The Three Assumptions Of Confessionalism - 1128 Words

Many protestants, not brought up in liturgical church settings, find themselves taken aback and confused when first reading the Nicene Creed. This is true especially pertaining to what the creed says about the church. Unfortunately, in many Baptist, Pentecostal, and non-denominational Churches, the Nicene Creed is unfamiliar or unknown to the majority of Church members. A common argument against the use of creeds is â€Å"why use a creed when we’ve got the bible?† While this may seem to be rooted in a very high view of scripture, Carl R. Trueman suggests that it is possibly â€Å"an unwitting capitulation to the spirit of the age.† In short, Trueman argues that the three assumptions of confessionalism, the past being important and of positive relevance today, language as being a stable transmission of truth throughout time, and the need for a body or institution capable of composing and enforcing creeds, are all countercultural in today’s world. Truemanâ⠂¬â„¢s third assumption can sound like nails on a chalkboard for many Christians. A seemingly ironic distrust of religious organizations exists heavily within Christianity. This skepticism about the church is why â€Å"one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church† can be a difficult thing to say, let alone believe. However, it is a misunderstanding of the church that leads to distrusting the creed’s validity when it comes to the Bride of Christ. This paper sets out to affirm that there truly is one, holy, catholic an apostolic church. Even in