Lighthouse Baptist Church

A service led by Pastor Paul Caldwell

Lighthouse Baptist Church is a Baptist church in Fayetteville, AR. It is led by Pastor Paul Caldwell. Notable church members include the Duggar family, Caldwell family, and Ballinger family. Meagan Ballinger serves as the church's pianist.

### **Our Doctrine**

#### **1. The Scriptures**

We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired; that it has truth without any admixture of error for its matter; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man; the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.
1. By the “Holy Bible” we mean that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which as originally written does not only contain and convey the Word of God, but is the very Word of God. The King James Version of the Bible is the only English version we accept and use. The Bible is our sole authority for faith and practice.
2. By “inspiration” we mean that the books of the Bible were written by Holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired.   II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 5:18

**2. God** ====
We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, and infinite, intelligent Spirit, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three equal persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.   Psalm 90:2; John 1:1, 14

**3. Christ** ====
The Person and Work of Christ We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His finished work on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate.   Phil. 2:6-7; Romans 3:24-25, 8:34;
I Peter 2:24

**4. The Holy Spirit** ====
That the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the Evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of judgment and of righteousness; that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer.  John 14:16-17, 16:8; Gen. 1:2;
Eph. 1:13; II Thes. 2:7

**5. Sinful Man** ====
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s willful disobedience man fell from his sinless happy state and inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and that man is totally depraved, and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. In consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraints, but of choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse.   Gen 1:27, 3:6; Romans 1:20, 5:12

**6. Salvation** ====
Salvation became a necessity because of man’s sin, and simple faith in Christ’s atoning work on the Cross is all that is required for man to attain this free gift of salvation. We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the just dying for the unjust, Christ the Lord bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that, having risen from the dead He is now enthroned in Heaven and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is ever qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all sufficient Savior. We believe that all the redeemed, once saved are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. Once a person receives Christ, they become justified. This term justification means “to declare righteous”. Therefore, a believer can stand before God because the righteousness of Jesus Christ has been imputed to him from the very moment of Salvation. At this moment, the believer is no longer a member of the cursed family of sin, but is born again into God’s family and has become His child.   Romans 3:23-25; John 10:18, 28; Gal. 4:5-6

**7. The Church** ====
We believe that this Church is a called out assembly of baptized believers coming together to fulfill the Great Commission. The local New Testament Church of which Christ gave Himself for is His Body and His Bride. The New Testament Church, which is made up of a visible local assembly of baptized believers, the citadel and propagator of the Divine and Eternal grace; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word. That it has two officers, pastor and deacon whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures. The Pastor is to be the shepherd of the church, and is responsible for leading it by preaching sound doctrine, evangelizing sinners, and discipling believers. The definition of a deacon is a servant, and it is the deacon’s job to be a help by serving the church in whatever capacity is necessary (1 Timothy 3). The true mission of the Church is found in the Great Commission: First, to make individual disciples; Second, to baptize; Third, to build up and instruct as Christ has commanded. We do not believe in the reversal of this order.

We hold that the local Church has the absolute right of self-government; free from interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the head of the church and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit. It is, however, Scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local assembly is final.

We believe the church has two ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  The word Baptize means “to dip under” or “to immerse”, and it is a symbol of the believer’s identification with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection. The ordinance of the Lord’s Supper is mentioned in each of the first three gospels, and it was instituted by Jesus on the night he was betrayed. Col. 1:18; Act 2:41-42; I Cor. 11:24-26; Mat. 28:18-20

**8. Angels** ====
The word angel means messenger. We believe that angels are celestial beings created by God with distinct supernatural powers and classifications. Angels have a ministry to both God and man.   Luke 2:10;
I Chr. 21:15

We believe that Satan was once holy and enjoyed heavenly honors, but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels; that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be man’s great tempter, the enemy of God and Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power back of the present apostasy; the lord of the antichrist, and the author of all powers of darkness – destined, however, to final defeat at the hands of God’s own Son, and to the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels.   Isa. 14:12; II Cor. 11:14; Rev. 12:10, 20:10

