Is
Jesus the only way?
At
Northside, we believe the Bible is true and the inspired word of God (2 Peter
1:21). Consequently, Jesus made some radical claims about himself when it came
to salvation. The primary one being that he is the Way and the Truth and the
Life. No one comes to the Father but through the son (John 14:6). Jesus was
clear when he mentions that entrance into heaven was through him. It would be
illogical for Jesus to live a perfect life, experience persecution, be
crucified, and then rise from the dead—and say, “Oh by the way, this is just one
way to heaven.”
What
makes Christianity distinct from the other Religions?
Christianity
is the only religion that claims you cannot earn your way to heaven by your good
deeds; good works, or by your good looks because of sin. Consequently you have
to rely on the good works of someone else; someone who was
perfect in all aspects in life before God. That someone is Jesus. In a nutshell,
what makes Christianity distinct from all other
religions is that you have to trust in the works of Jesus; not yourself (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Is
Northside Conservative or Liberal?
When it comes to doctrine,
Northside is firm when it comes to the non-negotiable tenants of Christian
orthodoxy: sin is the problem, Jesus is the answer, the Bible is true, and yes, there
is a Hell.
However, we allow for differences when it comes to secondary matters that are
described as a matter of conscience. These can include the consumption of alcohol
(Just don't get drunk), secular music, political views, dancing, and other areas
that are gray areas in the Bible (Romans 14; 1 Corinthians 8). In short, if the Bible calls it a sin; that’s just
what it is. If it does not; biblical guidelines, prayer, the conscience, and
wise council should be sought.
In this way, we are seeking to
simultaneously heed the Bible’s commands to have sound doctrine (1Timothy
4:16; Titus 1:9, 2:1), to love our Christian brothers and sisters (1 Peter 4:8;
1 John 4:7-21), and to avoid unnecessary divisions (Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians
1:10, 12:25; Titus 3:10).
Is there a strong emphasis on the Bible at
Northside?
Yes!
We are a church that mostly goes through books of the Bible. Consequently, at Northside we are passionate about
studying biblical passages in-depth. You can
expect discussions about good theology, sound doctrine, church history, and a
committed emphasis on
making the Scriptures practical to your life. Our goal is not more
information; but transformation.