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What is Essential

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by

mwkruse
in ,

From the Reformed Angler: What is Essential

There has been much discussion of what constitutes the Essential Tenets of the Reformed Faith, with people dividing into two divergent camps: Those who feel that there ARE essential tenets and those who don't.

Those who believe there ARE essential tenets that can be identified will find them in Scripture and the Book of Confessions.

The prevailing "official" attitude seems to be that since there isn't a section in the Book of Order labeled "Essential Tenets", that we are free to come up with our own list; a doctrinal cafeteria, if you will.

As Beau Weston has pointed out, 1967 was the year the Presbyterian Church went from one doctrinal statement to a Book of Confessions, not all of which emphasized the same points. As a result, even those who look to the Book of Confessions for guidance as to what Scripture "leads us to believe and do" have an often bewildering set of confessional choices to wade through. …

Comments

9 responses to “What is Essential”

  1. Dana Ames Avatar
    Dana Ames

    What was the doctrinal statement before 1967?
    D.

    Reply
  2. Denis Hancock Avatar
    Denis Hancock

    The Westminster Confession of Faith was authoritative confession of faith prior to 1867.

    Reply
  3. Michael Kruse Avatar
    Michael Kruse

    “…prior to 1867.”
    Prior to 1967 too. 🙂

    Reply
  4. Dana Ames Avatar
    Dana Ames

    Well, it’s a good thing I’m a Presbyterian now rather than before 1967. I’m a bit allergic to creeds/confessions that begin with a statement about the bible. It’s not that I don’t agree with the statement; usually I do. It’s that I think the first thing we say needs to be about the Trinity. Which is why I like the ancient creeds and the Brief Statement of Faith the best. My $.02 for the day.
    Dana

    Reply
  5. Michael Kruse Avatar
    Michael Kruse

    Beau Weston’s analyis in his books (with which I agree) was that prior to the controversies of the 1920s the Westminster Confession was the “Statement of Faith” that the church followed. The way things played out it left the Confession in as almost a non-binding standard. When the denom decided to write a confession (Confession of 1967) and then add several others in to a book of Confessions, it really diluted the authoritative status of our confessional structure. The Book of Order then became the place to find or add binding standards. Now those can be scrupled and there is nothing officially defined as essential although we all supposed to be evaluating officers according to the essentials. That is the short history as I see it.

    Reply
  6. Dana Ames Avatar
    Dana Ames

    Thanks, your explanation is clearer. The denom’s is about as clear as mud…
    D.

    Reply
  7. Michael Kruse Avatar
    Michael Kruse

    “The denom’s is about as clear as mud…”
    I would consider that a generous characterization. 🙂

    Reply
  8. Denis Hancock Avatar
    Denis Hancock

    Thank-you, Dana, for alerting me to a weakness in my original posting. I had actually intended to put in a link for the Beau Weston reference, but didn’t get around to it. I have corrected that now.
    Personally, I feel that a little common sense is needed. Instead we argue over words and their meanings and, I fear, many ordination examinations are done with a wink and a nudge.
    Mike — do you ever wonder why the conspiracy theorists have never seized upon the fact that “denom” and “demon” are anagrams? [grin]

    Reply
  9. Michael Kruse Avatar
    Michael Kruse

    LOL
    Yeah. It is sort of like the dyslexic jihadist who tried to kill Santa because his mullah had posted a sign that said “Death to the Great Satan.”

    Reply

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