Monday, April 11, 2016

Parachurch creeds?!?

While I certainly do not want to appear at odds with creedal statements, I cannot help but wonder what ecclesiastical authority can one posit in a creed which is sourced from a parachurch organization.  Ligonier Ministries, the teaching ministry arm of R. C. Sproul and a Reformed parachurch group, have produced a creed, well, a series of Affirmations and Denials focusing upon  Christology - a "Christology Statement" entitled The Word Made Flesh.

  • We confess the mystery and wonder of God made flesh and rejoice in our great salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.
  • With the Father and the Holy Spirit, the Son created all things, sustains all things, and makes all things new. Truly God, He became truly man, two natures in one person.
  • He was born of the Virgin Mary and lived among us. Crucified, dead, and buried, He rose on the third day, ascended to heaven, and will come again in glory and judgement.
  • For us, He kept the Law, atoned for sin, and satisfied God’s wrath. He took our filthy rags and gave us His righteous robe.
  • He is our Prophet, Priest, and King, building His church, interceding for us, and reigning over all things.
  • Jesus Christ is Lord; we praise His holy Name forever.
  • Amen.
Note that this Christological statement or creed is the product of a brand name in the parachurch marketplace.  It was not created by or for congregations or by a denomination.  It was not agreed upon by ecumenical representatives or developed by theologians as a common statement.  It was not the fruit of an ecumenical council.  It is not tied to a diocese or particular geographic locale but to a man, R. C. Spoul, and his teaching ministry enterprise -- a Christian business, so to speak.

I am not at all suggesting that it is by nature evil or corrupt or false but I do question the authority that has issued this creed and why those involved with its making did not instead appeal to on the of the classic creeds of Christendom (Apostles, Nicene, or Athanasian -- ok, I get why they did not promote the Athanasian Creed with its opening assertion of the catholic faith).  A creed is by nature a statement not of an individual or of a group of individuals but a common voice of the faithful spoken for the faith and against those who deny it.  So the creeds have been few and far between in Christian history and yet not without status and a stature among the faithful that has allowed them to endure not as remnants of a past era but as current statements of the unchanging Christian faith.

Whether or not the creed is good or bad, eloquent or pedestrian, it does not matter.  It is a voice that belongs not to a parachurch organization promoting the teaching ministry of one individual but it rightfully belongs to the Church.


While I wonder what possible ecclesiastical authority a Creed can have when offered by a parachurch organization, - See more at: http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2016/02/reviewing-ligoniers-christolog.php#sthash.e82R0v4C.dpuf
I wonder what possible ecclesiastical authority a Creed can have when offered by a parachurch organization - See more at: http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2016/02/reviewing-ligoniers-christolog.php#sthash.e82R0v4C.dpuf
I wonder what possible ecclesiastical authority a Creed can have when offered by a parachurch organization - See more at: http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2016/02/reviewing-ligoniers-christolog.php#sthash.e82R0v4C.dpuf

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