|
Kristine:
The Reformers would not recognize many of the groups who call themselves 'Reformed' today as Reformed. The easiest way to identify what is Reformed and whether or not a particular ecclesiastical body is Reformed is to examine whether or not they faithfully adhere to the confession(s) of the Reformed faith. This would include the Three Forms of Unity (the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism & the Canons of Dordrecht) and/or the Westminster Standards.
Other groups identify with many of the tenets of these standards but deny essential points that undermine the system of doctrine upheld in the aforementioned doctrinal standards and thus cannot properly be called Reformed. This is why, among other reasons, church history and the historical creeds and confessions of the church are so important: people keep trying to change definitions and it gets rather confusing!
Signed,
A confessional curmudgeon
|