As some of you may know, I am daily reading through Scripture in its order. Today’s devotion included 2 Timothy 2:15: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”
Beware! Just because a teaching a/k/a doctrine calls itself “Reformed”, does not mean that it is necessarily true. In the tag above titled “About Me”, I conclude: “The reader is advised to follow the example set forth in Acts 17:11: “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.”
There is a ranking as to the authorities of Scripture, Reformed Confessions and Creeds, and publications of Reformed men. Scripture is the supreme and infallible authority as to which everything must comply. Reformed Confessions and Creeds are a secondary but fallible authority, nevertheless deserving to be subscribed by at least the officers of the denomination holding to them. They are a helpful summary of the major doctrines of the Bible, and they also a basis of regulation and discipline in the church. The publications of John Calvin, Martin Luther, and other Reformers deserve much respect, but they are only third authority.
The purpose of this article is that I do see some danger in some Reformed circles as to such infatuation with Reformed Confessions and Creeds and the publications of Reformed men, particularly John Calvin, that Scripture seems to be an afterthought, rather than the first thought. In this infatuation in these Reformed circles, there almost seems to be a competition as to how knowledgeable they are about Calvin and how willing they are to promote obscure “Reformed doctrine” even though it may have little or no basis for support in Scripture. The end result is often legalism. It is bad enough to be legalistic about something good which is taught in Scripture; it is worse to be legalistic about something bad which is not even taught in Scripture. In my opinion, an example of this is a Reformed teaching that musical instruments are prohibited in worship. Although it may be a good tradition and a blessing to allow some congregational singing without musical instruments in worship, it is entirely a different matter and wrong to strictly advocate prohibiting musical instruments in worship based on obscure Reformed teaching and tradition, even if Calvin’s name is thrown about.
As another example, as we celebrate Calvin’s 500 birthday, let us not fall into this danger of elevating Calvin to an almost infallible “Pope-like status”. Calvin would be the first to say: “God forbid!”, and he would remind us of the words of Paul. “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!” Galatians 1:8. In other words, as great as Paul was, he did not want deference to be shown him above Scripture. Calvin would passionately join Paul in this plea to keep our focus on Scripture and to not allow Reformed Confessions and Creeds and the publications of Reformed men usurp the supreme infallible position of Scripture in our teachings a/k/a doctrine.
There is also the saying: “Every heretic has his text.” Just because someone has a text to support his teaching does not mean that the verse actually does support what he teaches. It is foremost important that the reader or listener consider the context of the verse but then also to consider and compare other Scriptures elsewhere.
I am also reminded of a TV evangelist who spouts out fast and furiously a long list of Scriptural citations to support his teaching. There is no time for the listener to recollect what verse is cited or even time to write down the citations. The TV evangelist hopes his listeners will be impressed by shear numbers.
Please understand that I am certainly not denigrating Reformed Confessions and Creeds and the publications of Reformed men. God forbid! They are very important and helpful. You will notice a tag above titled “Plea for Creeds” which speaks of their importance. They are like a “spiritual roadmap”. They are particularly helpful to summarize Scripture. Like a roadmap in which you can see a whole state on one page, Reformed Confessions and Creeds and the publications of Reformed men give you some overall perspective. However, just like one would not ignore clear highway signs and prefer and defer to the map, one should not ignore clear Scripture to prefer and defer to these Reformed Confessions and Creeds and the publications of Reformed men.
In conclusion, we are called to be wise and skillful workman “accurately handling the word of truth”. So, let us remember these three points. First, let us remember the supreme infallible status of Scripture. Let our first thoughts be of Scripture. Let us not elevate Reformed Confessions and Creeds and the publications of Reformed men above Scripture. Second, let us consider the context of any verse brought to our attention and also consider and compare other Scripture elsewhere. Third, most importantly where Scripture seems unclear or there appears to be two alternative teachings that each have equal support in weight in Scripture, comparable to a fork in the road without clear signs, let us use those Reformed Confessions and Creeds and the publications of Reformed men to be our “spiritual roadmap”.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 