Postmillennialism, The Creeds and Being “Reformed.” #1

Those familiar with the controversy surrounding Covenant Eschatology know well that Dominionists such as Keith Mathison, Kenneth Gentry and others have pointed an accusing finger at preterists for being “non-creedal” and out of step with the church’s doctrinal stand in history.

BTW, I freely admit that I am not orthodox, as defined by the modern Reformers, and make no apology for it. Of course, the irony of the modern Reformed orthodoxy is that it was declared heretical by the ‘orthodoxy” that had stood for 1000 years!

“Orthodoxy” as we know it today was created by man, and has been wrongly imposed through the creeds and confessions, with resultant Inquistions, ostracism, etc.. Those who claim to be Reformed and creedal are some of the worst when it comes to this kind of attitude and action. Personally I will take my stand on scripture and scripture alone. It is patently, irrefutably true that the creeds the contradict scriptures. It is far past time for those who claim to be “Reformed” to take that cry of Sola Scriptura seriously.

The interesting thing is that for all of their appeal to the creeds and church history, what the Dominionists do not tell their listening / reading audience is that they are themselves stridently accused of being non-creedal, anti-creedal, non-historical, and heretical! I begin with this article sharing with our visitors an article written by a Reformed Amillennial professor. Make no mistake, he clearly believes full preterism is heretical. The reason I am sharing his article (via a series of shorter articles) is to show the inconsistency of the Dominionists when they point the accusing finger at preterists and cry “Non-creedal!” I hope the readers will see the tremendous irony here, and think seriously about it.

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Creedal Amillennialism
by Rev. Ron Cammenga

Rev. Cammenga is pastor of Southwest Protestant
Reformed Church in Grandville, Michigan.

Bound by the Creeds
The Reformed creeds define the Reformed faith. What it is to be Reformed, the creeds establish. The creeds are the standard against which every teaching that claims to be Reformed and clamors for acceptance by Reformed believers is to be judged.
Every Reformed believer is bound by the Reformed creeds. No one has the right to consider himself to be a Reformed Christian who blatantly contradicts what the Reformed creeds teach.

Especially is the Reformed officebearer bound by the teaching of the creeds. At ordination Reformed ministers, elders, and deacons sign the Formula of Subscription. By doing this they affirm that they “… heartily believe and are persuaded that all the articles and points of doctrine contained in the (Belgic) Confession and (Heidelberg) Catechism of the Reformed churches, together with the explanation of some points of the aforesaid doctrine made by the National Synod of Dordrecht, 1618-’19, do fully agree with the Word of God.” In the Formula, the Reformed officebearer goes on to promise “… diligently to teach and faithfully to defend the aforesaid doctrine (of the creeds), without either directly or indirectly contradicting the same, by our public preaching or writing.”

What is true with respect to all the fundamental doctrines of Holy Scripture is true of the doctrine of the last things (eschatology) and the coming of Jesus Christ. The Reformed creeds have a great deal to say on these matters. From what they say, there can be no doubt about it that the Reformed creeds endorse amillennialism.  (EOQ)

Note by Don K. Preston: Per professor Cammenga, those who claim to be Reformed are bound by the creeds and the creeds are fully amillennial. To violate the creeds either explicitly or implicitly is heresy. It is an abandonment of the essence of being Reformed. It is to abandon orthodoxy.

Yet, the modern Postmillennial world is clearly at odds with the “Reformed creeds” cited by Cammenga. Dominionism both explicitly and implicitly differs from and violates the creeds (in many ways). So, the irony of modern Postmillennialists calling preterists “non-creedal” and “unorthodox” is blatant and glaring.

More to come.