FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENTS

All members of the Board of Trustees, Administration and Faculty of Shasta Bible College, commit annually to respect and uphold the doctrinal statement of the College in its entirety.

We Believe…

The Scriptures

We believe in the plenary and verbal inspiration of the Scriptures, both of the Old and New Testaments. By this we understand that the Holy Spirit not only inspired the thoughts of the writers, but also superintended the wording and composition structure of those thoughts with the result that the original documents were inerrant as to fact and infallible as to truth (1 Cor. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21). We further believe that the Scripture is to be interpreted normally according to the grammatico-historical method, which requires the literal existence of Adam and Eve as the progenitors of all people, the world-wide cataclysmic flood, the creation of linguistic barriers and the origin of nations brought about by the diversification of languages and the consequent linguistic barriers at the tower of Babel.

The Godhead

We believe in one Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; eternal in being; identical in nature; equal in power and glory and having precisely the same attributes and perfections (Deut. 6:4; 2 Cor. 13:14).

The Creation and Man’s Fall

We believe God created all things in the universe in the six days of creation described in Genesis 1:1-2:3. We further accept the Creation account as both factual and historical, and thus view it as foundational to the understanding of every fact and phenomenon in the created universe. In addition we hold that all things that now exist are being sustained and ordered by God's providential care. Furthermore, we believe that God created man in His own image and likeness of God; but, through Adam's sin, man became alienated from God, acquired a sin nature, and came under the judicial sentence of death (Gen. 1:25-27; Rom. 3:22-23; Eph. 2:12).

The Person and Work of Jesus Christ

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a propitiatory and substitutionary sacrifice, and that our redemption is made sure to us by His resurrection from the dead in the identical, though glorified, body in which He was crucified (John 1:1-2; Luke 1:35; Rom. 3:24-25; 1 Pet. 1:3-5).

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is now in heaven exalted at the right hand of God, where, as High Priest for His people, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor and Advocate (Heb.9:25; 7:25; Rom. 8:34; John 2:1-2).

The Personal Return of Jesus Christ

The personal return of Jesus Christ will be pretribulational and premillennial. While His return is imminent, the exact time of His coming is unrevealed (Acts 1:11; Rev. 1:7; Mark 13:33-37; Titus 2:11-13; Rev. 22:20). When He comes in the air He will remove His waiting church from the earth by means of resurrection and translation (l Thess. 4:16-18) after which He will pour out the righteous judgments of God upon the unbelieving world during the tribulation period (Rev. 6:1-18:24). Following this period of tribulation He will descend with His church, resurrect the Old Testament and Tribulation Saints (Dan. 12:12-13; Isa. 26:19-21) and establish His literal Messianic Kingdom over all the nations for one thousand years (Rev. 19:1-20:6; Matt. 13:42-43). At the close of this thousand year period, He will raise and judge the unsaved dead at the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15). Finally, as the Son of David, He will deliver up His Messianic Kingdom to God the Father (1 Cor. 15:24-28); and, as the eternal Son, Christ shall reign forever with the Father in the New Heavens and the New Earth (Luke 1:32-33; Rev. 21:1-22:6).

The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead, in the present age regenerates and indwells all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, baptizes them into the Body of Christ, and empowers for service. We also teach that every believer is commanded to be filled (controlled) with/by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:12-24; Eph. 1:13, 14; 5:18-20) and that the Spirit administers spiritual gifts to the church for the ultimate purpose of bringing glory to Christ through the implementation of the redemption of the lost and the building up of believers in the Faith (John 16:13-14; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11; 2 Cor. 3:18). In this respect, we hold as well that God the Holy Spirit is sovereign in the bestowing of His gifts for the perfecting of the saints today, and that the sign gifts (speaking in tongues and sign miracles) in the initial days of the church were for the purpose of authenticating the ministry and message of the apostles as revealers of divine truth and were never intended to characterize the lives of believers (1 Cor. 12:4-11; 13:8-10; 14:22; 2 Cor. 12:12; Eph. 4:7-12; Heb. 2:1-4).

Salvation

We believe that salvation is the gift of God offered to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that this faith is manifested in works pleasing to God (Eph. 2:18-20; Titus 2:11-14). We believe in the spiritual unity of all believers. We believe that all who are truly saved shall be kept by God forever (Rom. 8:1, 38, 39; John 10:27-30; 1 Cor. 1:4-8).

The Church

We believe that the Church is a spiritual organism composed of all believers who have been born again in this age by the Spirit of God and thereby are baptized by Him into the body of Christ (John 3:5; 1 Cor. 12:13). It is both the mystical body and the bride of the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 4:4; 5:25-32) which He began to build on the day of Pentecost (Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:47). The members of this one spiritual body are to assemble themselves together in local churches for worship, instruction, mutual encouragement and the observance of baptism and communion (Heb. 10:25; Matt. 28:19-20; Rom. 6:1-5; 1 Cor. 11:23-24). The local church is an autonomous body of immersed believers united together, upon profession of faith, under the headship of Christ and the leadership of pastors and deacons (Col. 1:18; Acts 10:47, 48; Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:1-13). It is to be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority and is to endeavor to reach men and women for Christ at home and abroad.

The apostasy, the great falling away characteristic of the last days (2 Thess. 2:3, 2 Tim. 3:1; Matt. 24:12), is detrimental to the work of Christ and His church. Since the ecclesiastical movement toward one ecumenical world church contributes to the Apostasy by sacrificing historic Biblical doctrine on the altar of religious unity, The Christian should recognize the dangers of the ecumenical movement and avoid compromising alliances which often lead to the denial of Biblical inerrancy and the subsequent abandonment of historic Biblical doctrine as well as the essential deity of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 John 8-11; Rom. 16:17-20; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1).

