Change can be a difficult thing. As I grow older, I begin to understand why previous generations often continued to do things as they had always done: balancing checkbooks, mailing bills, keeping familiar routines, and resisting the disruption of something new. Only recently, I found myself

Many of us know the story and the history of the Confession of Faith and the Catechisms. Some are well-versed in the history that led to the writing of these documents, including the early English Reformation, the Tudor Family, the King James Bible, Mrs. Geddes’s

X, formerly known as Twitter, can be a whirlwind. In recent days, a discussion has arisen regarding stated differences, mainly concerning the use of images of Christ for artistic or pedagogical purposes. This discussion has occurred before, and there are many good resources that I believe support

The following is a non-exhaustive selection of confessions, articles, and catechisms that articulate the consistent views on images in the Reformed Church. This does not seek to look at personal theologians but at the body of Reformed Churches across multiple years and branches of the Reformation.

Th

From Tetrapolitan Confession (1530)1

XXII. OF STATUES AND IMAGES

Finally, against statues and images our preachers have applied the holy oracles, chiefly because they began to be worshipped and adored openly, and vain expenditure was devoted to them that was due the hungry, thirsty and naked Christ;

The following is an excerpt from Zwingli’s Short Christian Instruction (1523)1

[7] CONCERNING IMAGES

Concerning images: it is reasonable for everyone to teach, as has been found, that images are forbidden by God—so that, after they have been instructed and strengthened, the unlearned and weak ones

An office instituted by Christ cannot be without authority. The discussion about the authority of the diaconate in the life of the church has recently come to the forefront. The discussion claims that the diaconate or deacons do not have authority and therefore can

The Westminster Confession of Faith is an amazing document. Ever since I first read it, it has been a great source of rich theology pointing me to the truths of God’s word. When I discovered it, I was among a few in my circles who shared confessional Reformed

The Apostolic Constitution is a document written circa 375-380. This document can be a helpful historical source for understanding the life of the church in the late 4th century, within the region of Syria. Church life and practice are difficult to understand because

The famous Council of Nicaea (325) is well known to all of us, particularly after last year’s 1700-year anniversary. If the councils were like pop artists, they are normally known for one thing: for Nicaea, the famous