I appreciate the concerns of those who aren’t in favor of such a project.
And I’m looking forward to examining the result of this committee.
I have no problem with a revision as long as there is a large enough group of godly divines whose qualifications come close to the original authors.
The OPC has a two-column page where they show the changes from the original. They have a statement after completing their one-paragraph introduction to the Revision.
Though the American
revisions to the Confession of Faith are not insignificant, yet, compared to the total length of the Confession,
they are quite minor,
involving 145 words out of 12,063. Below is a comparison of the two versions (differences are highlighted in italics).
I don't have the time to critique the changes, but I would not call them "quite minor." The primary hatchet job was on the role of the civil magistrate. They removed him from all powers to be involved in religious affairs. The 17th-century divines that comprised the Assembly would
never have approved this change. It puts the civil realm outside the authority of our Great King, the King of Kings. Of the three major spheres of authority, the civil government is the most powerful of the three. He alone makes laws that powerfully affect the other two. I.e., family and Church, civil authorities alone are given the sword's power–corrosion–even unto death. Do you think our King sees the "powers that be" in the world excluded from His governance? And let me warn you. Don't let the language (highlighted in red) fool you. It may sound fair and equitable, but is it? In the Revision, the civil ruler is forbidden to give
"preference to any denomination of Christians above the rest," Neither may he define a Christian or a Church. This equitable-sounding duty of the civil ruler effectively accomplishes the exact opposite. In giving equal standing to the Roman antichrist (please note the
lowercase 'a'), the Mormans, the apostate churches, and their women "ministers," the lbgtq+_ _ _
so-called churches, etc.–to treat the
corrupt and the
incorrupt, the saints and the sinners alike is to show favoritism evil. Haven't we seen this operative principle in government turn this country upside down? It is to call evil good and good evil.
I could go on another thousand words, but I will stop at this.
But what a difference 145 words can make.
Chapter 23
Of the Civil Magistrate
3. (Completely rewritten) Civil magistrates may not assume to themselves the administration of the Word and sacraments; or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven; or, in the least, interfere in matters of faith. Yet, as nursing fathers, it is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the church of our common Lord, without giving the preference to any denomination of Christians above the rest, in such a manner that all ecclesiastical persons whatever shall enjoy the full, free, and unquestioned liberty of discharging every part of their sacred functions, without violence or danger. And, as Jesus Christ hath appointed a regular government and discipline in his church, no law of any commonwealth should interfere with, let, or hinder, the due exercise thereof, among the voluntary members of any denomination of Christians, according to their own profession and belief. It is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the person and good name of all their people, in such an effectual manner as that no person be suffered, either upon pretense of religion or of infidelity, to offer any indignity, violence, abuse, or injury to any other person whatsoever: and to take order, that all religious and ecclesiastical assemblies be held without molestation or disturbance.