The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Confession of Faith

It seems that there are as many ideas and practices in confessing ones faith as there are churches. What would constitute a "Reformed" and valid confession of faith for church membership?

Denny

Romans 3:22-24

In the two PCA churches that I'm familiar with the profession (that word is most often used, rather than confession)of faith consists of a person giving their Christian testimony, answering a few questions from the Session, and affirming 5 questions given in the Book of Church Order (BCO). That is referred as giving a credible profession of faith

The 5 questions are as follows from the BCO

John C,


Thanks John. Sorry about the "C" word. I might have been thinking about and old movie where Bing Crosby played a Roman Catholic priest? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/flee.gif" alt="" />

Denny

Romans 3:22-24

Denny, I have always wondered when this tradition started. I do nto see any example in the written word of man putting himself in the church, yet we see God adding to the church. I know this practice of conversion narrfatives became abused in new england. Many would be grilled for hours and hours. then people began to just say what the knew Edwards et al would want to hear. I have no problem with covenenting per se' but when it is done as a litmus test for membership, I dont see it in the writ

Joe K

I'm sure Adopted will give a good reply.

But how about these verses as a basis to make public confession. After all isn't our confession of faith part of our Christian life.

[color:"0000FF"]Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32, 33 [/color]

[color:"0000FF"]That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9, 10[/color]

Also a profession also depends on a churches view of the "Lord's Supper".

And just look at the damage being done by mega churches and there looseness
towards membership.

Williams <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/my2cents.gif" alt="" />

Denny,

We had a discussion on this topic before and you might find some of the comments in that thread helpful as well.

Confession of Faith


Wes <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/BigThumbUp.gif" alt="" />

Joe,

I'm not sure if I understand your question completely but I'll try to answer.


I don't think this is proper either. However, neither should we allow membership to those who only come to church for donuts and coffee or who may have a heretical agenda of their own. The purpose of my question is; to what extent or what is minimaly necessary in this profession or confession?


I believe that church order and discipline is demanded by Scripture and there is no better place to start than by examining the motives of potential members. In other words, since we are sinners, there are rules. IMO this may be "tradition" but tradition that is forced by Scriptural authority.

Denny

Romans 3:22-24

Denny I agree, but am infant believer does not know how to say shibboleth correctly, and may be denied "membership" becasue of this. The Church should be more concerned with teaching the members rather than making them say yea as a strict subscriptionist to a creed or confession when they have no clue. This has been abused and does not have the scriptural support. Look at everyone Christ encountered in the 3 years of His ministry. This is what we have to go by.

John 9, the blind begger. I can just see the pharasitical clergy now asking this person his conversion experience. And him answering, "I dont know, all I do know is I was blind and now I see " What do you think would happen? I know what would happen, denied membership. Look at acts 2. "What must I do to join the church?" Well let me ask you a bunch of questions, and depending on your answer, we will see. Is this what Peter said? Repent, be baptised....!!!!! Then they taught them after.

I dont know what the minimal requirement would be, perhaps Jesus is the Christ? I dont know

Thanks Wes,


I am at present going through these older posts.

Denny

Romans 3:22-24

Joe, I can't say that I've encountered a biblical church that requires full and strict subscription to a Reformed confession (e.g., WCF, Belgic, etc.). Granted, I may not have come across enough churches. But in the PCA, an affirmative response is required of members to the following five questions for admission to the Lord's Supper:


The session will normally examine the individual seeking membership to see if they have a valid and credible profession of faith--it is not a theological examination to determine whether they hold to historic Reformed theology or whether they accept every aspect of the Confession or whether they have even read the whole Bible, but simply to see whether, insofar as men may judge, they have genuinely been exposed to the Gospel truth and have received it with joyful hearts. This is it, sir, and tell me, which of these do you think is not already a duty incumbent upon the believer?