In his inaugural sermon in the newly built Metropolitan Tabernacle, Charles Haddon Spurgeon unabashedly declared to his congregation: “I am never ashamed to avow myself a Calvinist… I do not hesitate to take the name of Baptist… [B]ut if I am asked to say what is my creed, I think I must reply: ‘It is Jesus Christ.’” His abiding commitments to Reformed soteriology and believer’s baptism by immersion notwithstanding, Spurgeon prioritized the orthodox beliefs of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church commonly affirmed in its historic creeds. Spurgeon’s creed of “Jesus Christ” represents, sums up, and ties together those doctrines that Christians have historically believed. When commitment to this orthodoxy eroded among evangelicals in the years surrounding the Downgrade Controversy (1887-1888), Spurgeon emphasized it as the ground and center of the Christian faith, eclipsing his own commitment to Calvinism and credobaptism. When Baptist Union leadership resisted affirmation of a unifying creed, Spurgeon resigned his membership and called evangelicals to hold fast to “the faith once for all delivered to the saints.”
In his defense of Christian orthodoxy, Spurgeon affirmed the use of creeds or statements of faith generally as a corrective to theological error. This proposed paper will argue that Spurgeon’s commitment to creedalism during the Downgrade Controversy reflects the core attributes of the church represented in the Nicene Creed—“one, holy, catholic, and apostolic”. First, this paper will discuss Spurgeon’s understanding of the church’s faith as one—and only one—faith. The church’s one faith presupposes the antiquity of that faith and that true unity among Christians maintains only on the basis of that faith. Second, this paper will examine Spurgeon’s understanding of the church’s faith as a holy faith. Spurgeon advocated for the teaching of orthodox doctrine because of its implications for Christian living and the church’s witness. Third, this paper will explore Spurgeon’s understanding of the church’s faith as a catholic faith. Spurgeon understood that true association, fellowship, and cooperation among churches could only occur when all adhered to the same faith. Finally, this paper will discuss Spurgeon’s understanding of the church’s faith as an apostolic faith. The church’s faith derived from the apostolic teaching preserved in the Scriptures. Deviation from the Scriptures, Spurgeon contends, fundamentally alters the Christian faith into a new religion altogether.