If we grant the legitimacy and usefulness of a confession of faith, we're faced with two practical questions: first, what particular confession of faith should a local church or collective body of churches adopt? And, second, what type or level of confessional subscription should such a church or body of churches require of its officers … Continue reading Choosing & Using a Confession of Faith
Confessional Subscription: Its Terms and Types
We normally associate the term “subscription” with signing up to receive certain periodicals, journals, and/or magazines to which we’ve “subscribed.” In religious or ecclesiastical parlance, however, the terms “subscription” or “subscribe” when tied to a doctrinal creed or confession refers to one’s affirmation of, agreement with, and commitment to a fixed body of doctrines or … Continue reading Confessional Subscription: Its Terms and Types
The Validity & Value of Confessions
The tensions were high. In June of 1922, the Northern Baptist Convention convened under the theme, “Agreed to Differ, but Resolved to Love.” One might dispute whether the resolution was successfully carried out. But no one will debate that they “agreed to differ.” The tensions were high. Perhaps one of the sharpest differences came to a … Continue reading The Validity & Value of Confessions
Dr. Bob Gonzales on the Validity and Value of Confessions
To continue the theme begun by Jeff Johnson regarding the importance and necessity of confessions (here and here), I would like to bring to your attention some articles by Bob Gonzales at his new blog, It Is Written, where he has been writing a series of posts on the validity and value of confessions. There … Continue reading Dr. Bob Gonzales on the Validity and Value of Confessions
Countering Anti-confessionalism – Part 2
Part 1, which dealt with the nature of mysticism and its introduction into Christianity, was posted last week here. This post concludes the two part series. The Introduction of Existentialism into Christianity Friedrich Schleiermacher (1768–1834), the Father of Modern Liberal Theology, sought to reconcile postmodernism (the ineffable nature of ultimate reality) with Christianity. Schleiermacher reasoned … Continue reading Countering Anti-confessionalism – Part 2
Countering Anti-confessionalism – Part 1
Much of contemporary Christianity has forsaken its roots and has become overtly non-confessional. Churches are no longer Baptist, Presbyterian, or Methodist, but rather they have become non-denominational and even inter-denominational. First Baptist Church has changed its name to The Journey, and the Bible Church has become the New Life Church. The Church on the Rock … Continue reading Countering Anti-confessionalism – Part 1