Last week we ended on the hang-up about infant baptism. Calvin shrugged. Baxter sighed. The Reformed do not see infant baptism as the automatic guarantee of salvation; it ‘simply’ means inclusion into the Covenant of Grace made possible by the application of Christ’s person and work by the Spirit through faith, and so on. Many evangelicals are hesitant to sign on with Reformed distinctive and traditions, I know; it took us forever to figure this stuff out and we’re still working on it. R. Scott Clark’s awesome book Recovering the Reformed Confession has a very helpful analogy when it comes to ‘traditional’ forms of worship and all around Christianity: Marriage. We go into marriage, says Clark, knowing full well the other person isn’t perfect in every way. Sin and snoring are not exactly the grounds for divorce or never marrying, but what would Clark say to those that don’t want a marriage that looks like their parents?
One thing I’ve been struck by most about a more confessional approach to Christian life in general is that it’s handy around the house. Our kids are at the question asking stage which is very joyful for parents and at times highly annoying. In the few moments I’m able to hide from the family I find reading the confessions provides needed material for rapid-fire questions from bright young minds. I’d even dare say the secret to reading and relating to confessional is the parent-child relationship. The confessions (and catechisms as well) seem rigid but we have to remember, it’s less about form and more about content when conveying the concepts of creation, fall, redemption, faith, hope, and love, to the most important people in our lives.
It’s all a recipe for trust. I wouldn’t burden you with this question if I didn’t consider it myself, but, does the North American church really trust itself? Can evangelicals (nationally) do any real amount of self-reflection and critical-spiritual evaluation and come away with real certainty and assurance of faith? I’m sure it can. But for all my prior religious industry I’ve come to confessional theology with a strange kind of deficiency. Not because I feel inferior or less smart, or envy their vintage horn-rimmed glasses. In terms of ecclesiology, coming to confessional theology feels like some deeply rooted dyslexia has been mended. No scolding, no guilt-trips, no inferiority complexes to address, just a settled unity between church life and home life. It’s really good stuff.
One thing I’ve been struck by most about a more confessional approach to Christian life in general is that it’s handy around the house. Our kids are at the question asking stage which is very joyful for parents and at times highly annoying. In the few moments I’m able to hide from the family I find reading the confessions provides needed material for rapid-fire questions from bright young minds. I’d even dare say the secret to reading and relating to confessional is the parent-child relationship. The confessions (and catechisms as well) seem rigid but we have to remember, it’s less about form and more about content when conveying the concepts of creation, fall, redemption, faith, hope, and love, to the most important people in our lives.
It’s all a recipe for trust. I wouldn’t burden you with this question if I didn’t consider it myself, but, does the North American church really trust itself? Can evangelicals (nationally) do any real amount of self-reflection and critical-spiritual evaluation and come away with real certainty and assurance of faith? I’m sure it can. But for all my prior religious industry I’ve come to confessional theology with a strange kind of deficiency. Not because I feel inferior or less smart, or envy their vintage horn-rimmed glasses. In terms of ecclesiology, coming to confessional theology feels like some deeply rooted dyslexia has been mended. No scolding, no guilt-trips, no inferiority complexes to address, just a settled unity between church life and home life. It’s really good stuff.
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