We believe the Bible is trustworthy and authoritative, but that doesn't mean every question about it has an easy answer. The Bible is an ancient collection of writings, and understanding it requires careful reading.

The Bible was written over many centuries by different authors, in different languages and historical circumstances. It contains history, poetry, law, prophecy, letters, and accounts of Jesus' life. We shouldn't read a poem as though it were a scientific report or an ancient letter as though it were written directly to twenty-first-century Americans.

Christians also have good reasons to take the Bible's historical foundations seriously. The New Testament writings circulated among early Christian communities, and thousands of surviving Greek manuscripts, along with ancient translations and quotations, allow scholars to study how the text was transmitted. These manuscripts contain variations, but textual criticism helps scholars identify many copying differences and reconstruct the earliest recoverable text.

The Gospels were written within the first century, close enough to the events they describe to preserve early testimony about Jesus. They also reflect the perspectives and theological purposes of their authors. Historians can investigate their claims, although manuscript evidence alone cannot establish that every event they describe happened.

At BFMC, we believe Scripture is inspired by God and is the trustworthy, authoritative foundation for Christian faith and life (2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21). Taking the Bible seriously doesn't mean ignoring difficult passages, apparent tensions, or troubling moral questions. It means engaging them honestly while remaining open to what God may be teaching us.

John Wesley approached Scripture as the primary authority for Christian faith while also drawing upon the wisdom of the Church, careful reasoning, and Christian experience. These resources help us understand Scripture rather than replace its authority.

Above all, Christians believe the Bible tells a story that finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Jesus taught that the Scriptures point toward him (Luke 24:27, 44–47; John 5:39–40). We therefore read the Bible with Jesus at the center, seeking to understand God's character through his life, death, and resurrection.

If you've never read the Bible, consider beginning with the Gospel of Mark or John. You don't need to settle every question before discovering what these writings say about Jesus.

Explore further: Luke 1:1–4; Luke 24:13–35; Acts 17:10–12; 2 Timothy 3:14–17; John 20:30–31.

We don't have an explanation that makes every experience of suffering understandable. And we would be cautious of anyone who claims to know exactly why God allowed a particular tragedy.

Behind this question may be the death of someone we love, a painful diagnosis, an experience of abuse, or the suffering of innocent people. If God is good and powerful, why doesn't he prevent more of it?

The Bible doesn't ignore this question. Job struggles to understand his suffering. The psalmists repeatedly ask why God seems distant (Psalm 13:1–2; Psalm 22:1–2). Habakkuk questions why injustice continues (Habakkuk 1:2–4). These questions are part of Scripture itself.

Our Wesleyan tradition emphasizes God's love and the meaningful freedom he gives human beings. We believe God created us for loving relationships, not mechanical obedience. Human freedom makes genuine love possible, but it also makes terrible choices possible. Much suffering results from the misuse of that freedom.

Of course, not all suffering results from human choices. Disease, natural disasters, and other tragedies raise additional questions. Jesus rejected the assumption that suffering always results from a person's individual sin (John 9:1–3; Luke 13:1–5). We should be equally careful about assigning spiritual explanations to another person's pain.

Christianity makes a remarkable claim: God has not remained distant from human suffering. In Jesus Christ, God entered a world of injustice, grief, betrayal, violence, and death. Jesus wept at the grave of Lazarus (John 11:35), experienced anguish in Gethsemane (Mark 14:32–36), and suffered on the cross.

Christianity doesn't teach that suffering is good or that every tragedy happens because God wanted it to. It tells us that God meets us in suffering and that, through Jesus' resurrection, suffering and death will not have the final word.

The Bible ends with a vision of God making all things new, wiping away every tear, and bringing an end to death, mourning, crying, and pain (Revelation 21:1–5).

That hope doesn't eliminate our questions. But it means we can bring them to a God who understands what it means to suffer.

If you're carrying grief or wrestling with suffering, we'd be glad to listen, pray with you if you'd like, and walk alongside you. You don't have to find an explanation for your pain before reaching out.

Explore further: Job 38–42; Psalm 13; John 11:17–44; Romans 8:18–39; Revelation 21:1–5.

We don't think so. Science has transformed our understanding of the universe, and Christians have good reasons to welcome scientific discovery. But science and Christian faith don't always address the same kinds of questions.

Science helps us investigate how the natural world works. It has expanded our understanding of the age of the earth, the development of life, and the workings of the human body. Christian theology also asks why anything exists at all, whether human life has ultimate meaning, and what it means to live well.

The Bible describes creation as a reflection of God's wisdom and goodness. Psalm 19 celebrates the heavens as a witness to God's glory. Psalm 104 describes the intricate relationships within the natural world, while Genesis 1 repeatedly affirms the goodness of creation.

Christians agree that God is the Creator of everything that exists (Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:15–17). They have sometimes disagreed about how to interpret particular details of the creation accounts and how those accounts relate to scientific discoveries.

These areas can overlap, and real disagreements exist about evolution, the interpretation of Genesis, and the relationship between scientific findings and biblical accounts. Those questions deserve careful consideration rather than easy dismissal.

