Our binding to the confessions of the church is a fundamental condition for the identity of the true church and its members. In other words, it is essential for being a true church and for being a member of such a church. Since Scripture is the source of the confessions, I will address this topic in the following order: first, I will clarify what constitutes the church of Christ; then I will discuss the value of Holy Scripture as the guide for the church. After that, I will reflect on the value of our binding to the church’s confessions.
Reformed Churches
There are many churches that claim to be “Christian churches.” Among them, listed alphabetically, are: Anabaptist (Mennonite), Anglican, Arminian (Remonstrant), Baptist, Evangelical, “Liberal,” Lutheran, Mormon (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), Presbyterian, Reformed, and Roman Catholic churches. It is not difficult to identify doctrinal errors in those churches that are not Reformed. However, it is less easy to do so for churches that call themselves “Reformed.” In the Netherlands alone, there are at least eight churches that claim to be Reformed.
All of these Reformed churches trace their origins back to the great Reformation of the sixteenth century and the Synod of Dort (Netherlands), held in 1618–1619. The name “Reformed” itself signifies that the church has returned to the true form of the church—meaning that it has returned to Holy Scripture as its sole foundation.
Following the deformation of the Roman Catholic Church—which, as the worldwide Christian church, had its roots in apostolic times—there was a return to the truth of Scripture in the sixteenth century concerning both doctrine and life. However, that return, or reformation, cannot be viewed as a static event. True reformation demands continuous reformation due to our sinful nature and the ongoing rise of errors over time. Therefore, the name “Reformed Church” in itself does not guarantee that a church remains truly reformed.
In Canada, too, there are at least nine churches—mostly of Dutch origin—that call themselves “Reformed.” All of them were established after the National Synod of Dort (1618). Among them (alphabetically) are: the Canadian Reformed Churches, the Christian Reformed Churches, the Liberated Reformed Church of Abbotsford, the Protestant Reformed Churches, the United Reformed Churches, and various experiential Reformed churches. Additionally, there are Presbyterian churches that also claim the title “Reformed.”
So how do we distinguish the true church among all these churches? The true church is one that is genuinely Reformed and continuously active in reforming itself according to Scripture. For this purpose, we have our confessions.
Distinction
The Belgic Confession, in particular, is important for distinguishing the true Reformed church from others. Article 29 teaches us “to discern diligently and very carefully from the Word of God what is the true church.”
This confession acknowledges the confusion caused by “sects,” which still exist today. These “sects” include churches that claim the name of Christian church. Article 29 of the Belgic Confession clarifies this: “We are speaking of the body and the communion of the true church, which must be distinguished from all sects that call themselves the church.”
A truly Reformed church is one that faithfully maintains the truth of Scripture and is therefore bound to the confessions that agree with Scripture. Such a church must also be recognized as a Catholic Christian Church (Article 27 BC). Article 29 identifies three marks of the true church:
- The pure preaching of the gospel
- The pure administration of the sacraments
- The exercise of church discipline for correcting and punishing sin
It adds a summary and application: “In short, it governs itself according to the pure Word of God, rejecting all things contrary to it and regarding Jesus Christ as the only Head.” All these marks point to obedience to Jesus Christ and God’s Word.
To put it in our own words: What Christ asks of His church can be stated positively—His church must teach and live as His followers, recognizing Him as the only Head, and living in faith according to His Word as the only truth. It can also be stated negatively—the true church must constantly expose and reject anything that contradicts God’s Word, as such contradictions obstruct faithful following of Christ.
The Authority of Scripture
To properly assess the issue of binding to the church’s confessions, we must begin by considering the value, significance, and authority of the Word of God—because the confessions are human summaries and derivatives of God’s Word.
Scripture has been breathed out by God (2 Tim. 3:16), meaning the entire Scripture is from God Himself. God used people through His Spirit, within their own situations and with their unique gifts, in such a way that their words became the very words of God.
Through Scripture, God reveals Himself to His people. In it, Christ reveals Himself as our Savior. Therefore, Scripture is divine revelation and possesses absolute divine authority. As the Truth, Scripture is the ultimate standard and norm.
We must deeply esteem the high status of God’s Word, the Holy Scripture. Articles 2–7 of the Belgic Confession testify to this. These articles state:
- The authority of Holy Scripture is absolute because God is its Author.
- This authority applies to all of Scripture.
- There is unity in Scripture, because God is its single Author—thus, the Old and New Testaments reveal one continuous redemptive history.
- Scripture is clear, perfect, and complete. It is fully sufficient for salvation.
The Authority of the Confessions
The confessions point us to Scripture as the church’s only foundation and guide. They do not carry the same authority as God’s Word, since they are human writings. However, because they summarize Scripture and are in agreement with it, they are helpful for teaching and living according to God’s truth. They also help expose and reject heresies and sins.
The church has therefore composed its confessions as a generous gift from God. They do not carry divine authority but do hold ecclesiastical authority.
Scripture is the Norma normans—the absolute norm that gives norm to the confessions because they are in agreement with It. The confessions are Norma normata—they receive their authority and normative role from Scripture. Since they summarize Scripture, no part of them is irrelevant or can be omitted or denied. There is no distinction between an essential “core” and a non-essential “periphery” within the confessions.
A thorough knowledge of all the church’s confessions—and a sincere commitment to them—is crucial to becoming and remaining truly Christian and Reformed, as followers of Jesus Christ.
(to be continued)