Steve McCoy has started a conversation on his blog about the concept of being “postReformed.” Head on over and check it out; add your thoughts. My response is here (you’ll need to scroll up a bit to see all I wrote). You can visit the postReformed blog here. In short, I am not convinced most of their emphases are “post.” I have found them in the best of the reformed tradition. If you have time, at least check out Steve’s post.
postReformed
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I am the Lead Pastor of Redeemer Fellowship; husband to Jen; Dad to Katherine, Elias, Madeline, and Kilian. If you're in town you can probably find me in the local coffee house or running through the neighborhoods.
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About a year and a half ago I threw a snit after being told one too many times that Baptists aren’t really Reformed and labeled myself as “post-reformed.” I wanted to move past the combativness of the Reformation and simply live Reformed theology. I even blogged on it.
It turned out that my words had a far worse result than I intended. Many of my friends who are Reformed Baptist pastors were insulted and angry with me. Those who claimed I wasn’t really reformed to begin with simply smiled and said, “See?!” I soon pulled the blog post and have since disavowed the term. It is more harmful than helpful.
Instead, I articulate my feelings and desires by stressing semper reformanda. That is something the Reformed folks understand appriciate. For those who think Baptist aren’t reformed it employs language from within their tradition.
The original person who set this all off is now a good internet friend and has expressed his appriciation for Reformed Baptist.
Semper Reformanda.
On the one hand I am not convinced the label is helpful. I agree with you Tim that their emphases (the ones I agree with) can be articulated via “semper reformanda” or even by appealing to Reformed examples of the past. Calvin himself for example on mystery and humility.
One the other hand many of the Reformed will demonstrate why the postReformed exist by not listening to their words, jumping to conclusions, and dismissing their concerns.
Sad but true, brother. Pride is a powerful thing and those we want to move beyond honestly believe that moving beyond them makes us almost heretics.
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