3.04.2006
The Professor’s Church vs The Confessional Church
One of my latest blog additions is a fellow Baptist-bred Presbyterian sympathizer. This is one of the "big ideas" that I've been kicking around for the last year or so. "Professor" above does not refer to a college teacher, but rather to 'one who professes.' The distinction is made between churches that simply require a profession of faith versus those that require a stricter adherance to a detailed confession of beliefs.
I tend to agree with Tom's conclusions about preferring the "confessional church" model. It was clear in Paul's letters that he was quite concerned about the doctrinal purity of the fledgling churches that he was planting. He went so far as to cast harsh anathemas against those who would "preach another gospel" (Gal. 1:8-9; 2 Cor. 11:4,13-14). He even railed against Peter, the chief apostle, for his doctrinal errancy (Gal. 2:11-21).
While Christians should certainly celebrate their unity in Christ, the "lowest common denominator" of this unity is being compromised on many fronts. The dangers of relativism are quickly creeping into the christian camp, asserting that truth is simply whatever you want it to be. The church needs to stand again, and state with Peter that scripture was penned by the movement of the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:20-21), and that doctrines within may not simply be skimmed over and put by the wayside in favor of 10,000 member megachurches. I am afraid that if we are not faithful with the small things, that eventually we may comprimise that gospel itself in order to "have church." The recent Swedish pastor that was imprisoned for preaching against homosexuality shows how the ideas of universal acceptance and religious tolerance are beginning to wear away the fabric of the gospel.
1 John 1:8Heaven forbid the day that sin cannot be preached against. Let us not then balk at churches who hold high their confessions, for they are merely guarding against what could soon be blatant attacks on the gospel of Christ.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
# posted by Sir Omer : 3/04/2006 09:26:00 AM
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
