Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Responding to Reformation Day Concerns

I was still all giddy with the festive joy of my Reformation Day celebrations, when I read the recent post by Michael Spencer (a.k.a., the InternetMonk) attempting to let some air out of my balloon. You can read his post at his blog here.

Needless to say, I nearly spilled my beer when I scanned his list of bullet points. Here was a blogger I respect seemingly offering to repent of his earlier view that the Reformation was a good thing.

If you’d like a quick refresher on what the Reformation was basically about, listen to our latest episode, entitled the “Reformation Day Special”. In it, Matt and Richard and I try to review some of the background of the Reformation and offer our perspectives on why the Lutheran Reformation still matters today. So that’s my plug for the show.

Now the iMonk is someone I take seriously. I admire his stated commitments to the Gospel of transforming grace, AND the historic confessions of the Church. So when he characterizes (in the end) the significance of our Reformation Day as primarily celebrating division within Christianity, I have to stop and evaluate what he’s saying. I’ve never found him to just be venting bombastic rhetoric, so every son of the Reformation should give what he’s written some consideration.

He begins with two very important insights:

-I no longer believe the Reformation, as it’s commonly described by Protestants, is the distinct event we’ve made it out to be.
-I no longer believe Luther ever intended to slay the Catholic Church and establish the wonder of contemporary Protestantism.

Emphatic “Amens” register deep agreement with both statements. The Reformation was not a single, orchestrated event or series of events. It wasn’t even exactly a movement within the Church, although that certainly comes closer in my view.

Before it ever became a movement, however, it was a confession of faith. Believers heard the Word of God, as if hearing it fresh, and the Holy Spirit moved them to confess before men what they believed in their hearts.

The thing about confessions of faith is, they evoke differing responses in the hearers; some realize upon hearing it they want to confess to the same faith, perhaps even using the same words; others are put off by it and want the confessor to either stop confessing with his mouth, or alter his confession.

A good example of this is the New Testament confession, “Jesus Christ is Lord,” which is found in Philippians, chapter 2. Do you believe it? Do you want to confess it before men? Everything rides on which of the two responses I mentioned above are evoked in you by those words. When Jesus asked his disciples (Mt. 16), “Who do men say that I am?” he got back a short list of answers, reflecting the buzz about Jesus that he generated as he went from town to town. Of course the follow-up question he asked was not to gain information but to set up a vital moment of confession: “What about you? Who do you say that I am?”

Martin Luther, called by the Holy Spirit to be a child of God through Holy Baptism, was sincerely trying to live out his Christian faith, which included a compulsion to confess his Savior, Jesus. In doing so, he was taking his responsibilities as a Catholic seriously.

Martin Luther, called by the Holy Spirit to be a doctor of theology for the whole Church through his appointment to the theological faculty at Wittenberg, was compelled to use his learning and God-given talents to help the Church clarify and correct its confession. In doing so, he was taking his responsibilities as a called doctor of the Church seriously.

Others learned from him, both from his teaching, and from his example. Many in that time period recognized Luther as their “leader,” even though he was not leading from a pre-established agenda.

In a sense, it’s not fair to imagine Luther even leading with a clear idea of where the movement was headed. He certainly did not plan to set up an alternative Church. In fact, during the early years of the Reformation, he repeatedly implored the pope to call an ecumenical council, revealing that Luther still dared to hope a council under the leadership of a Gospel-confessing pope might be able to set the Church aright.

-I am becoming increasingly sure that many things in the typical Reformation story are probably mythological, or most nearly so.
-I’m especially convinced that a lot of the typical “Luther story” is probably historically inaccurate. Not necessarily untrue, but plenty of mythology in the mix.

If the references to “mythological” and “mythology” are meant to suggest that a bunch of pious tall tales are all intermixed with historically accurate reporting, I say that’s possible, but then the burden of proof should be on the one making the claim. I wonder what made-up Luther stories he might be thinking of.

