Freedom and religious liberty in the United States have their foundation in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and it's Bill of Rights, the values thereof being rooted in the Westminster Confession of Faith. In the final analyses, the only true source of freedom is faith in the One who said, "ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). The only true source of freedom, therefore, is the King of the Jews, Jesus Christ.

The Early Church believed (as the Scriptures teach) in the Second Coming of Christ, when He will establish His Kingdom on Earth, with His throne in Jerusalem, from where He will rule in peace (with His saints) for a thousand years. Today, we call this belief "Premillennialism"; that is, the doctrine that Christ's Second Coming occurs before the thousand-year period of peace on earth.

However, when the Church overcame Roman persecution and became the official religion of the Empire, the idea of christian dominion became the new and greater threat to Biblical Truth. Clement of Alexandria, Origen and Augustine contributed to this error by suggesting that some prophecies might be spiritually fulfilled, meaning not literally fulfilled. The Emperor Constantine was interested in establishing his own kingdom. In regard to prophesy about future Israel, they created a replacement theology.

On the basis of Amillennialism (the belief in no literal Millennium), the Holy Roman Empire was formed. And on the basis of Postmillennialism (a variation of Amillennialism), the Kings of the Holy Roman Empire were given the blasphemous title, "King of Jerusalem". Therefore, the Crusaders killed Arabs, Jews, and Christians indiscriminately. When one considers that the basic implication of Amillennialism is for men to build a kingdom on Earth for themselves, the atrocious bloody acts that took place during the Inquisitions should not be surprising.

The Reformation brought about a return to the teaching of sovereign Grace and a return to the reading of Scripture by the common man. Yet, Amillennialism was carried over into the Protestant world (like leaven hidden in the lump) by means of a system called Covenant Theology. Covenant Theology applied a law from the Mosaic Covenant to Justify the Salem Witch Trials. The Witch Hunt became the classic prototype of the effect of Amillennialism on the Western world.

Utopianism, Atheism, and Communism all grow out of the church's teaching that man should build the Kingdom of God on Earth. These systems thrive Best in regions where this kind of teaching historically has been most dominant. When Adolf Hitler, for example, said that he was destined to build an empire that would stand for a thousand years, the religious philosophy of those who believed in him is evident.

Whenever men forsake the God-centered plan of the Bible in favor of an egocentric interpretation, that choice must prove disastrous in the end.

Amillennialism is often used to justify a variety of prejudices and abuses of law; and many of today's churches that profess to be Premillennial are subtly mixing in a great deal of Amillennialism. Many persons who come to the Lord with an interest in Bible prophecy join such a church without realizing what the leadership of the church really believes. It is only later, after the church leaders have built and stored up much, sometimes after many years they attempt (with subtlety) to lead the people astray.

Thus, many professing Christians have accepted theological compromise, thinking that only someone else would be hurt by it. Yet, many men of high ideals have witnessed their ideals turned into a mockery because of such compromise.

When a born-again Christian joins a church, he must know what that church believes. He must be certain that the church's teaching is founded upon the Word of God. For it is written: "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). And, "Where there is no vision, the people perish:" (Prov. 29:18). And again, "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:3).

INTRODUCTION page 1

THE CONSTITUTION
article
1 NAME page 2
2 PURPOSE page 2
3 CHURCH GOVERNMENT page 2
4 THE CHURCH page 2
5 THE OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH page 2
6 CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS page 2
7 THE ORDAINING OF ELDERS AND DEACONS page 2
8 COVENANT OF MEMBERSHIP page 2
9 A PURITAN SEPARATIST TRADITION page 2
10 THE ADMINISTRATION OF BAPTISM page 2
11 THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER page 2
12 THE SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGE page 2
13 THE BURIAL OF THE DEAD page 2
14 THE DIRECTORY FOR SECRET AND FAMILY WORSHIP page 2