Andy Underhile, a friend and fellow Churchman, a brother-elect in
Christ’s Majesty, a justified sinner, a wicked man but justified, a Calvinist, but better, he is a man with
biblical insight and has begun a series on TULIP.
He develops the first point, “T” in his first post. See: http://andycontramundum.blogspot.com/2012/03/defining-t-in-tulip.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FDofecr+%28Contra+Mundum%29.
Does the "T" in TULIP matter much? We post responses for the sake of the youth, the younger theologues and the next generation.
We post Andy’s comments in black.
Reformation Anglicanism will amplify, revise and extend on Andy salutary
post. These revisions and extensions are
not corrections, but are amplifications.
Our comments will be in blue. As the Rev. Dr. Jack
Gerstner, Ph.D., Harvard, a mentor to this scribe in the 1970s, once exclaimed, TULIP is the
“fairest flower in God’s garden.” RA
will never forget Dr. Gerstner’s lecture in the early 1970s at First
Presbyterian, Pittsburg, PA. This fair
flower involves every loci of systematic theology. Our audience must be young people, young theologues,
young inquirers, collegians and others.
Old people, like me, have had our time and exposure, making our
culpability or exonerations what they will be.
For the older, have we taught these things? If older, have you taught
and defended these things? If younger,
read, mark, learn and inwardly digest. Think
and reach your own conclusions, as you assuredly will do, one way or another. We
will offer a few annotations in the endnotes or the brief, annotated bibliography. This is not a scholarly post, but a musing
from an older Churchman. I pray that my own children may read this. Again, Andy
Underhile’s notes are in black and RA’s in blue.
---------------------------------
The acronym TULIP is a mnemonic device for Reformed soteriology;[i]
that is, the doctrine of salvation. There are five letters, hence the frequent
reference to 5-point Calvinism.
 |
Does Canterbury teach TULIP?
ACNA? AMiA? PEARUSA? CANA? |
RA: For the younger crowd, “Soteriology” is the “doctrine
of salvation,” a standard locus or focus in all theologies. My audience must be the younger crowd. I should advise the younger crowd to procure
and master Berkhok’s Systematic Theology.[ii] Get it and read it. Modern ministers will not
advise you of this. The older man offers you this counsel.
Apparently, as we write, there is a
renaissance of inquiry into “TULIP” by what is called the “Young, Restless and
Reformed,”[iii]
a movement amongst American Baptists and Baptacostalists, e.g. Mahaney,
Driscoll, Chandler, Piper, Mohler. These men are “new joins” to the discussion of
TULIP, arising since the 1990s. TULIP is standard fare amongst old school Confessional
Presbyterians and Reformed Churchmen, but it is entirely new—coming off
revivalist doctrine, worship and piety—amongst Baptists over the last twenty
years. Hence, to study “TULIP” is to
study historic Presbyterianism, old school Anglicanism, and a part of
Lutheranism. Modern Baptists and
Pentecostalists know little of these things.
Dr. Al Mohler, Southern Seminary, however, a “Southern Baptist,” stumbled
into TULIP in the 1990s and has been aflame, ablaze and on fire since then. Mohler’s fellow Baptists, the majority of
them, are not amused by a discovery of TULIP.
RA well remembers Al’s energetic presentations at Ligonier Ministries in
the late 90s. Alas, Mohler “warmly”
asserted TULIP, as if the second coming had occurred. TULIP also, in better times, was accepted in
the Church of England. King James 1 and
the Archbishop of Canterbury accepted the conclusions of the Synod of Dordt,
1618-1619, although, to their injury, it was not codified in doctrine. To study TULIP is to study basic Biblical
essentials in soteriology.
The letters stand for the following: [RA: For collegians and young theologies, this mnemonic
needs to be memorized, along with the relevant biblical texts. TULIP, the
fairest flower in God’s garden.]
Total Depravity [RA:
In this post, Andy deals with just the “T.”]