On the other hand, if “mythology” is just shorthand for saying the events and motives and politics were cleaned up or simplified to fit, after the fact, a commonly accepted interpretation of the Reformation’s significance, then I’ll buy it. That’s what people do when they look back to explain what and why things happened. This is what I think Michael means, because he doesn’t leave “historically inaccurate” to stand on its own, but adds that the stories are “Not necessarily untrue.”

-I do not believe true Christianity was restored or rediscovered in the Reformation.

Precisely. I wasn’t as though the Christian Church had ceased to exist sometime between the Second Century and 1517. I think it is valid to say a truer and clearer way to confess the Christian message was laid out through the labors of the reformers.

-I believe that a lot of Protestants say sola scriptura when they mean solo scriptura or nuda scriptura or something I don’t believe at all.
-I now believe that tradition is a very good word.

All right, the Monk is correctly drawing a distinction between the Reformation principle of letting Scripture alone be the source of the Church’s teaching and authority, and the modern idea that interpreters of Scripture should not rely on any sources outside the Bible to aid or guide them in interpreting Scripture for the Church. In other words, it’s a regular Fundamentalist assumption that not only should our teachings be grounded in the Biblical revelation, but nothing else could possibly matter except the Bible. To look to Creeds or decisions of councils for aid in interpreting the text of Scripture is forbidden, as it might lead to “papist” errors of elevating Tradition to the same authoritative status as Scripture.

Let me put an even finer point on it. “Protestants,” in general probably don’t mean this, but self-described Fundamentalists are suspicious of tradition to the point where they seem to really want to operate as if they’re the first ones ever called on to interpret God’s Word. They alone approach the text with Bible-believing, miracle-claiming, faith that is totally uncolored by the age they’re living in. Yeah, right.

Now, is that what God is calling any of us to do? Is He wanting us to pretend we’re the first ones to arrive on the scene with the smarts and background to objectively study His Word and get His meaning right, quite unclouded by any poisonous tradition? Or isn’t it true that, while the Church can never claim ownership of the Scriptures, the inspired Law and Gospel are part of the Church’s stewardship? And however highly we may think of ourselves, we must admit we’re not the first stewards to take seriously the responsibility for getting the Word right.

-I believe we ought to grieve the division of Christianity and the continuing division of Protestantism.

Grieve? Because we all aren’t in communion with the bishop of Rome, who still today persists in teaching false doctrine? Because we, against the liberal teachings of the most mainline denominations, insist on confessing the historical reality of the Virgin Birth and the Bodily Resurrection? Because in our churches we take the focus off of man, and man’s works, and put the focus clearly on Christ the Crucified and his completed work on the cross? Could anyone really grieve that these things should cause divisions? Paul wrote the Galatian Christians, asking, “Who has bewitched you?” Can anyone hold it is better to be bewitched for the sake of so-called unity, than to have the spell worn off?

-I no longer believe the theology of the Reformers was the pinnacle of evangelicalism or is the standard by which Biblical truth itself is judged.
-I can see huge omissions from the work of the reformers, such as a theology of cross-cultural missions and much more.

Hmmm. I struggle with what to make of these statements. I recognize what the evangel is, the Good News. I don’t recognize “evangelicalism” as a well-defined anything, so I don’t worry about what represents its pinnacle. Evangelicalism doesn’t seem to be solidly built on any particular confession of faith, which is why Evangelical churches seemingly can adopt whatever “Statement of Faith” suits their fancy, and then drop it and move on to the next one just as quickly. I’ll be first in line to agree that Biblical truth judges us, not the other way around. But the reformers confessed things, in their writing and in their speakings, which can then be evaluated as to how well they agree with the revealed truths of Scripture. Does a particular reformer say what the Scriptures say? Of course this is not to suggest such an evaluation is easy. But where (among the reformers) the teachings diverge, I think we need to go to the Scriptures to wrestle honestly with interpretations and which ones may have slipped into (or bordered on) error.

