What binds the conciences of men?

Due to some recent conversations here in cyberspace, I felt it was fitting to post an excerpt from the "Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy" as well as some comments by R.C. Sproul, found in his book, Scripture Alone.

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Article II of the Chicago Statement reads:

"We affirm that the Scriptures are the supreme written norm by which God binds the conscience, and that the authority of the church is subordinate to that of Scripture. We deny that church creeds, councils, or declarations have authority greater than or equal to the authority of the Bible."

Sproul writes:

"The question at this point dealt with the fact that other written documents are important to the life of the church. For example, church creeds and confessions form the basis of subscription and unity of faith in many different Christian denominations and communities. Such creeds and confessions have a kind of normative authority within a given Christian body and have the effect of binding consciences within that particular context. However, it is a classic tenet of Protestantism to recognize that all such creeds and confessions are fallible and connot fully and finally bind the conscience of an individual believer. Only the Word of God has the kind of authority that can bind the conscience of men forever...Our consciences are justly bound to lesser authorities only when and if they are in conformity to the Word of God."