In the history of the church, there have always been those who have objected to the use of creeds. Such objectors have become loud and clamorous today. Under the pretence of piety and greater devotion to the Bible, there is a widespread defection from the historic creeds of the Protestant Reformation. They are disowned because, as some allege, they are an infringement of the truth of God.

The proper object of a creed or confession, however, is simply to exhibit the truth of the Bible in a system, and to define and to defend the doctrines of Christianity in clear and precise language. So far from usurping the supreme place of Scripture, Bible-based confessions support and defend it; so far from obscuring the glory of Christ and His Cross, they define and reflect it. Those who call for their abandonment, it will be found, are either ignorant of their worth and usefulness, or wish to be free to hold loose views of Scripture, and nebulous opinions of the Christian Faith. A creedless Church is an absurdity.

The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland maintains a whole-hearted allegiance to the Westminster Confession of Faith a confession which, for scripturalness, comprehensiveness, and precise definition, has not been bettered. This document, the outcome of several years' labour, was formulated by some of the ablest and most learned Scottish and English divines of the 17th century. It was approved by Act of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1647. After "mature deliberation" it was judged to be "most orthodox and grounded on the Word of God". Thankful acknowledgement was made to God for His great mercy "in that so excellent a Confession of Faith" was agreed to in both Kingdoms, and it was looked upon as "a great strengthening of the Reformed religion against the enemies thereof". It was ratified by the Scottish Parliament in 1649, and again after the Revolution in 1690. The Westminster Confession of Faith has, therefore, the force of Statute law.

It is this Confession that forms the subordinate standard of our Church - subordinate, of course, to the Word of God. There was a time when every major Presbyterian Church worldwide subscribed this Confession. We believe that the Church in Scotland cannot prosper until she returns to the doctrine it presents and the practice it requires.