Unconditional Election
Limited Atonement
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance of the Saints
Over the course of this series of posts, Lord willing, we will
briefly explain what is meant by each of the five points. [RA: Thanks Andy, an important issue. Andy, Articles 9-12 of the “Thirty-nine
Articles” for the Church of England and Chapter Six of the “The Westminster
Confession of Faith” provides an excellent preliminary study. Also, the Irish Articles of 1615, 11-17,
22-28. We ask the young theologues to
ask, review and draw their own conclusions. ] After so many more weighty theological
posts, why something so fundamental and basic now? [RA:
Exactly, because TULIP is foundational, basic and essential.] I take nothing for
granted. [RA: Wise.] I have been a Christian long enough to know
that much of Christian doctrine goes unexplained and it is simply assumed by
preachers and teachers that their congregations are fully conversant with these
things. I feel it wise to, every now and again, go back and refresh our
memories about some of the simple basic truths of our most holy faith.
RA:
We share Andy’s concern re: the five points and that’s why his post is
important. One cannot, as Andy
indicates, take this for granted. To
settle this issue is to deal with a host of other related issues as well. Every
loci of theology is affected: God,
humanity, Christ, redemption, church and sacraments, and eschatology. Further, Andy is correct to note that “preachers
and teachers” assume these things. The
neo-Calvinists, as they call themselves at Gospel Coalition, Together for the
Gospel, and at Mohler’s seminary are pressing these things. For this RA is thankful, however, these
Anabaptists have other things to learn.
We recommend a book here by R. Scott Clark, Recovering the Reformed Confessions. While Scott’s book does not
amplify on TULIP per se, it does offer a wider review of Reformed life in the
Confessions which includes the Synod of Dort.[iv]
Total Depravity
RA:
The “total” in Total Depravity refers to the entirety of a person’s
constitution: mind, thoughts, will, decisions, feelings, affections and
body.
The doctrine of Total Depravity, or as it is sometimes known,
Total Inability, teaches the complete inability of man to save himself, or
indeed to have any part in saving himself because of the effects of sin in the
soul. [RA:
One must read Martin Luther’s exquisite Bondage of the Will.”[v]
For young people, collegians, and novices, this is eminently readable. It’s a book that must be digested. Roman Catholics will never discuss this. Mainline liberal clerics exist in some other
parallel universe. You can easily dismiss mainline clerics as not knowing, understanding or believing in the "T." American “evangelicals”
essentially dismiss this. As noted, some
neo-Calvinists—to use their term—are rediscovering this. Confessionally Reformed Churchmen have long
taught these matters.) Man is dead in his
sins and trespasses (Ephesians 2:1). Therefore he can do nothing, as a corpse,
to bring himself back to life. Every part of man's nature was corrupted by sin,
therefore, we say that man has a sinful nature, which longs only to rebel
against God (Hosea 6:7; Gen. 6:5; Psalm 58:3). [RA: There are important implications here for
evangelism and discipleship. First,
there is confidence for the Bishop (Senior Presbyter and Churchman amongst
fellow Presbyters, juniors), Presbyter and Deacon.
Teach the Christian faith. Leave
the results to God, since God alone “raises” the “dead” to faith in the
teaching of the faith. This writer has
seen it many, many times. In an earlier
life, when teaching and living amongst Marines and Sailors, I would tell a
young man or small group, allow me to teach the Christian faith. Upon permission, the teaching would
occur. I’d teach the essentials without
American salesmanship, revivalism or gimmicks.
I told the novices this was my approach.
Give me six weeks, men, to present the case for classical Christianity. Let me teach.
Further, let us learn together. I
told them I was a fellow-learner, reviewing old lessons, and the Chief in the
class…but no pressure. Decide in six weeks if you wanted more. These lads always wanted more. No pressure.
Yet, many times, a lad would come to me sometimes weeks later—without my
solicitation—plop down and say, “Sir, I gave my life to Christ last night…” Again, trust in God’s work alone to raise the
dead. Two of those men went into and
continue in full time ministry. The Word
alone controls the landscape. While men
are dead in sins and trespasses, His Majesty raises the dead to lives of faith,
repentance and duty.
Man’s sin is extensive as well as intensive. Individuals may not be
as bad as they can be; they are as bad off as they can be. The effect of the
fall upon man is that sin has corrupted every part of his personality:
intelligence, emotions and will. [RA: We noted
this earlier.] The unregenerate person is declared to be "dead" in sin.
