What do you think?
Rate this book
A Conservative Christian Declaration
This declaration reaffirms a historic commitment to fully orbed conservative Christianity. The authors believe in transcendent, absolute principles of truth, goodness, and beauty; they are confident that such principles are knowable; and they are determined to align themselves and their ministries to those principles in our pursuit of the whole counsel of God. They also pledge to conserve those institutions and forms that best reflect a recognition and respect for this transcendent order.
The authors offer this document out of a deep love for Christ, his gospel, his inerrant Word, and his church, and from a humble desire to help churches conserve and nourish historic, biblical Christianity by affirming the teachings of the Bible concerning truth, goodness, beauty, and rightly ordered affections in life and ministry.
The authors offer this document out of a deep love for Christ, his gospel, his inerrant Word, and his church, and from a humble desire to help churches conserve and nourish historic, biblical Christianity by affirming the teachings of the Bible concerning truth, goodness, beauty, and rightly ordered affections in life and ministry.
- GenresTheology
98 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2014
7 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 1, 2022
A Conservative Christian Declaration
This work is the effort of a group of pastors, led by Scott Aniol, who seeks to articulate “a fully orbed Conservative Christianity that includes both doctrine and practice.” Following the pattern of efforts like “The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy,” it is composed of a number of affirmations and denials which are followed by brief explanations. The work includes fifteen articles and some of the creeds of the church.
There is a lot that one can appreciate about this work. First, the authors emphasize that the Christianity that they seek to articulate is not merely a list of doctrinal propositions to which one must give intellectual assent, rather it includes both doctrine and the “affections.” Since some of the discourse among contemporary Christians focuses almost completely on doctrinal matters while ignoring the kind of lives Christians should be living, this emphasis is especially appreciated. Second, the authors include in their work subjects that are either missing or ignored elsewhere. Thus the declaration has articles on, beauty, Scripture regulated worship, and works of imagination. These are matters which are almost completely absent in traditional doctrinal discussion but are of great importance, especially to those of an artistic bent.
As with any work of this character, there are weaknesses with it. One of them is that the authors do not define some of their critical terminology. Most obviously, they fail to articulate what they mean by “Conservative” Christianity. While one can assume that some of what they mean by the term is indicated by the declaration itself, it leaves the reader wondering what they intended in the use of this word. As well, they fail to define what they mean by “beauty.” Since the term itself has been the subject of significant academic discussion, it is essential that they provide a careful definition. Another limitation of this work is that it is not clear why certain articles are included and others are not. They clearly intend that the declaration be taken along with the ancient creeds and at least one from after the Reformation, but it is not clear why certain articles are included (ex. beauty) and other subjects are not. One suspects that what is included in the declaration is those matters which were most important to the authors. This decision is alright but they need to state that clearly.
Many readers will find this declaration a fresh perspective on important issues. While some might disagree with certain affirmations, it will encourage reflection on matters that are often ignored. The emphasis on “religious affections” alone deserves serious thought.
This work is the effort of a group of pastors, led by Scott Aniol, who seeks to articulate “a fully orbed Conservative Christianity that includes both doctrine and practice.” Following the pattern of efforts like “The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy,” it is composed of a number of affirmations and denials which are followed by brief explanations. The work includes fifteen articles and some of the creeds of the church.
There is a lot that one can appreciate about this work. First, the authors emphasize that the Christianity that they seek to articulate is not merely a list of doctrinal propositions to which one must give intellectual assent, rather it includes both doctrine and the “affections.” Since some of the discourse among contemporary Christians focuses almost completely on doctrinal matters while ignoring the kind of lives Christians should be living, this emphasis is especially appreciated. Second, the authors include in their work subjects that are either missing or ignored elsewhere. Thus the declaration has articles on, beauty, Scripture regulated worship, and works of imagination. These are matters which are almost completely absent in traditional doctrinal discussion but are of great importance, especially to those of an artistic bent.
As with any work of this character, there are weaknesses with it. One of them is that the authors do not define some of their critical terminology. Most obviously, they fail to articulate what they mean by “Conservative” Christianity. While one can assume that some of what they mean by the term is indicated by the declaration itself, it leaves the reader wondering what they intended in the use of this word. As well, they fail to define what they mean by “beauty.” Since the term itself has been the subject of significant academic discussion, it is essential that they provide a careful definition. Another limitation of this work is that it is not clear why certain articles are included and others are not. They clearly intend that the declaration be taken along with the ancient creeds and at least one from after the Reformation, but it is not clear why certain articles are included (ex. beauty) and other subjects are not. One suspects that what is included in the declaration is those matters which were most important to the authors. This decision is alright but they need to state that clearly.
Many readers will find this declaration a fresh perspective on important issues. While some might disagree with certain affirmations, it will encourage reflection on matters that are often ignored. The emphasis on “religious affections” alone deserves serious thought.
September 12, 2021
While I may not agree with every premise and conclusion, it was a great articulation and defense of a conservative view of Christian worship.
January 23, 2022
When I first set out to read this short declaration (it’s only 98 pages), I wasn’t particularly excited about it. It was for me, a freebie – and who doesn’t love a free book! In addition, having heard a number of the authors give messages, I expected a solid message. So I did expect to agree, with it and thereby enjoy it, to that extent. However, it was another declaration and I wasn’t exactly sure that we needed still another declaration on the horizon. Too many have been written in our day, I think. When men of old took time to formulate such documents it was taken upon with such gravity, and took so much time, literally years, the outcome of such was a solid theological statement – which many could subscribe to.
In our day, we find everyone and their dog making declarations – frequently ecumenical in nature (which is not always bad – many of the aforementioned confessions or creeds were ecumenically driven) the net result is a cheapening of the work. The individual is king in the culture of the day, and few declarations have meaning which the majority could or would be compelled to subscribe to. So I was not too excited about the exercise. I took it on, out of a respect of the men who were party to the making.
