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Originally Posted by JohnOwen007  Dear Matthew, thanks for your comments, but I do struggle with the above point. Without a confession, Scripture is an "unintelligible mystery"? Did you really mean to say that, or was it just a rush of blood? It contradicts both Scripture itself and the classic reformation teaching of the clarity of Scripture (say outlined by Luther in the Bondage of the Will and then codified so well by the Protestant Orthodox systems). |
Marty, It is because of the clarity of Scripture that the church is able and mandated to confess what it teaches and renounce the hidden things of dishonesty. Your declaration of the "clarity of Scripture" is itself a confession. By that statement you have declared what you believe Scripture teaches concerning itself. Not only so, but you proceeded to examine my statements in the light of your confession on the clarity of Scripture, thereby evincing that you hold your confession to be normative in a secondary sense.
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Originally Posted by JohnOwen007 Yes, I found Steve's comment at this point interesting. I must confess I can't see the connection myself between the WCF's federal theology and politics. I'd certainly be open to being shown. |
Federalism was influential in 16th century political thought and shaped modern ideas of the social contract and democracy. It is inherent in the Confession's presentation of a religiously constituted magistrate who is excluded from assuming the administration of Word and sacraments.