Blair Smith | Reformed Confessionalism

What role do historic confessions play in the life of the Church today—and why should we care?

In this episode we welcome Dr. D. Blair Smith, President and Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC and author of Reformed Confessionalism (P&R Publishing). We explore the theological, pastoral, and spiritual value of the Reformed confessions—not as artifacts of a bygone era, but as living instruments for the Church’s health and faithfulness.

From the Church Fathers to the Westminster Assembly, Dr. Smith draws out the continuity and vitality of confessional Christianity, highlighting how confessions serve as tools for Christian formation, doctrinal clarity, and ecclesial identity.

Topics include:

• Why every church is a “confessing church”—whether it admits it or not
• The relationship between Scripture and subordinate standards
• How confessions function pastorally and devotionally
• The dangers of doctrinal minimalism in the modern church
• How Reformed confessions express catholicity, not sectarianism
• Encouragement for pastors and churches seeking to recover confessional depth

Whether you’re a church leader, seminarian, or thoughtful layperson, this episode offers a compelling case for embracing confessionalism as a rich, living tradition that grounds the Church in biblical truth and historic continuity.

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Chapters

• 00:07 Introduction
• 05:21 Writing This Book
• 08:06 The Confessing Church
• 13:32 Promoting Unity
• 19:59 The Relationship between Confessions and Systematic Theologies
• 26:19 Challenges Facing Confessional Churches Today
• 31:50 For the Entire Church
• 36:02 Examples of How the Confessions Guide the Church
• 42:40 The Usefulness of Confessions for Church Planting and Revitalization
• 49:26 Conclusion

This is Christ the Center episode 926 (https://www.reformedforum.org/ctc926)