Jul
06
2009
What Is Reformed Theology?
Check out this excellent little statement on Reformed Theology written by Dr. Richard Pratt in answer to the question, “What is Reformed about Reformed Theological Seminary?” Reformed Theological Seminary is where I went to seminary and was taught by Dr. Pratt. Of course, Dr. Pratt’s answer is applicable across the board, not simply to Reformed Theological Seminary. So, for insatnce, if someone asked me what is Reformed about Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Pratt’s answer is the answer I would give them.
I especially like this section on the need to communally embody the doctrine of “grace alone”:
At RTS, we also teach our students the importance of letting grace saturate our community. We work hard to have a caring, friendly atmosphere that reflects the mercy of God. There isn’t one of us who is not in need of a lot of patience and mercy – both human and divine. God stooped low, really low, to scoop us up. He went to immeasurable lengths to give and forgive. How then can we not respond with grace toward the others in our seminary community? Indeed, freely we have received; freely we must give (Matt. 10:8).
Can you imagine if every home, church, and seminary were able to embody the Reformed doctrine of “grace alone” in these ways? It would revolutionize our witness to one another and to the watching world.
Francis Schaeffer once noted that bitter divisions among Christians give the world the justification they’re looking for to disbelieve the gospel. But when reconciliation, peacemaking, and unity are on display inside the church, that becomes a powerful witness to this fractured world. “Just as I have loved you,” Jesus commanded, “you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).
You can read Pratt’s full statement here.
8 Comments
They will know we are Christians by our love! Amen!
Excellent pastor! Thanks for sharing this.
I have always thought it ironic that Calvinists (myself included) are known for their smugness and pride when they should be the group of Christians that are most humble, because we should understand exactly how low God had to “stoop” to reach us.
Joe and I were just chatting about this. Your explication is actually quite helpful and somewhat surprising in it’s simplicity. Thanks again!
It’s all about Grace. God has been so gracious to me (biggest understatement ever!); I want to be the embodiment graciousness. Why can’t I get out of the way and let Christ express himself through me? Why am I so inconsistent in being gracious? I understand what you mean by needing the Gospel to saturate and over-saturate my whole being. Having been broken and Fixed I must be so grateful that Graciousness just oozes out me. SOZO
Tullian,
I’ve been studying the sinful nature of the Christian (his sins as well as his doubts, fears and anxieties) and it seems to me that we have a hard time admitting a lot of this. To many we appear as the Church of the Plastic Smile. “How are you?”, one may ask. “Fine”, says another. Is this true? How can it be with so much heartache in our world today? I know we cannot “unload” on every stranger who asks us how we are doing but can we be honest with the church and especially those closest to us? Can’t we be real with our brothers and sisters? AND can we handle honesty? How are we to be a gracious community if we don’t admit our horrible shortcomings? This is not to tolerate sin or not apply the righteous mantle we have been given in Christ, but where we need grace is in our fallen-ness, isn’t it? In our sin, let us lovingly confront and rebuke, but also be there to forgive, reconcile and restore, if repentant. In our sins, let us be there to comfort, encourage, and stand with in presence, not just in word. If anxious over need, let us be there to help materially, provide services and finances, and in gentle words of admonition to trust our heavenly Father who does all things well. If in doubt, or crisis of faith, let us be there in kindness of deed, displaying the goodness of God, and with words of great and yet subtle care and compassion.
It seems we are all too eager to spout God’s goodness when things are well, but what about when things are devastating, in the horrors and tragedies of life? How do we do as a community of grace in supporting one another in job loss, in the death of loved ones or diagnoses of terminal illness, in perpetrations of crimes that involve our loved ones or ourselves (look at all of the injustices recorded in Scripture), in poverty, in made man and natural disasters. If we are to be a covenant community of grace, we need not be alone washed in a fountain of mercy, but be that hose of kindness that entices and brings others to that fount of mercy. I have heard it said in the Church, “Christians are the only ones who shoot their wounded”. That, my friends should be anathema.
Let the everlasting waters of mercy run that alone run through Scripture by grace through faith. Let us endeavor to grow and mature as His people.
I too have had the problem of running into those who are so “hooked” on reformed theology that they’ve forgotten the gospel (if I can say that), forgotten to be gracious. If there is a doctrine out there that should make us humble, grateful and gracious people, it should be this one.
[...] What is Reformed theology? [...]
It’s interesting how different God and man sees things.
Man sees those who are sure in their faith; because they realize they have nothing to do with it as arrogant and prideful yet, God sees them as having great faith.
God sees those who think they have something to do with their faith as prideful and arrogant, because they mistakingly think that they possess something good in themselves, that caused them to chose God.
They actually may be trusting in themselves rather than God.
Man’s pride causes him to so desperately want to have something to do with his own salvation.
True peace comes once you surrender to God’s absolute authority over your life.