From:
Critical Responses
It is falsely asserted that the Affirmation will be instrumental in “dividing the Reformed witness in Britain". This is strange comment indeed. We believe it is the liberals and modernizers who have caused divisions, both by their erroneous doctrines and by their innovative practices. As the Apostle teaches in Romans 16:17, what such men have introduced into our churches is manifestly contrary to, or at variance with, the pure Evangelicalism which we were taught and which, by grace, we still affirm and maintain.
The purpose of the Affirmation is to "unite" good “conservative men” who stand for "the old paths" – the very point we make at the end of the Preface: “It is hoped that this Affirmation, under the good hand of God, will become a standard to which truly conservative men might rally…The Affirmation is not now associated with any individual or any particular society or organization. It is the common possession of all who can, out of love for the truth, identify with its emphasis. It will be a blessed thing if the Lord moves the hearts of true, conservative evangelicals so that they once again stand together for vital and non-negotiable truth…We appeal to all who love and still adhere to “the old paths” to identify with this Affirmation and so to stand shoulder to shoulder with us in defence of vital Christianity and godliness” (pp. 4-6).
Section 13 of the Affirmation states: “Those representing true, conservative evangelicalism should stand together – and work together – for the Faith once delivered to the saints” (p.25).
Separation from false doctrine and practice is a scriptural requirement. The Affirmation acknowledges that in the Section to which reference has just been made. However we have no wish to divide those who stand for the old Faith, worshipping and serving the Lord according to his Holy Word. We sincerely desire to strengthen the bonds of truth and love with all such and to unite with them in upholding at this present time “the cause of God and truth”.
Nowhere is it stated that we intend to "separate" from those unable to endorse everything included in the Affirmation. Yet we are stirred to make this stand because the battle is against us and it is against the things we hold dear. It is time to call faithful men and women to “stand” – and to “stand fast”. The position taken by the Affirmation is the position adopted by our forefathers; and, in this our day, compelled by strength of conviction, we are determined to take our stand where once they stood, “earnestly contend(ing) for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3).
When, in 1891, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, along with Archibald Brown, W. Fuller Gooch, James Stephens, Frank White and others, issued their famous “Manifesto”, it created no small stir and it was far from being met with universal approval. These men were ridiculed as “the faithful few” and their stand was accused of being “divisive”. Nevertheless they made their stand – and they stood firm. Despite adverse criticism and accusation of causing division, we also believe we must maintain the ground for Conservative Evangelical and Calvinistic Truth.
Spurgeon wrote in 1861, “Controversy is never a happy element for the child of God: he would rather be in communion with his Lord than be engaged in defending the faith, or in attacking error. But the soldier of Christ knows no choice in his Master’s commands. He may feel it to be better for him to lie upon the bed of rest than to stand covered with the sweat and dust of battle; but, as a soldier, he has learned to obey, and the rule of his obedience is not his personal comfort, but his Lord’s absolute command. The servant of God must endeavour to maintain the truth, which his Master has revealed to him, because as a Christian soldier, this is part of his duty.”
I signed the Affirmation 2010.
Me too
