L-O-V-E

My heart is weary tonight brethren. I really am at a loss for why we have such a delighted attitude toward internecine conflict in Reformedom. Troll the "reformed" or "puritan" blogs out there and you will find a world of exclusivity filled with hateful invective for anyone who disagrees. Do a google search on "Federal Vision" or "New Perspectives" and you will find the most hateful things said by Christians against other Christians. Heresy! Heterodoxy! Heretic! Another Gospel! Man, if this is what we say about those who are of our own tradition, it makes me shudder to think of what one is willing to do to an Arminian or an Anglo-Catholic. This should not be.

Throughout history Christians have been marked out by worldly authorities for one peculiar trait that drives them mad with rage...love. Yet, we live in a time of heightened rhetoric when people are filled with that same type of rage...toward their brethren. Its sick.

I am hereby declaring that I'm Post-Reformed. I'm serious.

I'm tired of the rhetoric. Tired of the accusations of being "sacerdotal", "Romanist", "Federal Visionist", whatever. No one listens to your answers anyway. And those who are asking are irrelevant. In fact, we are irrelevant. Just call me "Christian", a fine name first applied to our people at Antioch in Acts 11. The Reformed world, while offering a wonderful repository of historical theology has become so tossed from its moorings that it can't even see itself in the mirror anymore in its bankruptcy. We, like some powerful ancient barbarian people, were once a great tribe. Now we are nobody. Drunk and screaming at one another on the reservation we have allowed ourselves to be placed on.

I'm leaving to join the wider church. My sympathies will always lie with with the great Genevan and his true progeny but its time to engage the broader Christian culture and the unredeemed world of men beyond that. Time is too short to fight silly battles. There is a creation that needs to be subdued for Christ.

Comments

[Garrett]

Hi Andrew,

No Left-fieldness. I'm actually doing this as a kind of thought-experiment. It seems we are fighting this battle (unfortunately it is a battle) by rushing the front lines in lock step. I am convinced there is an oblique way to by-pass the impasse. Besides I really want to talk to the people on the other side of the impasse (broader church) than those locked in combat at the road-block.

[Andrew]

Thanks, Garrett. I think I smell what you're cookin'.

I have voiced my opinion on this matter, and there is no need to reiterate (I'm trying to get over my proclivity to beat dead horses).

I'll keep checking your blog for more brainfood.

BTW, tell Tate and Charissa (she's my cousin) I said hello.

Andrew

[Garrett]

You're the guy. They told me about you (all good).

[Andrew]

Aww, Shucks.