Our history

We are an emerging Evangelical Baptist church, in partnership with the Protestant Baptist Church of Berriac (Carcassonne). So we don't yet have a local history, but we are sharing with you the story of our identity. This local church recognises only one authoritative book of faith: the Bible, the inspired word of God. It is a place of welcome and listening, fully integrated into the life of the neighbourhood where it is located. The church's vocation is to help people discover God's love. You can find our more detailed Beliefs here.

 

What is a Christian church?

A Christian church is not a building, a tradition or an organisation. In fact, a Christian church is not a human institution at all. The Christian Church is the Kingdom of Jesus Christ on earth. A church is made up of men, women and children who worship, love, serve, honour and joyfully obey Jesus Christ.

 

What is an evangelical church?

A church is evangelical when it believes not only that the Bible contains the Word of God, but that it is in itself God's perfect, relevant and eternal message to all mankind. The apostle Paul wrote to his friend and colleague Timothy: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16). So we believe three things about the Bible:A church is evangelical when it believes not only that the Bible contains the Word of God, but that it is in itself God's perfect, relevant and eternal message to all mankind. The apostle Paul wrote to his friend and colleague Timothy: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16). So we believe three things about the Bible:

 

The Bible is perfect
It contains no errors and no contradictions. Although it was written over many centuries, by many different people, in many different places, every part of the Bible agrees with the whole. For example, the coming of Jesus to Bethlehem, where he was born of a virgin, was predicted by Isaiah and Malachi hundreds of years in advance. All the details of their prophecies came true.

 

The Bible is sufficient

Because it is God's message to mankind, and because God knows everything, there is nothing to add to it. It contains everything we need to know to lead us to God, to receive forgiveness for our sins and to secure our place in the eternal kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.The Bible is sufficient Because it is God's message to mankind, and because God knows everything, there is nothing to add to it. It contains everything we need to know to lead us to God, to receive forgiveness for our sins and to secure our place in the eternal kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

The Bible is the power of God to save

God has chosen to bring men and women to conversion through the preaching of his word, the Bible. Paul writes: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes...". (Romans 1:16). Only the message of the Bible can change our hearts so that we can understand and respond to God's call. That's why we proclaim this message several times a week in church, outdoors, door-to-door and at special meetings, whenever possible.

 

What is a Reformed church?

Not only are we a Christian and evangelical church, we are also a Reformed church. This means that we continue to defend and proclaim the truths for which our Protestant ancestors lived and gave their lives. For their faith, many perished at the stake! We want to hold on to these same truths as firmly as they did.

 

What are these truths?

Above all, they believed that the Bible should be their guide in all matters of faith and the conduct of their lives. Through the study of the Bible, they discovered the following five great doctrines:

 

We must be saved

Every human being is born with a heart inclined to evil and lives in a world full of sin. To sin is to refuse to accept God as the Lord and Master of my life. The Bible teaches that God, who is supremely pure, wonderful and perfect, hates sin and all its consequences (selfishness, hatred, pride, fornication, wickedness, theft, lies, deceit, murder, envy, greed, drunkenness and so on). One day, God will call us all to account and, if we are not saved, he will punish us for eternity.We must be saved Every human being is born with a heart inclined to evil and lives in a world full of sin. To sin is to refuse to accept God as the Lord and Master of my life. The Bible teaches that God, who is supremely pure, wonderful and perfect, hates sin and all its consequences (selfishness, hatred, pride, fornication, wickedness, theft, lies, deceit, murder, envy, greed, drunkenness and so on). One day, God will call us all to account and, if we are not saved, he will punish us for eternity.

 

We must be saved by grace alone

Reformers understood that the Bible teaches that no one will ever be righteous enough to deserve a place in God's kingdom. Because God wants to protect the perfect purity of his sanctuary, nothing that is not absolutely perfect can approach him. So if we are to be saved, it must be through God's work on our behalf - an undeserved action. This is what the Bible calls grace - God's favour and goodness to the undeserving.

 

We must be saved by faith alone

God's method of saving sinners by grace was to send his only Son into the world to live a perfect life (thus deserving eternal life), and then to offer his life as a sacrifice on the cross (thus dying in the place of his people). He died the death we deserved so that we could inherit the life we didn't deserve! But how can we obtain this life? Only by believing fully in him; by believing with all our heart and mind that Jesus alone can forgive all our sins and make us pleasing to God. The Bible calls this conviction and trust faith. Without this faith no one can be saved.

 

We must be saved in Christ alone 

If we put our trust - even in part - in someone or something else, we cannot be saved. We must not put our trust in a church, or a religious minister, or the saints; and especially not in ourselves and our good works. Only Jesus Christ can save us; we must put all our trust in him.

 

We must be saved for the glory of God alone

God created everything for the glory of his own name. All those who are saved are driven by a single desire: to live for the honour and glory of God, who has done so much for them. Christians are not in church for what they can get out of it, but to praise and thank God. Finally, a Reformed church knows that it is not yet perfect. We are determined to continue growing, transforming and reforming until we are pleasing to God in all things. Since this is not possible in this life, we know that this work of reformation will never be finished.God created everything for the glory of his own name. All those who are saved are driven by a single desire: to live for the honour and glory of God, who has done so much for them. Christians are not in church for what they can get out of it, but to praise and thank God. Finally, a Reformed church knows that it is not yet perfect. We are determined to continue growing, transforming and reforming until we are pleasing to God in all things. Since this is not possible in this life, we know that this work of reformation will never be finished.