Im not downplaying the importance of the Christian Confessions but how important is it for a Christian to write down or systematize their own Confession of beliefs?

Blade

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Nathan Olaf Brandal
First Baptist Church of Kirkland

"Man is nothing: he hath a free will to go to hell, but none to go to heaven, till God worketh in him to will and to do his good pleasure"
GEORGE WHITEFIELD TO JOHN WESLEY

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I think it is very important for a Christian to systematize our faith. We are called throughout scripture to confess our beliefs. This does not mean that we need to re-invent the wheel. We can start with the standard reformed confessions, find out if/where we agree/disagree with them, and move from there.

Praise God for devout men on whose shoulders we stand!

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Jeff Bartel
Mechanical Engineer
Member - Trinity Reformed Church - RPCNA

"To believe in the power of man in the work of regeneration is the great heresy of Rome, and from that error has come the ruin of the Church. Conversion proceeds from the grace of God alone, and the system which ascribes it partly to man and partly to God is worse than Pelagianism" (The Reformation in England (London, 1962), Vol. 1, p. 98)

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good advice

The early church did in the didache, but that is an argument from history.

Deuteronomy, tells us to write Gods precepts and laws on many things, and recite them often.

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Misery induces despair, pride induces presumption. The Incarnation shows man the
greatness of his misery by the greatness of the remedy which he required.
~ Pascal, Pensees 526

Well latley or more so for awhile it has been on my heart to not only study the confessions and great writers of our faith. But that I should have written down my beliefs. To in a way confirm what I beleive not that the confessions are wrong to adhere to but so that I know Ive put in the effort to write down 'THIS IS MY CONFESSION'. Not that its to confirm my salvation. Hmm

blade

I agree with Jeff. I would also add that I have noticed in my reading about the Scottish Covenanters that many used to write down personal covenants that they made with God or testimonies that they wanted to share with others. This is evident, for example, in A Cloud of Witnesses by Rev. John H. Thomson. Granted, the circumstances of the time in which they lived sometimes made such documents necessary, as when they were on trial for their beliefs or writing their last will and testament from prison. But covenanting, that is, promising yourself to God, both as to what you believe and how you will live, in the form of an oath, whether in the context of church membership or between you and God alone, is a Biblical form of confessing one's faith. Sometimes it helps to write down what one believes. Even if this is done in a journal for your eyes only. But it is especially meaningful, I think, when it is done in an ecclesiastical setting. Affirming church standards is a very good place to start.

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Andrew Myers
Husband of Jessica, Father of Jackson, Katie and Samuel
Member, Presbyterian Reformed Church of Northern Virginia
Warrenton, VA USA
Editor, The Matthew Poole Project

"Let your Morning Thoughts, and your last Evening Thoughts, be what shall become of you to all Eternity." -- Matthew Poole

So far this has been superb advice. Doesnt help being a procrastinator though

Do it on your blog

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~Keon Garraway~ Brooklyn, NY Member of Franklin Square OPC

Love for God demonstrated by the love for our children in giving them a God centered education is the only hope for our country. by David Morrow
Pslam 71:20 [Thou], which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

I don't know if it as important for a believer to write down (confess) what they believe, as it is that they know what they believe. As an under-shepherd of a local flock, I am more concerned with changed lives. That said, I do not disagree that writing a personal confession would be wrong. For those who are moved to to do so, it may be very helpful.

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Bill Brown
Elder
Grace Baptist Church
Anne Arundel County, Maryland

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