What is the purpose of the Confessions and Catechisms?

[shackleton]

Are they merely a guideline? Something we refer back to when needing to define our faith? How much weight should they have when deciding on issues of life and morality?

 

[NaphtaliPress]

See the board rules
The PuritanBoard - Forum Rules

And see The Utility and Importance of Creeds and Confessions by Samuel Miller.
The Utility and Importance of Creeds ... - Google Book Search

 

[NaphtaliPress]

And as far as the confessions and the PB see:
http://www.puritanboard.com/f67/what-reformed-board-24779/

 

[N. Eshelman]

AA Hodge lists 4 reasons for creeds and confessions in his commentary on the Confession of Faith.

Let's see if I can remember all 4......

1. They are markers of the attainments of the church.
2. They distinguish between true and false teachers.
3. They serve a pedagogical function.
4. ___________________________________

Anyone....? I will look it up later.

 

[Christusregnat]

Are they merely a guideline? Something we refer back to when needing to define our faith? How much weight should they have when deciding on issues of life and morality?

Shack,

Christianity is God's revealed religion. God is ultimately, and infinitely wise, truthful, and rational. Thus, whatever He reveals is wise, truthful and rational. God does not reveal inconsistent or contradictory propositions.

That said, His revelation must be viewed and understood, not as a set of unrelated (albeit heartwarming) ideas. Rather, Scripture is one consistent whole, and therefore may be brought together into a "pattern of sound doctrine" or a system of truth; a confession.

Thus, when a particular confession is in line with the teaching of Scripture, it is the same as God's Word. Here's how the WCF puts it:

Chap. 1:VI. The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added

Note, nothing is to be added to what Scripture explicitly says, or to what may be deduced from Scripture using good and necessary consequence: theology.

Confessions are a bulwark against error, an encouragement to piety, and are a lowest-common-denominator, from which the church may then grow into the fullness of Him Who fills all in all.

Without sound confessions, we are subject to every wind of doctrine, the trickiness of men and their craftiness.

Here's a contemporary example. The Federal Vision is interested in twisting Scripture to say certain irrational propositions, clearly contrary to sound biblical theology and the Reformed confessions: justification is perfected or completed "eschatologically", based (at least in part) on our good works.

The Confessions soundly condemn this sort of mishandling of Scripture, and therefore, we are spared the trouble of giving such drivel a second hearing. We need not be troubled by the shades of falsehood, but may confidently affirm the truth, and move on. See Hebrews 6 for an example of people who had to rediscover the basics, rather than progress. Confessions are a help to this good end.

Not sure that this answers all questions, but I think is a starting point.

Cheers,

 

[VirginiaHuguenot]

AA Hodge lists 4 reasons for creeds and confessions in his commentary on the Confession of Faith.

Let's see if I can remember all 4......

1. They are markers of the attainments of the church.
2. They distinguish between true and false teachers.
3. They serve a pedagogical function.
4. ___________________________________

Anyone....? I will look it up later.

A.A. Hodge, Outlines of Theology:

2. What are their legitimate uses?

They have been found in all ages of the church useful for the following purposes. (1.) To mark, preserve and disseminate the attainments made in the knowledge of Christian truth by any branch of the church in any grand crisis of its development. (2.) To discriminate the truth from the glosses of false teachers, and accurately to define it in its integrity and due proportions. (3.) To act as the bond of ecclesiastical fellowship among those so nearly agreed as to be able to labor together in harmony. (4.) To be used as instruments in the great work of popular instruction.

Creeds & Confessions, by A.A. Hodge

 

[N. Eshelman]

So I had 4, but not three. Bonds of Christian fellowship, right.

 

[MW]

A creed is the Word of God "believed." A confession is the Word of God "confessed." A catechism is the Word of God "taught." If they are looked on as anything less than this then the words "creed," "confession," and "catechism" are dishonest.

 

[Iconoclast]

Are they merely a guideline? Something we refer back to when needing to define our faith? How much weight should they have when deciding on issues of life and morality?

Many religions and cults claim to believe the bible. The real question becomes what do you believe the bible teaches?
This in part is the purpose of these documents.They exist to offer both instruction and protection from error ,and cult like practices.
When a new convert joins a confessional church , he or she should have a reasonable expectation that the members will believe and conduct themselves in accordance with what they profess,and confess in these documents. This should promote unity in the truth ,discipleship, further material for godly meditation on the works of the Lord.
To give a new convert a systematic theology might be like trying to feed an infant a nice porterhouse steak. The food is good ,but strong meat belongs to those of full age. These documents seek to introduce the same kind of good food in more manageable portions
In a negative way- if a member drifts from the faith these standards can be used as a benchmark to call the straying person to repentance.