In recent years I’ve discovered and learned to appreciate the Westminster Shorter Catechism. It’s a bit of a niche thing – not that well known even in some evangelical circles – but, for all that it dates all the way back to 1647, it still contains some of the best and most concise doctrinal definitions to be found.
Its fourth question asks: “What is God?”, to which the set answer is: “God is a spirit, infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.” I told you it was good!
“We had Iranian drones being shot down above our church last Sunday. How was your week?” That was how Gareth Franks (New Life Church, Abu Dhabi) started his talk at this year's Pillar International Conference in Edinburgh.
The statement reflected the international mix of individuals at the conference: representatives from an underground church in Morocco, an international church in Turkey, a church plant next to the Vatican, and thriving churches in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, as well as a lot of Americans, and Brits, from Exeter to Orkney—about 260 people in all.
‘The God who is’
In recent years I’ve discovered and learned to appreciate the Westminster Shorter Catechism. It’s a bit of a niche thing – not that well known even in some evangelical circles – but, for all that it dates all the way back to 1647, it still contains some of the best and most concise doctrinal definitions to be found.
Its fourth question asks: “What is God?”, to which the set answer is: “God is a spirit, infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.” I told you it was good!