The Westminster Project.

When I was first introduced to the Westminster Standards, my immediate thought was, What are the Westminster Standards? 

And I imagine that some of you—though not all—may know that we are a Westminster Presbyterian Church, but have never had the opportunity to read or have the Westminster Standards explained to you. J.V. Fesko writes, “For centuries, countless Christians have turned to the Westminster Standards for insights into the Christian faith. These renowned documents—first published in the middle of the 17th century—are widely regarded as some of the most beautifully written summaries of the Bible’s teaching ever produced.” I hope to change that and take you through what Mr. Fesko calls “some of the most beautifully written summaries of the Bible’s teaching ever produced,” because I believe you will greatly benefit from seeing just how useful, practical, succinct, and sound the Westminster Confession (in particular) really is. It is a document that came at a crucial time in the life of the Church, and its longevity in guiding and growing Christians, churches, and the Presbyterian denomination is a testament to its enduring value. 

Before we begin examining the Standards—and more specifically, the Westminster Confession, which we’ll begin next week—it may be helpful to first answer the question: What exactly is the Westminster Confession? American theologian John Bower writes, “The WCF was designed as a doctrinal compass to keep the scriptural bearings of the church true, even when tossed by error and division.” This gives us a glimpse into the world in which the WCF was designed, written, and published. No creed or confession was ever written in a vacuum; rather, the great touchstones of Christian orthodoxy—like the Nicene Creed, the Chalcedonian Definition, and the Thirty-Nine Articles—usually arose because the Church was confronting heretical or misguided doctrine in its day.

That’s part of the story behind the Westminster Standards. The divines (a formal term for the pastors and theologians who composed the document) believed it was necessary because, in their view, the Church of England had not fully reformed. They felt that its Catholic roots had not been entirely uprooted. So, when the Puritans gained control of the government at Westminster in the 1640s, one of their first priorities was to set the Church back on the “straight and narrow.” While there is much more historical detail we could explore, the key takeaway is this: the Westminster Standards were written to guard the Church against both lingering Catholic influence and the rise of Arminianism. 

To that end, 121 divines convened and quite literally held court—making cases and arguments based on what the whole counsel of Scripture taugh, so that the Church of England could be fully reformed and pleasing to God in her worship and practice. Their aim was for the Church to be “a city set on a hill” in a dark, dark world. The Westminster Confession was completed in 1647.

Church historian Justin Holcomb states, “Ironically, the WCF had far more impact outside of the Church of England than within it. The works of the Assembly not only became official statements of the Scottish Church, but also served as the basis for the foundational theological statements of two other English sects—and through them, several other denominations.” In other words, the WCF didn’t impact the English Church the way the Puritans had hoped. But the remarkable thing is that although it didn’t achieve the immediate target its authors intended, their labor was not in vain. God saw fit to use their hard work and dedication for far greater purposes. The WCF has far exceeded anything the Puritans could have imagined.
So, as we journey through this meticulous and deeply theological document, it is my prayer that you will be blessed and edified, just as so many Christians have been throughout the centuries by the Westminster Confession of Faith.