I initially thought I was going to post just a couple of times on The Future of Protestantism, but as I wrote, the thing grew on me. So look for at least one more after this one. This particular set of concerns involves the matter of tribes and tribalism. I think we have to be …
Keeping the Cathedral
I was not a player in the live stream experience of The Future of Protestantism, but had a chance to finish watching it today. My views are best described as an amalgam of the best from each of the gentlemen there — Trueman’s confessionalism, Sanders’ loyalty to the evangelical center, and Leithart’s postmillennialism. In cases …
Remembering Og and Sihon
I said here that I was looking forward to Peter Leithart’s answer to some of the responses to his piece on the end of Protestantism. And you can read his response to Fred Sanders piece here. If I might, I would like to add just a few observations to the discussion, without assuming that either …
Protestantism Without Borders
I will say it right now. Chesterton is my favorite papist. This is something you could probably figure out from how much I quote him, but how much I have learned from him extends far beyond that. One of the things I learned from him is the fundamental stance of a reformer — in order …
Not Counting the Barnacles
Okay, I am a Protestant. I get that. This is why I believe there are many things wrong with the papacy, and that is not even counting the barnacles. But hope springs eternal, and every time a new pope is selected, a lot of people — including Protestants who should know better — start yearning …
A Work of High Harmony
I recently received a question from an old acquaintance, a question that keys off a video clip answer I gave about Eastern Orthodoxy. So here is the question: “On what grounds do you reject the authority of the 7th Ecumenical Council? As Christians, we consider the JW’s (for example) outside the church, because they reject …
The Smell of Boiling Water
My friend Toby Sumpter has been doing some good work on the issues related to the divisions between Protestants and our separated brothers outside Protestantism, and then another friend Peter Leithart added significantly to the discussion here, here, and here. I am very comfortable with what they are saying, and would only tweak a few …
Ten Theses on Icons of Jesus
1. Those who object to portraits of Jesus should not have various Christological heresies assigned to them. It is as if a ham-fisted painter tried a portrait of my best friend, and I complained the painting had no soul. The painter could not reply that I was saying my friend had no soul. But we …
Four Kinds of Idolatry
Richard Baxter once said, “It is almost incredible how much ground the devil takes when he has once made sin a matter of controversy: some are of one mind, and some of another; you are of one opinion and I am of another.” Nowhere is this more apparent than when we discuss the use of …
With Whoops and Happy Yells
A few folks brought my attention to this, and I thought it would be good if I offered a brief response. I had answered a question about Eastern Orthodoxy for a CanonWIRED clip, and this was posted by a gent named Nicodemus as a response to that short video. First, I appreciate that the response …