What do Reformed churches believe?
Jesus taught people to learn about God and about how to live a good life from what today we call the Christian Bible. The Bible has two sets of books- the official ancient Hebrew sacred writings (the ‘Old Testament’) and what later was written by Jesus’ authorized representatives shortly after he died (the ‘New Testament’).
The foundational ‘Reformed’ belief (one we have in common with some, but not all, churches) is that since the Bible says that it alone is “breathed out by God” it therefore has a supreme and unique, absolute authority. Its teaching is perfect and there is no writing or authority equal to the Bible .
But what do Reformed churches think the Bible actually teaches?
Throughout history, churches have written summaries of the Bible’s teachings according to their own understandings. One reason they write these summaries is so that other churches who agree with them will join them, together adopting these summaries in a beautiful display of unity and love.
Reformed churches, along with the majority of Christian churches for almost the whole 2,000 years since Jesus’ time, have officially received and adopted the following three ancient creeds [‘creeds’ means statements of belief]. We use them today to show what we have in common with historic and worldwide churches. All our leaders have sworn and signed to preserve and promote what they say. You can read and explore them by clicking on their titles below.
The Apostles’ Creed is a short summary of the Christian religion used in this form perhaps as early as the 5th century, and itself is taken from older statements used in the ancient church. The Nicene Creed is a 4th century summary of the Christian faith written to express clearly what the Bible teaches about Jesus being God, and about his relationship to the Father and to the Holy Spirit. The Athanasian Creed is a 6th century, more detailed statement of the Bible’s teaching about these things, and it also says more about how Jesus is both God and man.
And how are Reformed churches different from other churches?
Some differences among churches are just a matter of culture or style. Other differences are just a matter of varying strengths or focus. There can be health in diversity. On the Oxnard Plain, God is using different kinds of churches to teach his truth and show his grace.
But some differences among churches are more consequential, which requires some reflection. The best way we can introduce Ventura Reformed’s differences is to talk about that label “Reformed”. The word itself refers to the “Protestant Reformation.” This was a movement of Christians in the 1500s who protested against some corruptions in beliefs and practices of the largest churches of that day. There was still a lot of good in those churches, but this movement sought to ‘reform’ the churches where they were ‘deforming’. Because Christians are imperfect, corruption is always a threat, so we must alertly strive to ‘stay to form’ or ‘return to form,’ aligning with our only perfect guide, the Bible.
Here are three major Reformed convictions about what the Bible teaches. These are more like biblical themes that play out in many areas of life and church. You’d hear about all of these things regularly in our church, applied to different parts of life. Come explore them:
First, the good and loving things people do in life, and the good religious responsibilities they fulfill, all of these good works contribute absolutely nothing to God ultimately loving and accepting us. This is because all people, including Christians, are born corrupt, and still sin, and need a rescue that Jesus would do for them, entirely outside of them, and in spite of what they truly deserve. Amazingly, by his perfect life, and by his death, Jesus has provided such a rescue! Understanding, preaching and teaching this correctly and clearly from the Bible matters. Otherwise, we create self-righteous, pompous religious people, and, we leave in despair the truly humble people that God himself fully loves and forgives.
Second, God, for his own mysterious reasons, unilaterally chooses and acts to rescue some people from their sin and unbelief. Apart from God working by himself to make certain people spiritually alive, and also by himself ensuring those people will not forfeit this new life, there could not be one person “saved”. Another way to say this is, the people who choose Jesus and stay with him, they do so because God chose them to. [This idea is typically called “predestination” or “Calvinism,” although what goes by these names is sometimes mistaught or misrepresented]. Not only is God clear that he exercises his right and authority to determine who will receive his saving grace, but he demands the reverence and worship consistent with this aspect of his character. He answers to no one, he does not share his glory, he alone saves from beginning to end.
Third, public church worship must be conducted in ways God demands and desires. The basic idea is that worship is for God first, not for us, and we must do what he told us to do, how he told us to do it. The basic form and content of what should happen in public worship services is given to us in the Bible. This is all better for us anyway, and actually is more satisfying after we are weaned off triviality and other kinds of idolatry.
How can I start to get a better handle on what Reformed churches believe?
In addition to the three creeds mentioned before, we have also officially received and adopted the following three writings as faithful summaries of the Bible’s teaching. They may help you, if you click on their titles and begin to explore them. And of course, get in touch with us to find out more, or if we could answer any questions you have.
The Belgic Confession was written in the Reformed churches in the southern Netherlands in the 1500s and is the most thorough overview of what Reformed churches believe. The Heidelberg Catechism was written in the Reformed churches in Germany in the 1500s in question-and-answer format. It is simple and useful for children, also profound and insightful for advanced learners. The Canons of Dort was written and agreed upon by church leaders from all over Europe in the 1600s to express in more detail what the Bible teaches about how God rescues people from the ruin of sin.