I am talking about the Downgrade controversy, in view of Truster's argument against creeds. You may know that the Downgrade controversy boiled down to this, in view of the onslaught of the "new enlightenment" which deluged 19th century Europe and reached America also, Spurgeon insisted on the neccesity of a statal creed which must be strictly observed [and by implication policed] by the Baptist Union.
He was severely censured and withdrew from the Baptist Union...Spurgeon paid a heavy personal price for his stand.
My view is He was certainly right in what he saw and what he preached...but I believe he was wrong to insist upon a creed....what does anyone think?
Oh, you make me want to go back and re-read
The Forgotten Spurgeon by Iain Murray!! It's been several years since I read it and I have poor retention anyway, but it focused on the three major controversies of Spurgeon's ministry, culminating in The Downgrade Controversy, after which his physical health deteriorated RAPIDLY!
But regarding creeds, in actuality we all have one, even if it's not a formal document we recite or claim. Something I wrote about this subject before:
A creed is nothing more than a statement of what a person - or a group of people - believes and teaches. The historic Christian creeds were responsive to serious errors that threatened the early church, such as Gnosticism and Arianism. The Apostles' Creed is a brief statement of gospel truths taught by the apostles. It was not formulated by theologians, but out of the needs of the Christian church. Christians used it to tell others what they believed and also to confess their faith with one another as they met for worship. The Nicene Creed was written around a.d. 325 in defense of the true Christian faith. The Council at Nicea developed it, expanding on the deity of Christ, in order to safeguard the apostles' teaching.
Visit any church’s website or request an “About us” brochure when you visit in person and you will undoubtedly encounter the church’s creed. It may be cleverly disguised as a ‘Doctrinal Statement’, a ‘Statement of Faith’, or even the more subtle ‘What we Believe’, but be assured – every church has one. Even the church that proudly proclaims, “We have no creed but Christ!” will tell you, if asked, that they either affirm or reject certain aspects of the Christian faith – even if only on the basis of not following any man’s religion and just reading the Bible and believing it. But hold on folks, I smell a creed:
The No Creed But Christ Creed
I don’t follow any man’s religion.
I just read the Bible and believe it.
But I don't really have an opinion about it... :chuckle: