A Number of Different “Reformations”

The term “Reformation” is used in a number of senses, and it is helpful to distinguish them. As used in the historical literature, the term “Reformation” generally refers to reform movements in different areas, each of which had different roots: Lutheranism: This is probably the earliest and best known among the Reformation movements; sparked publicly …

You might be an Antinomian, if…

Strive for…the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. ~Hebrews 12:14 Anne Hutchinson This list below was published in a few blogs, notably by Kevin DeYoung at The Gospel Coalition. Mark Jones originally brought the list to our attention with his important book Antinomianism: Reformed Theology’s Unwelcome Guest. It is a set of …

The Gospel & Good Works

Below, I share a choice passage from Luther’s preface to his commentary on Galatians.  In this preface, Luther makes a distinction between what he calls “active” & “passive righteousness.”  “Active righteousness” is the Christian’s life of good works before his neighbor.  But the heart of the biblical Gospel as presented by Paul is what Luther …

Michael Liccione finds ‘the Lutheran Mind’ ‘utterly unsatisfactory’

I thought this was funny: From a discussion at Called to Communion Nathan Rinne is a Lutheran writer, and Lutherans are quite fond of holding out to Reformed folks that there are things that God just consigns to mystery, and we are  best not to inquire about them. [Reformed theologians go with the things which …

Answers for a ‘Desperately Seeking’ Susan

Susan 242 said: I am a brand new convert to the Catholic Church(12-16-2012) I am very sorry to hear this. It’s not too late for you to leave. I did leave, too, after a number of years. Those years now seem like wasted time, much damage having occurred, except that, you know, God has a …

What I Love about the Lutherans – the distinction that makes ALL the difference

Herman Utics.  A Dutch theologian?  Oh, wait.  I mean “hermeneutics.”  Seminary debt justifies the use of such words.  Hermeneutics is the discipline of biblical interpretation – how to properly understand God’s Word.  A right understanding of God’s Word is essential for the right understanding of the Gospel.  The Reformation is a result of hermeneutics. Confessional …

What I Love about the Lutherans – “JBFA, All the Way!”

Justification by faith alone.  Sola Fide.  The hinge of the Reformation.  The doctrine of the standing or falling church.  Luther was willing to die for it.  So was Calvin.  But today, we can hardly be bothered to get all worked up about it.  Sure, medieval Catholicism was a mess and all of that.  But have …

What I love about the Lutherans (in spite of the Lutherans!)

I love me my Lutherans.  Over the next several posts, I will tell you why.  Of course, this love is entirely a one way street.  If you were to ask a confessional Lutheran to indicate what he loves about the Reformed, his response would be… <crickets>. Lutherans are an odd lot.  Like most sinners.  They …

Lutheranism is application; Calvinism seeks to understand

Given that one of our purposes here is to try to get Lutherans and Calvinists to better understand each other, I thought it would be important to try to characterize the differences from a Reformed perspective. Following some others, I believe that the difference between “application” and “understanding” is one of the simplest ways to …