What Does It Mean To Be  Christian Reformed?

We are Christian.  That means that we believe in and belong to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. He has redeemed us from sin, and He governs our lives according to His Word, the Bible.

We are Reformed Christians. Our historic heritage goes back to the Protestant Reformation in the 16th Century. Being Reformed Christians also refers to our beliefs about God, about ourselves, and about our duty to live life for God every day of our lives. Those beliefs are written down in standards or creeds that date back to the time of the Reformation. We formally subscribe to the Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dort, and to the Heidelberg Catechism as summaries of our beliefs. These creeds all emphasize the Biblical truths of God's majestic sovereignty and lordship; that we are sinful in their hearts and lives; that salvation is only found in Jesus Christ; that Christians are duty bound to follow the teachings of the Bible, and thus to honor our Lord in the way we live out our lives.

We are a Church. We have been brought together by God's Spirit, committing ourselves to mutual support and to shared service in the community where Christ has placed us. The Christian Reformed Church numbers about 300,000 members of diverse ethnic heritage in the United States and Canada.

Beliefs: Doctrinal Standards - The Christian Reformed Church subscribes to the following confessions:

• Heidelberg Catechism
  " What is your only comfort in life and in death? That I am not my own, but belong-- body and soul, in life and in death-- to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.

• Belgic Confession
  "We all believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that there is a single and simple spiritual being, whom we call God-- eternal, incomprehensible, invisible, unchangeable, infinite, almighty; completely wise, just, and good, and the overflowing source of all good. "

• Canons of Dort
  "Since all people have sinned in Adam and have come under the sentence of the curse and eternal death, God would have done no one an injustice if it had been his will to leave the entire human race in sin and under the curse, and to condemn them on account of their sin. As the apostle says: The whole world is liable to the condemnation of God (Rom. 3:19), All have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23), and The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23)."

Beliefs: Ecumenical Creeds - The Christian Reformed Church subscribes to the following three creeds:

• Apostles' Creed
  "I believe in God, the Father, almighty, creator of heaven and earth. "

• Nicene Creed
  "We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible."

• Athanasian Creed
  "Whoever desires to be saved should above all hold to the catholic faith. Anyone who does not keep it whole and unbroken will doubtless perish eternally." 

Beliefs:  Contemporary Confession - Our World Belongs to God is testimony of faith for our times, subordinate to our creeds and confessions.

• Our World Belongs to God - A Contemporary Confession
   "As followers of Jesus Christ, living in this world-- which some seek to control, but which others view with despair-- we declare with joy and trust: Our world belongs to God!"

Beliefs: Positions - Over time, the Christian Reformed Church has clearly stated its position on a variety of contemporary topics.

• Summaries of the Denomination's Theological and Ethical Positions

To learn more about the Christian Reformed Church:

• What is This Church You Call Christian Reformed?

• What Does the Christian Reformed Church Believe?

• The Vision and Mission Statement of the Christian Reformed Church 

• Memorable Events in the History of the Christian Reformed Church

• Christian Reformed Church Governance

• Denominational Agencies and Ministries

• Denominational Web Site