The Status of a Confession

by: Jon Brown

Currently in the United States several Christian denominations are deliberating over and voting on whether or not the Belhar Confession should be adopted as a formal confession of the church. Should it be affirmed in content and celebrated as a statement of faith? Should it be elevated to the level of the likes of the Heidelberg Catechism in the church’s constitution? Those who desire its adoption as a confession often turn to the meaning of a confession: “A confession begins its formation at a time when an extremely serious situation and a very important issue or issues arise that seem to go `right to the heart of the Gospel’; those occasions when the gospel is threatened or when the integrity of the gospel is at stake” (www.rca.org).

The churches in the United States and elsewhere will decide prayerfully and carefully as to whether or not the gospel is so threatened that the Belhar is required as a confession. What is not in question, however, is this truth: the credibility and effectiveness of the gospel is hindered when we proclaim and celebrate Christ’s work of reconciliation but exist in disunity, are disinterested in reconciliation, and are complacent toward injustice. Let’s live what we say we believe!