“Many modern readers of history fail to see the catholicity of the Reformation. In no way did the reformers desire to found ‘a denomination’ in the modern sense; rather, they desired the reformation of the one Church. They were one party within the Church; the other party was the papal faction” (For Kirk and Covenant, …
Obedience a Two-Way Street
“It is easy to have strong views on the subject of authority, but these usually come up when we are considering how someone else ought to be obeying us. When we turn to consider those that we should be obeying, our ardor sometimes dims” (For Kirk and Covenant, p. 129).
Humorless Reformers
“Few things are more terrible in human society than the humorless reformer . . . a man who cannot see what he most needs to see, which his own contribution to the problem. In this vain and fallen world, a man who cannot laugh has no business undertaking to cure the world’s ills, because he …
Whatever That Was
“However, it was not merely academic; because it was the work of the Spirit of God, the Reformation was scholarship on fire. In many respects, it was an essential part of the Renaissance, whatever that was” (For Kirk and Covenant, p. 121).
Shrink-Wrapped Reformation
“Whenever a great change is brought about by men of vision, who do not love the sounds of compromise, the fruits of that victory are commonly parceled out by men who come bustling up ten minutes after the battle (a battle they solemnly warned against), all eager now to share in the spoil. First thing …
Context Matters
“Utterly forgiven, and all by God’s grace in Christ, the early Protestants could scrutinize their failings and sins. All this done in much the same way that a boy might study an ugly tooth that had caused him so much pain . . . after it was out” (For Kirk and Covenant, p. 114).
Before Lawless Thrones
“A man must be meek before God before he can stand upright before lawless thrones. How can an arrogant prophet rebuke an arrogant king?” (For Kirk and Covenant, p. 113).
Careful . . .
“Although a firm believer in predestination, he did not fall into the errors of those who get hold of only one end of a truth, and who then wave it around until they hurt themselves” (For Kirk and Covenant, p. 105).
A Different Task Entirely
“The early Protestant preachers did not think their message was to get the sick patients to take their medicine. They saw their task as one of preaching in a graveyard, praying for a resurrection” (For Kirk and Covenant, p. 95).
Use the Right Standard
“Whenever we take the measure and weight of any man, we must be sure to use the canons and balances of heaven” (For Kirk and Covenant, p. 89).