"Crisis of Confidence" (Carl R. Trueman)

TITLE: Crisis of Confidence: Reclaiming the Historic Faith in a Culture Consumed with Individualism and Identity
AUTHOR: Carl R. Trueman
PUBLISHER: Wheaton, IL: Crossway Publishers, 2024, (216 pages).
 

Why should anyone take creeds seriously? Why do we need creeds when we have the Bible? Why should churches incorporate creedal statements especially when the words are not in the Bible? Are not the creeds some old-fashioned documents that are no longer relevant for our era? What will we lose if we ignore the creeds? What is the crisis of confidence all about? Essentially, this book is a vigorous pushback against the modern notion of "expressive individualism" that threatens to unseat the use of confessions, creeds, and many aspects of tradition. Author Carl Trueman spends some time unpacking what he means by this. He notes how "expressive individualism" has taken root in many aspects of life. Feelings have dethroned the importance of facts. Science assumes that the present and future are better than the past, which unwittingly creeps into the philosophical domain when understanding religious truth. Consumerism militates against historical truths. Other reasons against creeds include the state of antiauthoritarianism, rejection of authority, and the fear of exclusion just because one recites the creeds. He then makes a case for the use of creeds in churches today. He outlines the history of creedal statements, showing us the contexts behind each written creed. This is not something that only the Early Church had done. With the Reformation, even more creeds were published. Groups outside the mainline stream also possess confessions and creeds, even though they were not written in the traditional forms. One of the key things that enable us to worship in spirit and in truth is the use of creeds to remind us that worship is not about self-expression but about corporate confession to God and for God. The big truth is, that creeds do not necessarily take the place of Scripture but affirm biblical Truth in concrete ways. 

My Thoughts

Trueman makes a strong case against "expressive individualism" that enthrones feelings over everything else. His take on the fallacy of feelings over facts is worth pondering even for the biggest critic. Suffice it to say, that the modern cultural environment is trending toward the emotional realm more than ever. Without dismissing the importance of feelings, the danger comes when feelings replace the very need for creedal truth. He gives us a compelling overview of how cultural trends affect how modern people view traditions and creedal statements. Without addressing these underlying forces, it will be hard to convince people about their subconscious and uncritical presuppositions.  Just because one feels a certain way does not mean one can jettison historical ecclesiological confessions. Not only that, there are many forces that many readers might not be aware of. Trueman helps uncover these forces in a manner that forces us to rethink our positions. 

Secondly, Trueman points out that if we fail to get our philosophical-theological fundamentals correct, we will be building our lives upon a false sense of confidence, like building a house on sand. The title of the book is revealing. The crisis of confidence is essentially about how and where we build our beliefs. Expressive individualism is more subjective than anything. Instead, build it on solid ground, on the solid Rock of Christ, expressed via the years of confessional wisdom and creeds. True confidence and assured security must be based on solid truth. Feelings come and go. Truth is not time-limited. In fact, unlike the way of science, Truth is timeless. This does not mean that science and philosophy are at loggerheads with each other. They complement each other. Foundations matter and the use of creeds helps us strengthen these foundations. 

Finally, while the use of creeds is increasingly necessary, we need to discern how to update the creeds for modern understanding. Not all creeds are the same, which is why many different denominations and branches of Christianity have created their own confessions that are true to their traditions. Some creeds are more universal than others, namely the Apostles Creed, which remains the most used creed among all Christians. Without creeds, it is easy to be swept away by the latest and greatest fads on the Internet and social media. Many of the creeds have existed for hundreds of years. Our modern technologies are comparatively juvenile. Just like those who insist on a "Bible-only" kind of spirituality, the way they interpret still requires a particular angle of interpretation. Even for those who insist on no written creed, the fact is, whatever routines or rituals they adopt are essentially "creed-like." Perhaps, the way forward is for modern readers and believers to practice consistency. Whether it is about using technology or accepting tradition, acting on feelings or depending on facts, learn to be discerning when using any of them. This book urges us to maintain a good balance.

Carl R. Trueman (PhD, University of Aberdeen) is professor of biblical and religious studies at Grove City College. He is a contributing editor at First Things, an esteemed church historian, and a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Trueman has authored or edited more than a dozen books, including Strange New World; The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self; and Histories and Fallacies. He is a member of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of Crossway Publishers via NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.