N. Eshelman
Puritan Board Senior
Brothers,
I have a question that deals with the Belgic Confession's language of "false church/true church" as it relates to Baptists.
In the Westminster tradition, we use the language of "more pure or less pure" when talking about the church. Chapter 25.4 of the Westminster Confession reads, " This catholic Church hath been sometimes more, sometimes less visible. And particular churches, which are members thereof, are more or less pure, according as the doctrine of the Gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship performed more or less purely in them." It would seem that according to Westminster doctrine we could say that Baptist churches are less pure than Presbyterian Churches (I am not trying to offend, brothers... here me out.)
The Belgic Confession, article 29, which deals with the church, uses the language of true/false church. Here is what they have to say about the false church, "As for the false Church, it ascribes more power and authority to itself and its ordinances than to the Word of God, and will not submit itself to the yoke of Christ. Neither does it administer the sacraments as appointed by Christ in His Word, but adds to and takes from them, as it thinks proper; it relies more upon men than upon Christ; and persecutes those who live holily according to the Word of God and rebuke it for its errors, covetousness, and idolatry."
Here's my loaded question (and this is a real pastoral question, not a fight pickin' for my Baptist friends), According to the doctrine of the Belgic Confession, are Baptist churches FALSE churches? Why or why not?
I know it's a hot question... please help me in answering it.
Nathan
I have a question that deals with the Belgic Confession's language of "false church/true church" as it relates to Baptists.
In the Westminster tradition, we use the language of "more pure or less pure" when talking about the church. Chapter 25.4 of the Westminster Confession reads, " This catholic Church hath been sometimes more, sometimes less visible. And particular churches, which are members thereof, are more or less pure, according as the doctrine of the Gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship performed more or less purely in them." It would seem that according to Westminster doctrine we could say that Baptist churches are less pure than Presbyterian Churches (I am not trying to offend, brothers... here me out.)
The Belgic Confession, article 29, which deals with the church, uses the language of true/false church. Here is what they have to say about the false church, "As for the false Church, it ascribes more power and authority to itself and its ordinances than to the Word of God, and will not submit itself to the yoke of Christ. Neither does it administer the sacraments as appointed by Christ in His Word, but adds to and takes from them, as it thinks proper; it relies more upon men than upon Christ; and persecutes those who live holily according to the Word of God and rebuke it for its errors, covetousness, and idolatry."
Here's my loaded question (and this is a real pastoral question, not a fight pickin' for my Baptist friends), According to the doctrine of the Belgic Confession, are Baptist churches FALSE churches? Why or why not?
I know it's a hot question... please help me in answering it.
Nathan