Bethel

      There are many churches today that not only do not have any public creeds, but disdain those churches that do. Their argument is along the line that they have no creed but the Bible, which is their sole authority for faith and practice. 

      This sounds pious, but what is their interpretation and understanding of the Bible? What, for example, is their view of election or baptism? The reality is all churches have a creed, it is just not always a public one. It may be named a “confession of faith” or it may be just an unpublished understanding, but there is a firm doctrinal viewpoint that is both held and taught in every church.

       At Bethel, we believe the Bible is the very word of God and our final authority for all that we believe and practice. The Westminster Confession of Faith expresses it this way:  

      “The supreme judge by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture.” (WCF, ch. 1, Pr. 10)

        But we also have creeds and confessions that publicly and clearly state how we understand the Bible and what our interpretation of the Scriptures to be.

       With Christians down through the centuries and across denominational lines, we hold to the Apostles’ Creed, as a clear statement of the basic Christian faith. This Creed makes clear foundational Biblical doctrines.

       We have a more detailed exposition of our understanding of the teaching of the Bible in the Westminster Standards. Written over several years by some of the most godly and educated men of the early 1600s, the Westminster Standards give a clear interpretation of the Scriptures teaching on most doctrinal subjects.

       The use of creeds and confessions also has very practical application. For example, a pastor must not teach anything contrary to the Standards. If a church’s Session and Presbytery rule that he is out of harmony with the Standards, he will be required to either change his teaching and conform to the confession or leave the pulpit.

       There is no secret agenda in Creedal churches. You know exactly what we believe and teach and there is accountability for leaders to stay within those guidelines.

       If you have not done so, I would encourage you to read the Westminster Confession. It is beautifully and exactly written and is instructive to the soul and mind regarding exactly what the Bible does teach and how the church is to function. You can find links to the historic creeds of the church on the “About Us” tab.