Apart from the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit the natural man is
"blind" and "deaf" to the message of the gospel. [RA:
Regeneration is entirely in God’s hands, not our’s. While we must present an intelligent, develop
and cogent case from Scriptures, there is no need for gimmicks, tricks or other
manipulative devices to gain an audience.]There is a natural but total inability
to come to faith in Christ apart from a divine work of grace in the heart. [RA:
Amen.]
Every act of an unbeliever is done outside of faith in Christ.
Scripture says that whatever is not of faith is sin (1 Cor. 14:23). In our
flesh there dwells "no good thing" (Rom. 7:18). [RA: Of recent inquiry, is our study of
literature. The darkness, melancholy, despairs and hopelessness of humans apart
from Christ is underscored. RA asked the
literature teacher this week, “Based upon all our readings this semester, is
everything dark and dreary? Am I reading
these things correctly?” She responded
that she, a 30somethingish near finishing her doctorate in English, had the same response during her undergraduate days, to wit, “Does
anyone just write for “shits and giggles?”
In other words, she saw what I was seeing. She concurred that even in the comedies, there is darkness and
dreariness, but, in literature, one gets used to it. A theological analysis of literature is a
standing order for RA’s day.) All of our righteousness is as
"filthy rags" (Isa. 64:6). Even acts of apparent self-sacrifice mean
nothing to God, for even the "sacrifices of the wicked are an abomination
(Pro. 21:27).
What about the "good" in the world? What about the
fact that unsaved husbands and wives usually loves each other and their
children? First of all, total depravity takes into account what we call Common
Grace, that is, God's restraining power over the sinfulness of men. [RA:
In this mix, one may add the federal and state courts. A federal Judge told me recently, “Judges
view themselves on the frontlines containing chaos. The Judges see the disorders and dysfunctions
of depravity. We may thank His Majesty
for courts in the order of common grace. More could be said, but we shan't.]
Secondly, all who do not worship God
are idolaters. [RA: Here one must teach and press the issues of
the first commandment. This first
commandment leads us to Christ, the Cross, the atonement, forgiveness, saving
faith, saving repentance and justification by faith alone. The Westminster
Larger Catechism lays these issues out, enlightening all readers. Convicting, invincibly, any reader. Apart from regeneration, there is no interest
in this issue. For converted Churchman,
this question is lively and active.
Here’s a wise voice in the
Westminster Larger Catechism. Young
inquirers, non-Christians, and collegians, you can learn these things,
objectively.
“Question 104:
What are the duties required in the first commandment?
“Answer: The duties required in the first commandment are, the knowing and
acknowledging of God to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and
glorify him accordingly, by thinking, meditating, remembering, highly
esteeming, honoring, adoring, choosing, loving, desiring, fearing of him;
believing him; trusting, hoping, delighting, rejoicing in him; being zealous
for him; calling upon him, giving all praise and thanks, and yielding all
obedience and submission to him with the whole man; being careful in all things
to please him, and sorrowful when in anything he is offended; and walking
humbly with him.
“Question 105: What are the sins forbidden in the first commandment?
“Answer: The sins forbidden in the first commandment are, atheism, in
denying or not having a God; idolatry, in having or worshiping more gods than
one, or any with or instead of the true God; the not having and avouching him
for God, and our God; the omission or neglect of anything due to him, required
in this commandment; ignorance, forgetfulness, misapprehensions, false
opinions, unworthy and wicked thoughts of him; bold and curious searching into
his secrets; all profaneness, hatred of God; self-love, self-seeking, and all
other inordinate and immoderate setting of our mind, will, or affections upon
other things, and taking them off from him in whole or in part; vain credulity,
unbelief, heresy, misbelief, distrust, despair, incorrigibleness, and
insensibleness under judgments, hardness of heart, pride, presumption, carnal
security, tempting of God; using unlawful means, and trusting in lawful means; carnal
delights and joys; corrupt, blind, and indiscreet zeal; lukewarmness, and
deadness in the things of God; estranging ourselves, and apostatizing from God;
praying, or giving any religious worship, to saints, angels, or any other
creatures; all compacts and consulting with the devil, and hearkening to his
suggestions; making men the lords of our faith and conscience; slighting and
despising God and his commands; resisting and grieving of his Spirit,
discontent and impatience at his dispensations, charging him foolishly for the
evils he inflicts on us; and ascribing the praise of any good we either are,
have, or can do, to fortune, idols, ourselves, or any other creature.
