Why many pastors are confessional or received text advocates

Image: Trinitarian Bible Society's Η ΚΑΙΝΗ ΔΙΑΘΗΚΗ (The New Testament)

Like it or not, confessional or received text folks now constitute a particular sect of Protestantism. A traditional, or traditionalist, sect.

Why would someone seek to follow the 17th century traditional Protestant scriptural text and theological confession? Probably in order to have a firm faith foundation, which provides them with maximum certainty, with well established theological doctrines, and a well established traditional Protestant canonical text.

Such a foundation allows these believers to make continual progress in living their Christian faith.

Foundational issues of the Christian faith, such as Scripture and doctrine, must be settled, well established, in order to make such progress. This is especially important for those who are new believers, who are reading the Scriptures and learning Christian doctrine for the first time.

This is why many pastors are confessional or received text advocates.

The academic challenges and uncertainties of modern text criticism certainly appeal to the intellect, and to intellectuals, but having the certainty of a settled sacred text and doctrine appeals to the hearts and minds of pastors and ordinary Christian believers.

Sadly, the academic challenges and uncertainties of modern criticism also leads some people—both intellectuals and ordinary believers—to loss of faith in Scripture and traditional Christian doctrines.

Does it seem somewhat anti-intellectual for Christians to believe in and hold to these old ways?

I’m sure it does seem so to some people. But what is it really hurting to hold on to the old theology and the old text? Couldn't holding on to these actually be very helpful to them, and to those they are pastoring?

The goal of pastors isn’t to instruct their churches about the latest trends in modern speculative theology, doctrine, and text criticism. Although this sort of thing does have an immense appeal to both the ego and the intellect, especially in well educated and well read Protestant circles.

We should keep in mind that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (see: Proverbs 3:34; 1 Peter 5:5; James 4:6).

Knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies (1 Corinthians 8:1).

Do we want proud pastors who are knowledgeable about the latest trends in modern theology, doctrine, and text criticism? Or do we want pastors who will follow the old, proven ways of making faithful disciples of Jesus Christ?

Personally, I want a pastor who builds me up in the faith. 

If there’s one major difference between the old 17th century Protestant theology with its traditional text of Scripture, and the modern theology with its critical text of Scripture it is this: the old way edifies, builds people up in their faith, whereas the new way promotes doubt and uncertainty, diminishing people’s faith, while at the same time puffing them up with knowledge, so-called (1 Timothy 6:20).

Let's encourage people in their walk of faith without filling their minds (and the margins of their Bibles) with doubts and uncertainties.