Many church website drop-down menus invite guests to examine the core doctrines of the church by clicking a button called, “What We Believe.” There is a working assumption that what the church believes shapes what the church does and ultimately what kind impact the church has on individuals.
Doctrinal statements, or what have been called “creeds” or “confessions” are not new. The apostle Paul articulated a confessional statement in his letter to the Corinthians,
“For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 (CSB)
Perhaps the most well known Christian creed is the Apostles Creed written in the first century. Other creeds and confessions of faith have followed in an effort to more clearly define foundational biblical teachings. They have been written not to add to the Scripture in any way, but to respond to heretical teachings and to more clearly define the meaning of the biblical text.
The “average Joe” Christian or observer may be tempted to think about doctrine as dry, archaic, and even, irrelevant language that attempts to prop up the out-of-date practices of the church. While studying doctrine does require thinking more deeply than most social media posts require, and while doctrinal statements are historic by nature, doctrine is anything but dry and irrelevant.
Consider for a moment these eight quick takes on doctrinal statements.... Read More
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