Posting # 30

The Belhar Confession

 

      The Belhar Confession is one of the standards of unity for the Uniting Reformed Church of Southern Africa . That unity, as depicted in this Confession, is what God desires between all people and groups. Read this brief Confession for yourself at:

     

http://www.bethel.edu/~letnie/AfricanChristianity/SABelhar.html

 

      This Confession states that:

            We believe

            that Christ's work of reconciliation is made manifest in the Church as the community

            of believers who have been reconciled with God and with one another;

      The fact is: “that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:19, 20).

      Doesn't the confessional statement “that Christ's work of reconciliation is made manifest in the Church” imply that Christ's work of reconciliation is something greater (broader, more extensive) than the Church ” and is to be displayed in the Church by the Church's teaching and practice?

      One objection raised against the premise; “All persons will be saved except those who the Bible declares will be finally lost,” is: “Why preach?” or “Why carry on the work of missions?” The Belhar Confession provides one answer, namely, that those who have been reconciled with God and with one another” ought to be joined with the community of believers whose message is: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them.”

  Whether so intended by the authors of The Belhar Confession or not, the fact “that Christ's work of reconciliation is made manifest in the Church” is a compelling reason to call upon all who have been reconciled to God to be joined in spiritual and visible unity to “the Church.”

Cordially, Neal Punt whenindoubt3@charter.net

For further discussion of the question "Why Preach?" click on Posting # 9, Motivation for Missions or Why Preach?

PS — If you are unable to access The Belhar Confession on the internet I will send it to you by email.

 


Copyright 2003 Northland Books