The impetus for this thread comes from the John Piper/Doug Wilson discussion. In that thread Rich appropriately (from the Presbyterian confessional position) criticized the dangers of congregational churches. A congregational vs. hierarchal form of church government debate is not going to be solved in short order. That's not the purpose of this thread. I want to discuss the dynamic between confessionalism and independency (for the purpose of discussion independency and congregational will be used synonomously).
Over the past year my church has been teaching the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith in Sunday School. The elders are in agreement that we want to propose to the church that we adopt the 1689 LBC as our doctrinal statement. We have also discussed the posibility of ARBCA membership after we adopt the 1689 LBC. In our study and discussions we have seen the benefits of strict and/or full confessional subscription. Our doctrine is grounded in a mutually agreed upon confession that accurately interprets scripture, as far as finite man is able to do such a thing. We've found it impossible to separate confessional orthodoxy from confessional orthopraxy. In short the change in our church's doctrine has had a pronounced impact on what we do. Our approach to worship has changed dramatically over the past few years. But I digress.
I believe that voluntary cooperation, and identification, with a group of like-minded churches provides strength to each member church. Shared theological views create this atmosphere of cooperation. The mutual accountability between churches discourages an individual church from straying off the theological farm. Such cooperation does not negate local church autonomy. Instead it strenthens it by providing safeguards against heresy.
For those of you who oppose independent churches I am not expecting you to have an epiphany. I still expect you to oppose it. I am interested in opinions and observations regarding independency and confessional subscription.
Over the past year my church has been teaching the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith in Sunday School. The elders are in agreement that we want to propose to the church that we adopt the 1689 LBC as our doctrinal statement. We have also discussed the posibility of ARBCA membership after we adopt the 1689 LBC. In our study and discussions we have seen the benefits of strict and/or full confessional subscription. Our doctrine is grounded in a mutually agreed upon confession that accurately interprets scripture, as far as finite man is able to do such a thing. We've found it impossible to separate confessional orthodoxy from confessional orthopraxy. In short the change in our church's doctrine has had a pronounced impact on what we do. Our approach to worship has changed dramatically over the past few years. But I digress.
I believe that voluntary cooperation, and identification, with a group of like-minded churches provides strength to each member church. Shared theological views create this atmosphere of cooperation. The mutual accountability between churches discourages an individual church from straying off the theological farm. Such cooperation does not negate local church autonomy. Instead it strenthens it by providing safeguards against heresy.
For those of you who oppose independent churches I am not expecting you to have an epiphany. I still expect you to oppose it. I am interested in opinions and observations regarding independency and confessional subscription.