Letter Received on Keller, Colson–Bible vs. the “Apostles Creed”

Posted on July 4, 2009 by dwayna

Here is a letter I received today from a dear friend. I wholeheartedly agree! A few years ago I was at a conference, and some pastor got up and preached on how we should all memorize the Apostles’ Creed and use it in evangelism! He said it was the most important thing to know! I thought to myself, what about the Bible? This same man approached me during the conference, finding out about our ministry, and he asked, "Where did you get your training?", as if the Bible is not enough! I told him I have every single sermon Dr. Walter Martin ever preached, and that is where I got most of my "training", along with sermons all of my life from sound pastors and lots of Scripture memorization. The man looked like he did not approve of that "training." :-)

The Apostles’ Creed can be dangerous information if it is used in place of the Bible, becoming an idol of worship.

Also, I applaud Deborah at Lighthouse Trails for her research on Redeemer Pres. (See link below).

[Dear Dwayna],

I have been reading John MacArthur’s book Reckless Faith. I bought it in the church book store. There is a chapter on the Apostles Creed and how churches and pastors have adopted it as a full statement of faith. Charles Colson said "that all evangelical Christians should embrace as brothers and sisters in Christ everyone who can assent to this ancient creed." Pastor MacArthur points out that "the Apostles Creed is by no means a complete statement of all the doctrines essential to genuine Christianity. For example, since there is no statement about the deity of Christ, a Jehovah’s Witness, who denies Christ’s deity, could give full assent to the Creed as it stands. In fact, the ancient forerunners of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the followers of a heretic named Arius, defended themselves by appealing to the Creed." How can a creed that is ecumenical be a true statement of Christian faith according to God’s Word? It certainly cannot be so if the Roman Catholic church adheres to the Creed as well as Eastern Orthodox churches. The Apostles Creed says nothing regarding God’s Word as final authority. William Cunningham wrote:

The Apostles Creed, as it is called…is not fitted to be of much use, as a summary of the leading doctrines of Christianity. A document which may honestly be assented to by Papists and Arians, by the adherents of the great apostasy and by the opposers of the divinity of our Savior, can be of no real utility as a directory, or as an element or bond of union among the churches of Christ. (William Cunningham, Historical Theology)

Dwayna, as you know, Tim Keller adheres to the Apostles Creed and says much the same as Charles Colson. What I have realized is that my former church has done the same thing. They wrote that the Ecumenical Creeds reveal all the truths needed to know about the Triune God, His works of creation and redemption and the way of salvation regarding Jesus Christ. The church wrote that it "is built on the cardinal doctrines of the historic Christian faith expressed by the early Ecumenical Creeds and held by Orthodox churches throughout the ages." Of course, that makes the narrow door a broad door and it also means that the church is not built on Jesus Christ and His written Word, but it is instead built on church traditions.

…We do have so much to be thankful for to our dear LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. By the way, I looked up Lighthouse Trails research blog for the first time in a while and read of the warning against Tim Keller. I was shocked at the workshop Redeemer Church provided. You should read it…here.

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