Of course, omissions are not in the same category as errors.

-I want to understand how Catholic and EO Christians understand Protestantism, and I want to do so with a sense of humility.
-I don’t believe in ecumenism at any cost, but I can no longer imagine being a Christian without a commitment to ecumenism on some level.

Fine. Start by understanding that in the RC and EO communions they’re trying to answer definitively questions almost no Protestants are even asking. Questions like: How do I know the fellowship of “my” group is even a church in the first place? How can I know whether for sure it is part of the one, true Church founded by Jesus? Hah! I’d like to hear American Evangelicals offer coherent answers to those questions. (Aw, nuts! My sense of irony dislocated my sense of humility just then.)

Also, any one with a commitment to ecumenism should watch it that it doesn’t get elevated above the commitment to confess what you know to be true, based on the most reasonable interpretation of Holy Scripture. I confess “one, holy, catholic and Apostolic Church,” but I firstly confess “Jesus Christ is Lord,” and that “God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not counting men’s sins against them.” (2 Cor 5:19)

-There are many sins associated with Protestantism that I need to admit and repent of.

I promise you I’m not ridiculing anyone whom the Spirit has put under a conviction of sin, but it just so happens this statement speaks volumes about why there’s a certain Protestant anxiety driving them to want to make a kind of peace with Rome. American Evangelicalism, it seems to me, understands the idea of repentance in almost identical terms with RC theology. No, there’s no system of penance, but if most Evangelicals were asked to describe what sincere repentance is like, I’m sure their descriptions would sound nothing like a Lutheran description, and quite a bit like a good Catholic one. The subject of repentance would be a good one for me to blog on at a later date.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Okay, if "Protestant Christians" have broken up into hundreds of groups that teach many, many different things (evident from the vicious backbiting among Protestants I see on the Internet)...how in the world can it be said that Protestants teach any kind of "true" Christianity? What does Protestantism "teach" at all when it is such a cacophany?

And how do you know what Luther taught was true? If it's so self-evident how come all Protestants don't agree with it?

It's just a circular mess. Nothing to celebrate here.

Matthew said...

"...if "Protestant Christians" have broken up into hundreds of groups that teach many, many different things..."

Sounds to me like Medieval Rome. Although in those times they all could point to Rome and say they were in communion with the Pope, there was much splintering of teaching even then.

"...And how do you know what Luther taught was true?"

Begin with Galatians, go to Project Wittenburg and look at Luther's commentary on Galatians. Ask yourself, "is he really very far from the mark?" I believe you'll notice that Luther is on the money.

"...If it's so self-evident how come all Protestants don't agree with it?"

Pastor might want to skewer me later, but I'll say it's for the same sinful reasons that many people deny the gospel: Elevating self above matters of truth. People today prefer their made up theologies in the same way the ancients preferred their made up idols.

Plenty to celebrate! Want a biblical picture of the same problems? Just read 2 Kings 18:4

"...In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah.

He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done. He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.)..."

Gotta love That Old Testament. So much good stuff in there.

LPC said...

American Evangelicalism, it seems to me, understands the idea of repentance in almost identical terms with RC theology. No, there’s no system of penance, but if most Evangelicals were asked to describe what sincere repentance is like, I’m sure their descriptions would sound nothing like a Lutheran description, and quite a bit like a good Catholic one. The subject of repentance would be a good one for me to blog on at a later date

Absolutely agree. In a way it is an eclipse - repentance in RC and Evangelicalism share the same definition and now way like Lutheran.

In fact, it all started with Calvin deviating from Lutheran teaching on repentance. I wish to do a post on this but go ahead Pr. Gary it will save the work.

Calvin modified Luther's definition of repentance and expressed it in words that virtually is RC. The upsetting thing about Calvin is that he always wants to be creative, fixing things that are not broken.

So there you go, the rest is history.



Lito

Anonymous said...

