by Joe Palvado

Created on: December 03, 2010

British Christians who support the Westminster Declaration of Christian Conscience are to be lauded. The declaration is, after all, a fundamental reiteration of the Nicean Creed, a historical body of work formulated around 325 AD and later promulgated in Constantinople in 381 AD by early Christian disciples.

A clear distinction exists, however, between the Christian Nicean Creed and the Declaration of Christian Conscience. While the former serves as a fundamental doctrine through which the  faithful affirm the preeminence of God who is comprised of three distinct personalities (Father-Creator, Son-Savior, Holy Spirit-Paraclete) though mysteriously One Being, the latter document articulates in modern language and in apposition to a relativistic culture, an exegesis that emanates from the Holy Bible and the traditions of the apostles, saints and inspired magisterium that comprises the Body of Christ. The declaration is essentially an encapsulated expression of the gospel.

Both concise and contemporary, the Westminster Declaration validates the inestimable value of all human life, endorses legitimate governance, confirms the inviolate sacramental charisms of marriage as ordained by God and repeats the responsibilities authentic Christians must adhere to by following in the sacrificial footsteps of Jesus Christ.

The document presents an unambiguous understanding of the relationship between God and humanity. If humanity is to flourish, humanity must adhere to certain empirical moral prescriptions. God ordained government for the good of humanity and humanity is to be subservient to legitimate government authority provided that authority is licit; so long as it exists for the well being of humanity. The authentic disciple of Christ is obliged to discern, adore, respect and obey God as well as support the organized human structures God ordained. Should an inevitable confrontation arise whereby Christian conscience is forced by either illicit law or a deviant culture, Christians must not compromise their fundamental and preeminent allegiance to Jesus Christ, Lord of all.

The Westminster Declaration of Christian Conscience serves both as a beacon for those who ardently seek a pathway to living a fully human existence and as an appeal to those who aspire to govern, to legislate and to administer justly. The signatories are courageous and insightful. Their witness is no less than a clarion call to faithfulness, to love and to cherish that which is good, true and holy. Their witness inculcates the admonition of Christ: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

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