Our Wesleyan heritage values thoughtful faith. John Wesley encouraged education, careful observation, and the study of the natural world. He understood reason as a gift that could help people appreciate creation and understand Scripture.

Belief in God doesn't require rejecting the scientific method, and scientific discovery doesn't automatically eliminate the possibility of a Creator. Many Christians understand the natural processes studied by science as part of the world God has made and sustains.

At BFMC, we believe faith and intellectual curiosity belong together. We don't think people should have to choose between taking the Bible seriously and taking the natural world seriously.

Explore further: Genesis 1–2; Psalm 19; Psalm 104; Colossians 1:15–20.

We believe he did. And because the resurrection is central to Christianity, we think the historical evidence deserves serious consideration.

The earliest Christians didn't merely claim that Jesus' teachings lived on or that his followers continued to feel his presence. They proclaimed that Jesus, who had been executed by Roman authorities, was raised bodily from the dead.

The apostle Paul makes the importance of this claim unmistakable. In 1 Corinthians 15:12–19, he argues that if Christ has not been raised, Christian preaching and faith are ultimately empty.

The Gospel accounts describe Jesus' empty tomb and encounters with the risen Jesus (Matthew 28; Luke 24; John 20–21). Paul also preserves an early summary of Christian belief identifying witnesses who claimed to have seen the risen Christ (1 Corinthians 15:3–8).

Historians can investigate the sources surrounding these claims, including early Christian writings, the circumstances of Jesus' execution, and the emergence of the resurrection movement. Paul's letters show that belief in the resurrection was central to Christianity from its earliest decades.

Historical investigation cannot reproduce the resurrection in a laboratory, and people disagree about how best to explain the evidence. Some find the testimony of the early Christians persuasive, while others remain skeptical of miraculous explanations.

Christians believe the resurrection is God's decisive victory over sin and death. It vindicates Jesus' identity, announces the beginning of a new creation, and gives us hope that death will not have the final word.

Our Wesleyan tradition emphasizes that salvation is not only about forgiveness but also transformation through the Holy Spirit. Because Jesus is alive, we believe God can change our hearts, free us from the power of sin, and teach us to love God and our neighbors more fully (Romans 6:4–11; Galatians 5:22–25).

The resurrection isn't simply a historical claim about what happened to Jesus. It's the foundation of Christian hope for our lives and for the future of creation.

If you're curious, try reading Luke 24 or John 20. Ask what these accounts claim happened, why the first Christians believed it, and what it would mean if they were right.

Explore further: Luke 24; John 20; Acts 2:22–36; Romans 6:1–11; 1 Corinthians 15.

Yes. Christians and Christian institutions have sometimes caused terrible harm, and that history should not be minimized.

Christians have participated in slavery, colonialism, religious persecution, racism, and the abuse of power. Churches have sometimes protected their reputations instead of vulnerable people, silenced those who raised concerns, or confused loyalty to an institution with faithfulness to Jesus.

These failures have caused real suffering, sometimes across generations.

The Bible itself is remarkably candid about the failures of God's people. The prophets condemned religious communities that neglected justice and exploited the vulnerable (Isaiah 1:10–17; Amos 5:21–24). Jesus sharply criticized religious leaders who burdened others, neglected mercy, and used spiritual authority for their own benefit (Matthew 23).

Jesus also taught that leadership among his followers should be characterized by service rather than power (Mark 10:42–45).

Our Free Methodist heritage speaks directly to this question. The Free Methodist Church was founded in 1860 by Benjamin Titus Roberts and other Christians who believed the Church needed to confront injustices within its own life. They opposed slavery, challenged the practice of renting church pews to those who could afford them, and advocated for women's participation in Christian ministry.

Their example reminds us that loyalty to Jesus is not the same as defending every action of a religious institution.

Christianity has also inspired movements for justice, education, healthcare, abolition, and care for the poor. Those contributions matter, but they don't erase the harm Christians have done.

We believe the appropriate Christian response begins with honesty, repentance, accountability, and meaningful change. Scripture calls Christians not merely to speak about love, but to demonstrate it through their actions (1 John 3:16–18). James warns that religious devotion without practical care for vulnerable people is empty (James 1:26–27).

We also believe the Church, despite its failures, is deeply loved by Jesus and called to participate in his work of reconciliation and renewal (Ephesians 5:25–27; 2 Corinthians 5:18–20). Its failures make the call to repentance and faithfulness all the more urgent.

At BFMC, we want to be a church that takes Jesus seriously enough to examine our own lives and practices. We know that living faithfully requires humility, accountability, and a willingness to change.

If you've been hurt by a church, we don't expect you to dismiss that experience in order to explore Christianity. Your story matters, and you deserve to be heard.

Explore further: Isaiah 1:10–17; Amos 5:21–24; Matthew 23; Mark 10:35–45; James 1:26–27.

Christianity makes a distinctive claim: salvation is found through Jesus Christ. We don't believe that all religions are simply different paths to the same destination, and we don't think it would be honest to pretend otherwise.

Christians believe Jesus is uniquely significant because he is not simply another religious teacher. We believe that in Jesus, God entered human history, reconciled the world to himself through the cross, and defeated death through the resurrection.

Jesus described himself as the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). The apostles similarly proclaimed that salvation comes through him (Acts 4:12).

At the same time, our Wesleyan tradition emphasizes the extraordinary breadth of God's love and grace. We believe Jesus Christ died for the sins of the whole world (John 3:16–17; 1 John 2:2). God's grace reaches toward every person, inviting each of us to respond in faith.

John Wesley described this as prevenient grace: God's loving initiative that comes before our response, awakening us to our need for him and enabling us to turn toward Christ. This doesn't mean everyone is automatically saved. It means God's offer of grace is genuinely extended to all.

Scripture teaches that God desires all people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:3–6) and that his judgments are perfectly just (Genesis 18:25). We therefore approach people of other faiths with humility and respect, trusting God with questions about individual lives that we cannot fully answer.

Believing something is true doesn't give us permission to treat people who disagree with contempt. Every human being bears God's image (Genesis 1:26–27). Jesus commanded his followers to love their neighbors and even their enemies (Matthew 5:43–48). Peter instructed Christians to explain their hope with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15–16).

Our responsibility is to bear witness to Jesus with humility, love our neighbors, and trust God's goodness and justice.

If you come from another religious background, we'd be glad to hear your story and learn what questions you have about Jesus. You don't need to hide your beliefs to have a meaningful conversation with us.

Explore further: Genesis 1:26–27; John 3:16–17; John 14:1–7; Acts 17:22–31; 1 Timothy 2:1–6; 1 Peter 3:13–16.

You don't need to have every question answered before you begin exploring Jesus. The Bible itself includes people who wrestled with uncertainty, disappointment, and difficult questions about God.

The Psalms contain prayers of confusion and protest. Job wrestles with suffering and divine justice. Habakkuk questions God's apparent silence in the face of injustice.

One of the most moving stories in the Gospels involves a father who brings his suffering child to Jesus. When Jesus invites him to believe, the father responds, "I believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24).

Jesus doesn't dismiss him.

After the resurrection, Thomas struggled to believe the testimony of the other disciples. Jesus met Thomas in his doubt and invited him to examine the evidence before him (John 20:24–29).

Our Wesleyan tradition emphasizes that faith is not simply agreement with a set of ideas. It is a living relationship with God, made possible by grace and nurtured through prayer, Scripture, worship, and Christian community.

John Wesley himself experienced seasons of spiritual uncertainty. In 1738, during a gathering on Aldersgate Street in London, he described a profound assurance of God's grace and his trust in Christ for salvation. That experience became an important part of his spiritual journey, though it didn't mean he would never face further struggles.

Doubt can emerge from intellectual questions, painful experiences, disappointment, or a desire to distinguish what we've inherited from what we genuinely believe. Not every question is resolved quickly, and some may remain open for a long time.

We believe God welcomes honest questions, and we also believe he invites us toward trust. The goal of exploring faith isn't to remain indefinitely uncertain, but to discover whether Jesus is who he claimed to be and what it would mean to follow him.

Faith isn't the absence of every unanswered question. It's learning what it means to trust God, even as we continue seeking understanding.

At BFMC, we open Scripture together, pray for one another, and learn to follow Jesus in the middle of ordinary life. You don't need to have everything figured out to join us in that journey.

Explore further: Psalm 13; Habakkuk 1–3; Mark 9:14–29; John 20:24–29; Romans 8:15–16.

Absolutely. You don't need to be a Christian to attend BFMC, and you don't need to agree with everything we teach before walking through the doors.

Jesus regularly welcomed people who were curious, skeptical, confused, or unsure what to make of him. When two of John the Baptist's disciples asked where Jesus was staying, he responded with a simple invitation: "Come and see" (John 1:35–39).

Later, when Nathanael expressed skepticism about Jesus, Philip offered the same invitation (John 1:43–46).

We hope BFMC reflects something of that spirit.

Hospitality is deeply connected to our Free Methodist heritage. When the Free Methodist Church began in 1860, its founders challenged the practice of charging people for preferred seating in worship. They believed the Church should be a place where people could encounter God without barriers created by wealth or social status.

That conviction continues to shape our understanding of Christian community. We believe every person bears God's image and deserves to be treated with dignity and love, regardless of their background, questions, or beliefs.

You're welcome to join us on Sunday mornings, listen to the teaching, get to know people, and ask questions. You can participate at your own pace while you explore what you believe about Jesus.

We are a Christian church with real convictions. We believe Jesus is Lord, that Scripture matters, and that following Jesus changes the way we live. We won't hide those convictions, but we also won't expect you to pretend they're already yours.

Our mission is to help more people find and follow Jesus in Brockport and beyond. Whether you've followed Jesus for years or are only beginning to wonder about him, we'd love to meet you.

Explore further: John 1:35–51; Luke 15:1–32; Mark 2:13–17; Romans 2:4.