Satan

We believe that Satan is a personal, evil being who was originally created perfect along with an innumerable company of sinless beings known as angels. According to Scripture, Satan was formerly "Lucifer, son of the morning," who through the sin of pride fell and was followed by a great number of angels, some of whom became demons who assist him as emissaries in subverting and supplanting the work of God. He is the tempter and accuser of mankind who persistently strives to counterfeit the works and truth of God. Satan and his emissaries were defeated and judged at the Cross of Christ and will be bound for a thousand years at the return of Christ to the earth. Following Christ's Millennial reign, they will be cast into the Lake of Fire where they will be punished eternally (Isa. 14:12-17; Ezek. 28:11-19; I Tim. 3:6; 2 Cor. 2:10, 11; 11:13-15; Matt. 4:3; II Pet. 2:4; Jude 6; Rev. 12:9,10; 20:10).

The Final State

We believe that the condition and retribution of the lost and the salvation and blessedness of the saved are conscious and everlasting (Mark 9:43-48; Rev. 20:15; 22:3-5, 11).

Conclusion

We not only believe that this body of doctrine is a sacred trust to be preserved and taught in its purity, but we also believe that it teaches a life to be lived and a gospel to be preached.

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STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The purpose of Shasta Bible College is to educate men and women for Christian ministries on the collegiate level through a program of Biblical and theological studies, general education in the arts and sciences, professional studies in Christian education, the pastoral ministry, world missions, and church vocational areas deemed desirable. Basic in the philosophy of education of Shasta Bible College is the conviction that Christian higher education should be oriented to the divine Scriptures, the Bible, finding in it its frame of reference and basis for the integration of all knowledge.

To fulfill this purpose the College endeavors to encourage student growth and development through its pursuit of the following objectives:

I. Spiritual Objectives

1 Students will cultivate a lifestyle that demonstrates Christ-like character in accordance with the priorities and precepts of God’s Word.

2 Students will develop an informed Christian world and life-view through the integration of Biblical truth in all areas of the curriculum.

3 Students will acquire both a cognitive and affective knowledge of Biblical truth through classroom instruction, faculty-student interaction, personal Bible study, Scripture memorization, and discipleship experience.

II. Academic Objectives

1 Students will learn to think critically from a Biblical perspective and maintain intellectual and spiritual integrity in all areas of study and research.

2 Students will be equipped with both a knowledge of Biblical content and the skill to expound it by interpreting and applying Scripture in accordance with sound historical/ grammatical/exegetical principles.

3 Students will be prepared to communicate effectively, correctly, and clearly through the use of media.

4 Students will be provided with the intellectual tools to integrate all fields of study with Biblical truth, realizing that God is the source of all truth.

5 Students will master study and research methods and develop the motivation necessary for lifelong learning.

6 Students will be able to meet contemporary challenges to historic, Biblical Christianity with a working knowledge of Christian theology and apologetics.

III. Practical Life and Ministry Objectives

1 Students will understand that their spiritual growth and development take place through the study and application of God’s Holy Word.

2 Students will know that involvement in, and loyalty to, the local church is strategic to personal spiritual growth, Christian fellowship, and the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

3 Students will demonstrate a commitment to ministry in the local church and dedication to its maintenance and growth.

4 Students will be challenged with a variety of spiritual needs and ministry opportunities both at home and abroad.

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INSTITUTIONAL PHILOSOPHY* (Abbreviated)

OUR EDUCATIONAL PREMISE

The educational philosophy of Shasta Bible College is founded on Biblical truth as the basis for evaluating all knowledge (Proverbs 1:7, 2:6, 9:10; Col. 2:3). Thus, in the process of equipping students with a working knowledge of God’s Word, we also seek to bring a Scriptural dimension to the study of the humanities, fine arts, social sciences, and science, based upon the conviction that foundational principles for every area of learning are found in Holy Scripture.

OUR EDUCATIONAL PROCESS

While Shasta Bible College is committed to the pursuit of academic excellence, an effort is made to identify and develop hidden potential in students and to cultivate their creative abilities to the limits set by God for each individual. Many, because of Christian conversion, have a fresh motivation to succeed. The study of God’s truth as revealed in Scripture and the search for academic truth is to be guided by experienced, spiritually and academically qualified faculty members who themselves are open to learning as they teach and interact with students. It is our conviction that the optimum learning experiences are those in which the student is encouraged to apply principles learned in the classroom to practical problem solving situations.

OUR EDUCATIONAL PERSONNEL

At Shasta Bible College we contend that what an individual is as a person directly impacts his or her effectiveness as a teacher or administrator. For this reason a priority is placed on personnel who can serve as models as well as mentors. A priority is also placed on securing faculty who are growing and alive in knowledge and quality of being. Realizing that a significant portion of formal learning comes from vicarious experience and cannot always be immediately related to life, we encourage the use of creative illustrations which present subject matter in a fresh perspective, making it more relevant to the student. We also believe that certain personality characteristics are conducive to excellence in teaching including: authenticity, enthusiasm, freshness, balance, creative freedom, breath of interest, and an enduring concern for the individual student.

OUR EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT

Although it is impossible to dictate God’s leading in a graduate’s life, we at SBC hope to see (1) a significant number (if not the majority) enter vocational Christian service, (2) the maintenance of a vital Christian testimony in the community and the work place, (3) involvement in a Bible-believing local church, (4) a lifelong practice of integrating sacred and secular truth by critically evaluating the issues and problems of life against the standard of God’s inspired Word.

* See Faculty Handbook for complete version

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