our service to God is to center around loving our neighbors. To this end, a full education should include an emphasis on acquiring and understanding the history and state of the culture within which they will serve God through their dealings with their neighbors.