What Doctrine Does

It is not enough to say, "I believe in Jesus" without being able to articulate what that statement means. This is why the OPC Presbyterian church, my church, has articles of faith that aid in explaining what we mean by this statement. Unfortunately many churches are not able to move beyond the statement because they have no body of doctrine that helps to aid in its definition. A mere emotional response to the question of "who do you believe in?" does not explain who Jesus is.

I met a young man in Maine during my family's vacation who had similar experiences to mine. We grew up in Wesleyan churches and agreed together that what we were taught was nothing of substance; only to "believe in Christ".

Here then, in contrast, is what we, the OPC, has articulated, based on the Word of God, about who Jesus Christ was and is as expressed in our Articles of Faith, or more precisely, the Westminster Confession of Faith. Chapter 8 #1, Of Christ the Mediator, states the following:

I: It pleased God, in his eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, to be the Mediator between God and man, the Prophet, Priest, and King, the Head and Savior of his church, the Heir of all things, and Judge of the world: unto whom he did from all eternity give a people, to be his seed, and to be by him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.

II: The Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance and equal with the Father, died, when the fullness of time was come, take upon him man's nature, with all the essential properties, and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin; being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the virgin Mary, of her substance. So that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition or confusion. Which person is very God, and very man, yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and man.

There is little in my mind to doubt that the various churches who wish to deemphasize any body of doctrine for fear of offense of some do not understand nor do they truly comprehend why doctrine is so important to us. We are not interested in compromise for any price. By not emphasizing doctrinal statements such as the examples I have listed above will only lead individuals and churches to settle for generalities instead of specifics. But it is also consistent with various churches that say Christ died for everyone instead of only his elect. Both the Holy Scriptures as well as our Articles demonstrate that this is simply just not true. For if we settle for generalities we will remain content sipping milk instead of chewing the meat. Sipping milk is safer. Generalities also put matters of salvation contingent on our "faithfulness" instead of on God's sovereignty. Specifics strike down all doubt about whose these belong to while rendering our total dependence on Christ and Christ alone. Perhaps I am a little bit too general with my generalities assessment. If I need to clarify my thoughts more sufficiently then I'd be happy to make a go at it again.

-Joe