What We Believe

CORAM DEO:

Coram Deo is a Latin phrase that means “in the presence (face) of God.” It’s taken from Psalm 56:13, which says, “For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God [coram Deo] in the light of life.” To live coram Deo is to live one’s entire life in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the glory of God.

BELIEF:

Coram Deo is a confessionally Reformed church, seeking to corporately declare truths that unite us in doctrinal affirmation. While Coram Deo Reformed Church is a congregational church, we are committed to aligning to the great Reformed Confessions, believing that these historic documents are an adequate summary of the fundamental truths of God’s Word. We accept them , not as an authoritative rule of faith, but as an aid to us in controversy, a confirmation of what we believe, and as a means of growing together in grace. We also affirm the Apostle’s Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Definition of Chalcedon.

We also affirm the “Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy” (1978), the Confessional Statement on Sex, Gender, and Marriage (2022).

PURPOSE:

Exalt and enjoy the glory of God in Jesus Christ to all people.

MISSION:

Coram Deo Church exists to glorify the God of the Scriptures in promoting His worship, evangelizing sinners, and edifying saints. To this end we are committed to proclaiming God’s perfect law and His glorious gospel of grace in Jesus Christ throughout the world, and to defending the faith. Our mission field is every area of your life – where you are now (family, friends, neighborhood, coworkers, frequent shops, etc). It’s “all of Christ for all of life.”

DUAL PRACTICE:

Because Coram Deo accepts covenant members who affirm the Westminster Confession of Faith of 1647 or the London Baptist Confession of 1689, we are a dual-practice church. As our church has worked through the matter of infant baptism practically, we have adopted a baptismal cooperation agreement, which enables believers on both sides of this issue to work together harmoniously. We receive both credobaptistic and paedobaptistic households into membership. We practice both infant baptism and baptism upon a profession of faith. We are able to do this because we all share a strong sense of covenantal identity of each household, whether credobaptist or paedobaptist.

Because of our commitment to the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph 4:3), and because of our shared commitment to the practice of household membership, these differences have been procedurally resolved between us. We have agreed to work together in this way until such time as the Lord brings us to one mind on the subject of baptism.

We also practice both paedocommunion and believer’s communion administered by qualified elders, a decision of practice we believe should be made by the head-of-household (the father, if present), along with guidance from the Elders, so long as those participating in the supper understand it is to be reserved for those who are baptized members and are under the care and authority of Christ and His Church.

CORAM DEO REFORMED CHURCH IMPERATIVES:

We are committed to:
  • Robust theological distinctives of the Reformed heritage (Calvinist, Confessional, Covenantal)
  • Salvation by Grace Alone, through Faith Alone, in Christ Alone, according to Scripture Alone, for the Glory of God alone.
  • A plurality of qualified male elders.
  • Qualified male deacons serving the church and the Elders.
  • Covenant Household Membership
  • A tight-knit community built around covenantal membership that exists locally, communally, and neighborly, expanding to all that we do in life, word, and deed.
  • Strong expositional biblical preaching.
  • Intentionally guided and family-integrated worship, including (but not limited to) the joyful singing of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, weekly Communion, Corporate prayer, creeds, and confessions.
  • Weekly administration of the Lord’s Supper as both in remembrance to Christ’s work on the cross, and as a sign of God’s grace to us.
  • Faithfully and generously giving of our tithes and offerings to the Lord, and stewarding our finances wisely, both as a church, and among the individual members.
  • Deep discipleship and passion for truth in doctrine, theology, and practice.
  • Practicing Church Discipline, when necessary, according to the guidelines set forth in Matthew 18.
  • Carrying out the Great Commission.
  • Existing as a church that plants churches.

IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF CORAM DEO REFORMED CHURCH: (encouraged but not required)

  • Living with a gospel-driven counter-cultural mindset.
  • Sunday School to teach, train, edify, and encourage our church community.
  • Biblical Patriarchy
  • Fruitful multiplication
  • Personal responsibility in raising, educating, and discipling our children.
  • Joy and hospitality practiced among our church and community.
  • Opportunities for men to intentionally train and fellowship with other men in the church.
  • Opportunities for women to intentionally train and fellowship with other women in the church.
  • An attitude and practice of joyfully serving the church and its body.
  • Post-Millennial Eschatology; We believe that Christ is King today, as all authority in heaven and earth has been given to Him, therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey all that He has commanded.
  • Building into Christendom, because Christ is King!

PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

When: 9am on Sunday mornings for Sunday School, 10:15am for Service, 12:00pm shared lunch.
Where: 2333 W Dearborn St., Springfield, MO, 65807 (member’s residence in SW Springfield – new church building coming soon!).
Current Series: An Exposition on Hebrews