As such, you can see that no one, repeat, no one, of any station, position
or attainment, has kept this law. Hence,
Christ, the Cross and the atonement.
If one truly assesses the first commandment, the “T” of TULIP gains clarity.
Herein, one stands before St. Paul’s
clear lesson in “The Epistle to the Romans.”
For old Prayer Book Anglicans, it gives the sense of the confession in Morning and Evening Prayer, that we have erred and strayed from Thy ways like lost sheep, having trusted too much in the devices and desires of our own hearts. Fellow Prayer Book Churchmen, you know the rest. You know the prayer of confession for Holy Communion. It "is what it is" and "was what it is."
The essence of idolatry is actually self-worship and the image
merely becomes the tool or instrument for the attainment of the worshippers’
desired ends. Thus, we are on solid Biblical ground for saying that much of the
"good" in the world is simply the result of self-interest. If I kill
my customers, I can't get them to buy my products, thus murder cramps my style.
Moreover, it seems warranted by Scripture, in light of language about sinners'
deadness and blindness and alienation of mind, to assert that our depravity is
so bad that we misread our world and see in it as a much better place than it
is.
RA:
It is very, very important to study the texts noted in the briefly
annotated bibliography, including the Biblical texts.
This is, no doubt, an unpopular doctrine, because our world
unquestioningly accepts the idea that all men are basically good, that there is
good in everyone. True Christians much abominate such a belief. Scripture
declares that all men are sinners, all men seek only evil continually, all men
are at enmity with God and all men stand before God with nothing but the
menstrual rags of our "righteousness."
RA: What Andy Underhile
has noted here about the “T” of TULIP is emphatically underscored by
Confessional Lutherans, old school Anglicans (in better days, but still in the
BCP) and Presbyterians.
The "T" of TULIP, does it matter? Indeed it does. It is foundational to Christian Churchmanship, conversion, saving faith, saving repentance, justification, joy, gratitude, worship, praise and piety.
Young inquirers about Christianity, you will need to think this matter through, from Genesis to Revelation. It is of the essence of Christianity. Young people, be careful, it's dangerous out there. Read, mark, think and digest.
Young inquirers, you are on your own, essentially. The modern salesmen will not teach these things. Andy has. So has the historic, biblical, catholic, and apostolic church, so deeply obscured by Pastorpreneurs, liberals, charismatics, Baptacostals and other mobocrats, democrats and enthusiasts. It's tough being young in these days. But, read and follow this old scribe's musings, Andy's post, and the bibliography.
Thank you, Andy, for your timely post. "T" matters.
[i] Boettner, Loraine. The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination. Grand Rapids, MI: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing,
1991. Print. A must-have and must-read for young theologues
and collegians. This volume is not
optional. This suggests, as we write, the production of a basic bibliography
for young theologies.
[ii] Berkhof, Louis. Systematic
Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1996. Print. My father handed this volume to me at age eighteen
and fresh out of high school. He also
handed me Charles Hodges’s three-volume Systematic
Theology. Dad’s counsel was
simple. “Read ten pages a day, ten
chapters from the Old Testament and ten chapters from the New Testament every
day.” I don’t think that counsel can be
improved by anyone. Young people should
still heed this counsel.
[iii] Hansen, Collin. The
Young, Restless and Reformed.” Wheaton, IL:
Crossway, 2008. Print. For students of Baptacostalist and Baptist
developments in the US, this journalist volume should be read. It’s a fast read, a few hours.
[iv] Clark, R. Scott. Recovering
the Reformed Confessions. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed
Publishing, 2008. Print. This is another must-have and must-read. Again, young thinkers in Christ must read and
review Scott’s book. Any bloggers
reading this must assess Scott’s book.
[v] Luther, Martin. Bondage
of the Will. We believe Greensboro,
NC: Empire Books, 2012, is one publisher, but there are others. Print.
Clearly, a must-have and must-read for the young theologue. It entails an important discussion between
Martin Luther and Erasmus.
