Unbelievable, there really is—actually, there really is—another Reformed
Anglican in America! Reading this joyful
post is like watching children grow up!
A few are beginning to mature and grow-up, no thanks to their Bishops it
must be added. No thanks to their
seminaries. Time for Bob Duncan, an ACNA
cleric and Archbishop, to grow up and get a profound Reformed theological vision without the charismatic
revivalists and without the anti-Reformed Tractarians. But, Bob doesn’t have the depth or cajones to see
beyond his significant limitations—and they are, indeed, serious. Also, time for David Virtue, the alleged voice for "Orthodox Anglicanism" (www.virtueonline.org) to get off the dime and "get with the program." He, like RA, rails against the braying asses in liberalism. Fair enough. We do too. We've been in that war for 100 years, Virtue, thanks to Professor J. Gresham Machen. Old school Westminsterians have been in the long battle for decades. But, liberalism is an old story and it is time for American Anglicans to--sorta like--grow up. Additionally, it's time to push the Tractarians to where they belong...in the Continuum, not in Reformed and Reformational Anglicanism. But, we have men with marshmellow stones. It's time for Virtue to take the measure of his pitifully small gonads, get a theology, move on, get some Confessional depth and take some public and journalistic stands. Perhaps, Jim Packer's anticipated Systematic Theology will lay down some territorial boundaries, like male dogs with lifted legs, justifiably, marking their territories. Jim would be more polite. Most others would prefer more dignified language. We apologize to the Brits and Canadians. As an ex-Canadian, I understand the culture of compassion, politeness and dignity. As for American mutants, phoohey onit. More largely, screw it. We're Marines and we're tired of the fudging weakness with the controlling and governing "wimp factor." Speaking of Tractarians, Jim's track record with Tractarians has been woefully weak. The same for the ACNA and AMiA. Own it, fellas, if ya' can. Or, the charismatic Arminians with hothouse music. You're weak and disabled. Admit it. Get a pair and fix it. Get in a 12-step program and work the program with the first step, admitting you've been in deep denial and are helpless. But this much, with the post below, we are thankful for even "this" small
offering at Treading Grain. There really is a Calvinistic and Reformed Anglican. There are few, but they exist. Rev. Dr. Lee Gatiss at Peterhouse, Cambridge is another Reformed Prayer Book man. There are few. We live in exile, but with faith, hope, learning and trust in His Dreaded Majesty. (The Reformed Episcopalians once were Reformed, but they've sold out and sponsor "babbling charismatics," saints-invokers, bloviating Tractarians like the APA-hustlers, along with repudiations of their heritage and the English Reformation, notwithstanding contrary protestations...they tolerate Tractarians. Informed observers see it too. Give the salute to the honour-seeking Presiding REC Bishop, Leonard Riches, and the ever-changing chamelon (Fundamentalist, Dispensationalist, Presbyterian, Theonomist, Reconstructionist, Federal Visionist, Reformed Episcopalian, and now...drum roll...Pro-Tractarian all within one lifetime), Ray Sutton, both ever seeking a place at the bigger table, the lust for respectability rather than doctrinal fidelity. Own it Riches. Own it Sutton. You're flip-floppers, especially you, Riches. Dr. Rudolph's view of you, Riches? Dr. Herter's thoughts on you, Riches? Dr. Fisher's thoughts on you Riches? Dr. Guelzo's thoughts on you, Riches? Doctored men with world class doctorates with dim views of you, your meager MDiv. Or, Dr. Geoff Hubler's (D.Phil, Oxford) view on you, Riches? Dr. Hubler has very, very dim views of you, Riches. Or, my Marine-view of you Riches? Weak men in pursuit of respectability and as a function of deep-seated inferiority complexes and lack of confidence in the Reformed faith. You get no respect because you've dissipated your capital and you tossed the heritage.) Although Treading Grain is "one" Calvinistic Anglican, it is probably too much to hope that the Muddling American Anglicans might recover their genuine roots, the English Reformers. Well, alas, at least there is one Reformed Anglican, a small and great comfort. The "exile" is lonely.
5 Myths About
Reformed Theology
Michael Horton has a nice
article over at The Resurgence addressing
common myths about Reformed theology. It was a nice summary of his book, For Calvinism, which I am
just finishing and recommend wholeheartedly. The readers of this blog will know
that I believe the truest and best expression of Anglicanism, which comes to us
from our Reformers, is a Reformed Anglicanism.
Horton opens his article noting the irony that can attend
Reformed theology. He writes:
Calvinists
can be pains in the neck. I should know—I’ve been one myself on occasion. Yet,
it is a terrific irony that a theology that so exalts God and lays human beings
low before his majesty and grace should be championed sometimes with a spirit
that contradicts it.
He continues by laying out five common misperceptions about
Reformed theology:
·
Reformed theology is
arrogant and prideful.
·
Reformed theology makes us
robots in God’s plan.
·
Reformed theology has no
grace and love.
·
Reformed theology kills
genuine, heart-felt piety.
·
Reformed theology kills
community and mission.
Ouch.
So, how does Horton answer these critiques? Read the article. Or, better
yet, buy the book.
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