In Psalm 16 we read that the Lord Himself is our heritage, our inheritance, our joy, and God has given us families, children, as part of this blessed heritage, to raise for the Lord and His kingdom (Psalm 127) as His own children. This rich heritage, this inheritance of Christ and our Christian families/households, is what Heritage Reformed is committed to raising up to serve for the glory of Christ and His kingdom. Married and single alike must learn God’s intended purpose for making us “male and female” in His image, and how masculinity and femininity are each to be cherished as unique expressions of God’s own divine image (Genesis 1:27).

 

But especially in this age of sexual sin and gender confusion, we at Heritage desire to see young, godly, single people meet other godly singles and establish families together, bearing children and fulfilling the dominion mandate to be “fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it” (Genesis 1:28; 9:7), answering the Great Commission to “baptize” and “teach” our covenant children all that Christ has commanded (Matthew 28:19-20). 


Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. (Jude 3)


The term “Reformed” comes from the heritage of the Protestant Reformation, which sought to reform a church that was losing its biblical foundation and was operating increasingly on the principles of man instead of God. It became necessary to set forth these beliefs in written form so that all would know specifically what the Bible taught by contrast to the teachings of men. These writings are known as creeds or confessions and help each generation to stand against man-made religions and ideas.


The biblical creeds to which we hold are the Apostle’s Creed, Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed as well as the Westminster Confession of Faith and its Catechisms. We also hold to other Reformed Confessions, in particular the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, and the Canons of Dort.


He [the Apostle Paul] sent to Ephesus and called for the elders [the presbyters] of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them … Take heed therefore to … all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. (Acts 20: 17, 18, 28) 


Each of our local churches are ruled by Jesus Christ through office-bearers (presbyters) composed of pastors and elders. Their only authority is in bringing the Word of God. They have no authority apart from the Bible. Elders (and pastors) are ordained with the approval of the members and are also in submission to Christ through submission to presbytery (a body of representatives from each church). Any differences which members cannot resolve with the local church officers may be appealed to the presbytery.


Church Membership

And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved … So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. (Acts 2:47; Romans 12:5)

We speak of membership in a “true church” because the Bible teaches that God’s church must be faithful in:

Jesus received little children and blessed them (Matthew 19:13-15) and declared them to also be included in His Church. We therefore practice that believing parents with their children are church members and we include, and minister to, every age.