Confessions of Reformed Christianity
A confession
is a statement of basic beliefs. You are probably familiar with the Apostle's
Creed (which starts, "I believe in God the Father..."), which is considered
a universal statement of Christian faith. There are several confessions that
are faith statements considered central to the Reformed tradition. They give
a distinctive character to this tradition compared to other strands of Christianity.
You can find the three confessions listed below in their entirety at the Christian Reformed
Church Beliefs
website.
Westminster Confession
In 1643, in defiance to King Charles I of England, the English Parliment commissioned an Assembly of Divines to work at Westminster Abbey to produce a confessional document. The Westminster Confession, with a short and long form of a catechism, were the result.
Belgic Confession
This confession was written in the mid-1500s in "Belgica," an area of Europe that is now known as Belgium and the Netherlands. The confession is structured as a series of 37 "articles."
Canons of Dordt
Written in the early 1600s, this document was written in response to certain heresies (serious errors in doctrine). The document is structured as a series of eighteen articles covering five main points. These five basic points of doctrine are sometimes summarized using the acronym TULIP:
Heidelberg Catechism
Written in the mid-1500s in Heidelberg, Germany, this confession is a series of questions and answers, divided into three major sections (Sin, Salvation, and Service) and spread over 52 lessons (called "Lord's Days") to correspond to a one-year period. Read this lesson from the catechism: Lord's Day 12: Christ annointed as prophet, priest, and king
Although it is not a confession, the document Our World Belongs to God: A Contemporary Testimony is a modern statement of a Reformed worldview.