Our suite creates a occupation birthday card on the principle of unexcelled and magnificent projects.
These projects are carried inaccurate by way of the cards the most outstanding mace of explicit artists and designers in
the shop who are experts in every sense of the word. They are also quite extensible, so you can
achieve barest engaging dealing press card designs, depending on the characteristic needs of each client.
We do not own a professional printing machines word of honour the highest je sais quoi of each individual card.
Broad quote of dossier allows you to bump into rendezvous with the expectations of notwithstanding the most hard customers
from every conceivable industry. We guarantee the print and amenities of portly quantities of responsibility
cards in the shortest possible time. In our what really happened, the highest attribute is the happiness of the proposed
valuation and honest service from people receiving and carrying out an busted for corporation cards.
With access to the services offered through our website, you can shortly and without undue
formalities place an organization as a remedy for goods, comment the concoct and approved it and ordered some job
cards. Choose our retinue as a good trade postcard is again a oath fitting for success.
Greet
Merio [url=http://www.kalendarze.dogory.pl]Kalendarze[/url]

Anonymous said...

Hello. Facebook takes a [url=http://www.onlinecasinos.gd]craps online[/url] wager move in reverse on 888 casino freight: Facebook is expanding its efforts to alliance real-money gaming to millions of British users after announcing a train with the online gambling comrades 888 Holdings.And Bye.

Anonymous said...

[url=http://ciproxin.webs.com/]buy ciprofloxacin[/url] buy ciprofloxacin in uk
ciprofloxacin buy canada
ciprofloxacin buy no prescription

Anonymous said...

[url=http://casodex-bicalutamide.webs.com/]acheter Bicalutamide
[/url] Nycolutamid
Bicamylan
order Bicalutamide online

Anonymous said...

[url=http://longchampsoldesk.deviantart.com/journal/]sac longchamp[/url] Retro styles are usually those that have been in style in the interval via 1940??s on the 70??s. They may have at Shop for the Latest Women Mulberry Polly Push Lock Leather Tote Bag Black,Sale Mulberry Handbags in a range of styles. this moment created a return while in the fashion world, with many creative designers plus top versions choosing these people over some others. online chanel handbag storeChanel provides tailored for this pattern effectively, causing a large range of types that happen to be retro and also re-introducing their particular type of clutches coming from in excess of five decades in the past.
[url=http://longchamppaschers.wallinside.com/]longchamp soldes[/url] Escapism seems to be the springboard for Gilliam's forays into the vibe that saturates his movies. After all, they need somewhere to escape to, right? Even in Twelve Monkeys, What do you think of when you hear the name Mulberry Women's Smaller Bayswater Printed Leather Shoulder Brown Bag Fashion Quality Timeless Elegance Long recognized as a trend setter in the world of high fashion. James Cole (Bruce Willis), opts for a trip back in history to escape doing time as a convict. Although the time Cole travels to is considerably less odd that the futuristic wasteland he leaves, he is still being transported out of his element, into a world that causes serious brain overload..
[url=http://longchampmoinse.zoints.com/blog]sacs longchamps[/url] Whether it is your mom, your sister, your sweetheart or your wife, you should buy gifts with care. Women are more complicated than men. Their thoughts and feelings are often hard to understand. In addition to its aesthetic appeal, this Gucci bag has a lot going for it. I always a big fan of bags I love how the Gucci Sukey Large Tote has just the right amount of It stable enough to stand up on a tabletop, but definitely not stiff. I also love the combination of rugged canvas with soft, supple leather, which creates an interesting interplay between dressy and casual.. Women in high-end circles have a hunch for any thing that is high class Practical Mulberry Women's Standard Bayswater Printed Leather Shoulder Black Bag well made, Cheap Mulberry bags UK For Sale and expensive. Thus buying a real is just another accomplishment for them. But for those women who may not be born rich but still like to own a real might just be delighted with all the replica Louis vuitton handbags available in the market..