This is a summarized response to Michael Horton's message in Modern Reformation, (Michael Horton is the J. Gresham Machen professor of apologetics and systematic theology at Westminster Seminary California (Escondido, California), host of the White Horse Inn, national radio broadcast, and editor-in-chief of Modern Reformation magazine. He is author of many books, including The Gospel-Driven Life, Christless Christianity, People and Place, Putting Amazing Back Into Grace, The Christian Faith, and For Calvinism. Issue: "Secularizing Religion" Sept./Oct. 2013 Vol. 22 No. 5 Page number(s): 26-41)
Professor Horton gives me hope that the message of the Reformation is alive and well in academia, and in certain evangelical segments, notably the Reformed tradition.
I wished though that his article as referred above, had ended with a solid affirmation of justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone to the glory of God alone, as the very anti-dote against the process of secularization in the church. Indeed, after being a Charismatic/Pentecostal for over 34 years, and only just entering into the Reformed Tradition after a powerful encounter with grace, I can agree with what he said about revivals actually speeding up secularization in the church.
And, as mentioned above, the faithful and persevering preaching of the doctrine of justification, the 'hinge' (Calvin), and the 'article by which the church stands or falls' (Luther), will not only bring a halt to the process of secularization in Christendom, but also pave the way for a true, sustained and lasing recovery of this crucial gospel doctrine in the lives of believers and the church.
No comments:
Post a Comment