**9. Return of Christ and related events** ====
We believe the first stage of Christ’s return is a pre-tribulation rapture. It is at this moment that Christ will return from heaven for his saints. After this rapture has taken place, there will be a 7 year period of judgment known as the tribulation. It is during this tribulation, that a one-world leader called the Anti-Christ will come to power and the Lord will pour out his judgment upon the earth. During this tribulation, God will judge Christians at the bema-seat judgment according to their works. Christ will then return to earth with his saints and defeat the world-army at Armageddon. After this, Christ will establish a new earth and rule in Jerusalem for 1,000 years – this is known as the millennium. After the millennium, once Satan has been defeated for eternity, God will judge sinners at the Great White Throne judgment before the New Jerusalem descends upon the earth and we live for eternity with him.   I Thes. 4:16-17; Rev. 20:2-4, 11-12, 15

**10. Biblical Separation** ====
We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and, that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded of God. Romans 12:1-2; I John 2:15; II John 1:9-11; James 1:27

**11. Missions.** ====
The command to give the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and this Commission was given to the local church. Mat. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; John 20:21; Romans 10:13-15, Acts 1:8

**12. Creation.** ====
We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness; that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animals and vegetable life was made directly and God’s established law was that they should bring forth only “after their kind.” Gen. 1:1, 26-27; Col 1:16-17; John 1:1-3

**13. The Virgin Birth.** ====
We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can be born of a woman, and that He is both 100% the Son of God, and 100% the Son of man. Isa. 7:14; Luke 1:35; John 5:26-27

**14. Grace in the New Creation.** ====
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.   John 1:12-13, 3:3, 6-7; II Cor. 5:17

**15. The Grace of Giving.** ====
Scriptural giving is one of the fundamentals of the faith. We are commanded to bring the tithes and offerings into the storehouse (LocalNewTestamentChurch) upon the first day to the week.  II Cor. 8:7; I Cor 16:2

Jesus said concerning tithes and offerings.  Mat. 23:23

Tithing was 400 years before the Law.  Heb. 7:2-4

We are commanded to bring the tithe into the storehouse.  Lev. 27:30; Mal. 3:10

LocalNewTestamentChurch is the Common Treasury  Acts 4:34-37

**16. The Freeness of Salvation.** ====
We believe that salvation are made free to all by the gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent and obedient faith, and nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel; which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation. John 3:15-16, 6:37; Romans 6:23, 10:13

**17. Civil Government.** ====
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed; except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the Kings of the earth.   Titus 3:1-2; Romans 13:7; I Peter 2:17; Acts 4:19; Mat. 22:21

## Pastor

From the church's website:

> Hello, and Welcome to the Lighthouse Baptist Church website!  I am Pastor Paul Caldwell.  The Lord has led me to plant Lighthouse Baptist Church. The Lord has given my wife, Christina, and me a burden for the souls in Northwest Arkansas. Our location is the greater East Fayetteville, Arkansas area. With the Lord’s help, we began services in the spring of 2008, and we invite you to attend.
>
>
>
> Our sending church is Heritage Baptist Church, located in the Washington, DC/ Northern Virginia suburb of Woodbridge, VA.  Our Missions board is BIMI (Baptist International Missions, Inc.) They have helped us to organize, and our pledged support is administered through them.
>
> Please pray for my wife and I; and our seven children (Kendra, Lauren, Micah,  Nathan, Timothy, Olivia, and Jesiah), as we continue in this work for the Lord. If you would like to help support His work, you may pledge your support through BIMI.
>
>
>
>
> Thank you very much for visiting our site and may the Lord bless you. Please come back and visit us again soon!
>
>

## Controversy

In 2015, Lighthouse Baptist Church went door to door passed out pamphlets that claimed that "there are no such thing as Homosexuals". This angered many of the citizens of Fayetteville.

"I've had religious pamphlets dropped off, but nothing like that," said resident Joan Sirlin.

"I was just offended that they would be going door-to-door in this community with that information," another resident, Joanna McCusker, commented, "I think most neighbors were pretty offended."

Residents claim that a large group of church members, including children, were responsible for the distribution of these flyers.

Pastor Paul Caldwell responded to the controversy via a text message, saying "Our church loves the LGBT community, hence the reason we have decided since Spring 2014 to reach out to them. This is just another avenue we are trying."

## References

1. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story\_fbid=1133932813319482&id=1047703495275748&substory\_index=0
2. ↑ http://www.visitlighthousenwa.com/beliefs.html
3. ↑ http://www.visitlighthousenwa.com/meet-our-pastor.html
4. ↑ http://www.nwahomepage.com/news/knwa/church-pamphlet-offending-some-residents/148038088