I also expected to find some rather difficult to grasp and thereby to ascribe to statements which I would be critiquing. This I was delighted to find was not the case. In fact as I was reading through, I became more excited. You see the style of the piece is plain, even ordinary, but not flat. The language, though at times novel to my eyes, was edifying to my soul and lifted my spirit. It actually began to teach me. Let me clarify, because one can learn in many ways. What I mean to say is not that I was learning new prescribed doctrinal points (although that is one of the express goals and that did happen with me). Rather the very use of the language added to the declaration. It was sweet to my soul. It communicated eloquently, simply, and at times powerfully ideas which have at times been fleeting around my little brain so fast I never quite got them down out of the ether and into words! A wonderful statement. And all this to say that it was engaging to the core. Never overbearing in the point, most articles were only 2 or 3 pages in length.
While there are a total of 15 articles – The theme is to address today’s excesses without creating much which might be construed as new. Pointedly this is only an addendum to what has already been written creedal-ly and confessional-ly (sp.?) over the centuries. So it is not a new catechism as it were. Just a fine-tuning of what we already know, particularly dealing with what our modern or even post-modern minds have been grappling with over the last 100 years.
I don’t want my own review to end up being more than a page so I will end with a few choice quotes and strongly urge you to get a copy and read it over and over – it’s that good!
In the preamble, “We object to this religious reductionism and desire to reclaim the entire heritage of Christian doctrine, obedience, and adoration.”
Speaking of the gospel, “To deny the historicity of the events of the gospel is to deny the gospel. To deny the biblical interpretation of those events is also to deny the gospel.”
Speaking of harmony and variety in ordinate expression, “[T]his delightful variety must not be exploited as a rational for aesthetic agnosticism. Both ordinate and inordinate expressions exist in great variety. Truth can be communicated in hundreds of languages, but so can lies.”
Speaking of the works of popular culture, “Their ephemeral nature precludes them from reflecting the weighty, the profound, the transcendent, and the enduring. ...Immediate gratification cannot cultivate profundity”
Speaking of Christian tradition, “We insist that a Christianity that must change with each wind of fashion is confessing that it has nothing permanent to say.”
Didn’t I say it was that good?!
In our day, we find everyone and their dog making declarations – frequently ecumenical in nature (which is not always bad – many of the aforementioned confessions or creeds were ecumenically driven) the net result is a cheapening of the work. The individual is king in the culture of the day, and few declarations have meaning which the majority could or would be compelled to subscribe to. So I was not too excited about the exercise. I took it on, out of a respect of the men who were party to the making.
I also expected to find some rather difficult to grasp and thereby to ascribe to statements which I would be critiquing. This I was delighted to find was not the case. In fact as I was reading through, I became more excited. You see the style of the piece is plain, even ordinary, but not flat. The language, though at times novel to my eyes, was edifying to my soul and lifted my spirit. It actually began to teach me. Let me clarify, because one can learn in many ways. What I mean to say is not that I was learning new prescribed doctrinal points (although that is one of the express goals and that did happen with me). Rather the very use of the language added to the declaration. It was sweet to my soul. It communicated eloquently, simply, and at times powerfully ideas which have at times been fleeting around my little brain so fast I never quite got them down out of the ether and into words! A wonderful statement. And all this to say that it was engaging to the core. Never overbearing in the point, most articles were only 2 or 3 pages in length.
While there are a total of 15 articles – The theme is to address today’s excesses without creating much which might be construed as new. Pointedly this is only an addendum to what has already been written creedal-ly and confessional-ly (sp.?) over the centuries. So it is not a new catechism as it were. Just a fine-tuning of what we already know, particularly dealing with what our modern or even post-modern minds have been grappling with over the last 100 years.
I don’t want my own review to end up being more than a page so I will end with a few choice quotes and strongly urge you to get a copy and read it over and over – it’s that good!
In the preamble, “We object to this religious reductionism and desire to reclaim the entire heritage of Christian doctrine, obedience, and adoration.”
Speaking of the gospel, “To deny the historicity of the events of the gospel is to deny the gospel. To deny the biblical interpretation of those events is also to deny the gospel.”
Speaking of harmony and variety in ordinate expression, “[T]his delightful variety must not be exploited as a rational for aesthetic agnosticism. Both ordinate and inordinate expressions exist in great variety. Truth can be communicated in hundreds of languages, but so can lies.”
Speaking of the works of popular culture, “Their ephemeral nature precludes them from reflecting the weighty, the profound, the transcendent, and the enduring. ...Immediate gratification cannot cultivate profundity”
Speaking of Christian tradition, “We insist that a Christianity that must change with each wind of fashion is confessing that it has nothing permanent to say.”
Didn’t I say it was that good?!
January 22, 2015
This book consists of a series of 15 affirmations and denials. Yes, there are others making similar statements, but this one by a small group of professors and pastors stands out for its clarity, and its tight focus on a conservative Biblical Christianity. It's not a confession, in the sense of the Westminister Confession, but it builds on Biblical creeds and confessions to articulate ideas which go beyond the core confessions, but have been neglected by most of 20th and 21st century Christianity. As the author's state, this isn't the final word on these subjects, but a good outline or starting point for further discussion. We who call ourselves Christians would do well to "think on these things" further, attempt to rebut them if we can (Biblically and charitably), and to develop and fortify these ideas. I'd like to have seen a lot more detail following some of the statements and denials.
I recommend this book to help us think, and to help us grow to be more like Christ.
I recommend this book to help us think, and to help us grow to be more like Christ.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews