Biblicism: A Concise Statement and Clarification

This is largely a summary of the previous piece found here:

https://proto-protestantism.blogspot.com/2020/04/inbox-elaboration-of-biblicism-i.html

Biblicism is in this case, an embraced epithet describing a more robust and thorough understanding of Scriptural Authority. The Scriptures are authoritative and sufficient in all things relating to Church life and doctrine. Though many agree with this statement they nevertheless subvert and undermine Sufficiency by employing a host of methods which in the end reveal the Scriptures are not actually their supreme authority.

The Moscow Abomination, Sacralist Worldview and Memorial Day (Part 2)

From the anti-sacralist Two Kingdom standpoint of New Testament Christianity, the aforementioned thin line between Church and State is in fact an insurmountable wall.***

Christians do not celebrate war. They do not take up the sword. They do not seek revenge and they do not put themselves in service to mammon. As such, Christians are necessarily divorced from the cultural mainstream and cannot have any part in the political apparatus. Life of course is complicated and saints have at times found themselves in difficult situations and have been pulled into realms and spheres that they did not seek. These realities are part of life in a fallen world. But this is quite different from a mode of thinking that not only embraces these categories but sanctifies and glorifies them.

The Moscow Abomination, Sacralist Worldview and Memorial Day (Part 1)

https://www.rferl.org/a/inside-moscows-new-military-megachurch/30580784.html

I happened to turn to the website affiliated with Radio CIA and discovered this story. Radio Free Europe is biased to be sure but there are sometimes hints of interesting stories and in other cases messages are communicated that tell me more about the reporter than the subject being reported.

Most Westerners will find this Nationalist Orthodox Cathedral to be a disgusting thing and rightly so. It is offensive – but I say that not as an American or Westerner or someone committed to Liberal ideals. Rather I say it as a Christian. This cathedral represents Sacralism on full display.

Stonestreet's Anti-Feminism: An Endorsement of Feminism (Part 2)

The truth is there has been a profound shift within Evangelical culture. In the 1970's there was still enough of the old Fundamentalism at work in how people viewed the family so that those who broke with the old order did so not so much out of ideological commitment but due to pragmatics and questions of financial stress. They weren't fans of Stanton, Anthony or Steinem but were people (in many cases) trying to hold on to the Middle Class lifestyle. This continued into the 1980's but more embraced the new model because lifestyles were changing and in many parts of the country housing prices were making it very difficult to live on one income.

Then the 1990's happened – the decade of decadence and debt. A new over-the-top lifestyle emerged and with it came a new theology – a theology of empowerment and prosperity. It affected all Evangelical circles, not just the sphere of tacky Charismatic televangelists. Christian career women started to become the norm but there were still tensions. The Culture War of the period drove many to reconsider what had been happening and there were certainly groups reacting to it – but for many a new theology was emerging that not only sanctioned the new feminism, it theologised it and embraced it.

Stonestreet's Anti-Feminism: An Endorsement of Feminism (Part 1)

https://www.breakpoint.org/women-at-work/

It's no wonder people are confused. What we have here is a feminist argument to counter more extreme forms of feminism. Evangelicals have in recent years largely embraced the early stages of feminism, even lionising the likes of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B Anthony – once largely reviled figures in the Evangelical world. And they have in other instances rejected as 'sexism' the Bible's ordering of the family and marriage.

The Last Prophet and the Implications of the Terminal Epoch (Part 2)

This is the End. There will be no other era of history after this but a new creation. The prophets announce these shifts in epoch, they point to their coming and indeed in one sense the Old Testament prophets pointed to the Kingdom of Heaven. But in these last days there is but one Prophet, the fulfillment of all prophetic typologies. There will be no new prophets to announce a new era. The prophecies have all been spoken – at least the revelatory prophecies have. That's how short the time is. Everything is done – Christ is coming. Even so come, Lord Jesus.****

Those who claim to be revelatory prophets today are deceived deceivers. There are no more prophets for this age – there's nothing to prophesy about. The word has been given.

The Last Prophet and the Implications of the Terminal Epoch (Part 1)

Hebrews 1.1-2 teaches us that the time of the prophets has ended with the advent of the Last Days – this provisional epoch which is related to the Coming of Christ. The Last Days are identified by The Prophet – Christ Himself.

Opposition versus Oppositional Journalism

While complete objectivity is impossible, oppositional journalism expresses a certain degree of cynicism with regard to power, and thus in that posture can avoid many partisan traps. All power and all power players are suspect and their claims need to be investigated and challenged. Oppositional journalism will also recognise there are multiple sides to a story and multiple interests and their various concerns and angles ought to be explored – and such explorations will contextualise the proclamations and actions made by those in power.

Inbox: A Gospel Tract

The Gospel of Scripture vs. Today's Gospel

The gospel message is simple enough. But to present it in a few paragraphs? Well, that's not so easy especially if you want the presentation to be contextualised to our contemporary audience. Well, here's an attempt and given the nature of the exercise I'm not going to saturate it with Scriptural quotations – though I hope many will recognise it as Scriptural and as something that employs a great deal of Scriptural language. This is the message in summary – in a kind of tract or written-preached form:

The Covid-19 Protests (III) – Why Christians Need to Pay Attention

While all of this is certainly concerning I was far more troubled when I watched the protest videos closely and spent some time examining the signage. A lot of it has a 'Christian' theme to it.

The Covid-19 Protests (II) – Trumpism and Trump Country

These protests express militancy and an insurrectionist character. Not everyone is carrying a gun to be sure but there are large numbers of armed men dressed in military fashion and many are organised, part of paramilitary organisations. While some people are scared of the state power grab in shutting down and heavily regulating the economy, others are expressing fears of a growing fascist movement and the potential for paramilitary violence. They see a parallel state developing, centered around the leadership and personality of Trump.

The Covid-19 Protests (I) – The Dangers to Society

Over the past week or so there has been a rash of protests, groups of people congregating outside government buildings and in violation of the current rules regarding 'distancing' and 'mass gatherings'. They gather to publicly resist US and state policy with regard to the economic shutdown and the various guidelines surrounding 'stay at home' policies and the like.

Inbox: An Elaboration of Biblicism (III)

A third consideration which while hinted at above, requires further elaboration, this is the relationship between Authoritative Sufficiency and Biblicism:

Worldviewism is a philosophical construct rooted in Sacralist assumption and inference and as such posits the Sufficiency of Scripture in terms of a holistic vision for the transformation and sanctification of culture. This is in fact a de-covenantalised abuse of the doctrine of Sufficiency.

Inbox: An Elaboration of Biblicism (II)

Second, we must also wrestle with some basic questions surrounding the relationship between Biblicism and hermeneutics:

There will be considerable overlap in the discussion as these issues are not easily sundered.

Inbox: An Elaboration of Biblicism (I)

What is meant by Biblicism? Like so many terms this can be confusing because people mean different things by it and define it in different ways. I am constantly arguing that Sola Scriptura is largely meaningless when it's restricted to just questions of soteriology, or when it's divorced from the doctrine of Sufficiency or even when it's separated from a concept such as the Providential Preservation of the Holy Text.

Mohlerian Hermeneutics and Coronavirus Theology (Part 2)

The analogies provided by Mohler fail on so many levels. Even the Leviticus example refers to individuals contracting diseases. There's no suggestion of mass quarantine. I read the article to my kids at the dinner table and did not reveal its author. Even my teenage daughter started picking it apart and was able to identify its basic problems.

Mohlerian Hermeneutics and Coronavirus Theology (Part 1)

https://albertmohler.com/2020/03/26/obedience-to-god-and-love-of-neighbor-in-the-face-of-a-coronavirus-a-christians-mandate

Albert Mohler offers what he calls the biblical approach to the responsibility laid upon us with regard to governing authorities. These are questions of hermeneutics and theology, the interpretation of the Scriptures and how these ideas are woven together and integrated into a larger system of ideas and practices. In other words the theology he presents (as is the case with all theology) will bear fruit in the realm of ethics.

Hungary: Orban and the Habsburgs Together

(updated August 2024) 

https://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/hungarys-secret-weapon-catholic-nobility

It's a seemingly innocuous article and interview and yet I found it fascinating. It was an opportunity to revisit chapters of the past that I know well and to connect a few dots and explore a few avenues that I hadn't previously considered in depth.

Coronavirus: Ecclesiastical Developments

I can say without qualification that I have been grieved by the mainstream Church's response to this outbreak. As I've talked about in other pieces, I believe the Church (broadly speaking) has been too quick to bow to the state and its dictates, its declaration that the assembly of the Church is something less than an 'essential service'.

I am grieved because Church leaders have handed over the authority of definition to the state but again this in some respects isn't all that surprising. It's the culmination of a long trajectory of compromise and capitulation.

The Lessons of Herbert Hoover and the Failed System of Capitalism

There has been resistance in some quarters to the proposed stimulus plan which will send out checks to the American public. In many ways it's rightly viewed as somewhat crazy – borrow or effectively print money to give to people. Take the government even deeper into debt so that citizens will have money to spend. What kind of economics is that?

Coronavirus Ecclesiology

updated 27 Mar 2020

As I continue to watch the developments and fallout from the Coronavirus episode I am coming to believe this is a watershed moment for the American Church.

Evangelicals and Their Children: The Crisis of Kids at Home

I have heard through family and friends that many are lamenting the fact that their kids are now at home due to school closures. There is apparently some stress or crisis resulting from the family being brought together and forced to spend long hours in each other's company. It's a sad commentary on the degenerate state of the family in this society and apparently within the Church that echoes it.

Facebook Church

On the one hand it could be argued that the presently available technology is a blessing as due to the medical emergency it would seem (for a time) that churches are unable to congregate. If viewed strictly as a temporary measure, I could see some benefit from it as a 'better than nothing' but less than ideal (or adequate) alternative.

A Confused but Instructive Narrative Regarding Dominionism and its Effects (Part 2)

As the Western system moves through the various phases of capitalism we've reached a point in which the old middle class is disappearing. There are those moving up into a middle class that a previous generation would have called 'rich' and then there are those getting knocked down into the working class or the working poor.

A Confused but Instructive Narrative Regarding Dominionism and its Effects (Part 1)

https://longreads.com/2020/01/10/the-price-of-dominionist-theology/

Despite many problems with the essay, from factual mistakes to the worldly wisdom on full unabashed display, it remains a compelling read.

The Dynamics and Ethics of Lawbreaking (Part 2)

Someday, will I operate my business 'under the table' because the laws have become impossible to comply with? I hope not but if it comes down to eating, then I might. If it's a matter of having enough money for my $100,000 house, my retirement account, or the ability to drive my SUV, then I won't. And no fear, since I don't have any of these things, such questions are moot and there's no temptation either.

The Dynamics and Ethics of Lawbreaking (Part 1)

In recent articles I have discussed questions of persecution and punishment, of those who suffer as a result of the gospel versus those who are answering for their lawbreaking which is all too often rooted in political activism.

Trueman, Biblicism and Oberman's Contrived Tradition Schema (Part 2)

Biblicism and the rejection of Classical Metaphysics go together and this collapse ought to be celebrated. While we do not endorse Kantian epistemology, his exposure of Western Metaphysics as a paper castle was in the end helpful. It should have allowed the Bible-believing churches to break free from the Sacralist-Scholastic tradition and its centuries of syncretistic philosophical theologizing. The error (I think) is that many self-proclaimed Biblicists have like dogs returning to vomit re-embraced Sacralist frameworks of thought and many retain Baconian ideas concerning epistemology as well as Classical and Evidentialist forms of apologetics. And thus once again Aristotle and company are placed in a state of rivalry with the Scripture and its claims.  

Trueman, Biblicism and Oberman's Contrived Tradition Schema (Part 1)

https://journal.rts.edu/article/reforming-god/

Trueman has been talking about Socinianism as of late so this article wasn't a surprise and as expected he raises some interesting points. And yet, as usual I also take some exception to his argument.

Of course the Trinity is central to Christian thought and while Trueman acknowledges the importance of one's view of Scripture, I think he loses his way on this overall point. Scripture is indeed the central authority and our doctrine of the Trinity must necessarily flow from it.

Cultural Christianity or Antithesis: The Means of Sanctification and the Tools of Kingdom Growth (Part 2)

The Sermon on the Mount is a profound section of Scripture and yet it is one that sacralists actually take great exception to. Not openly of course but it is striking that it is the very words of Christ that they really struggle with the most.

Cultural Christianity or Antithesis: The Means of Sanctification and the Tools of Kingdom Growth (Part 1)

In a recent piece I cited a quote from Dominionist teacher and Charles Colson protégé John Stonestreet wherein he suggested that cultural Christianity has real benefits. It's better for people to go to church even if it's for the wrong reasons. And by implication it's better for people to go to a bad, theologically compromised church than none at all or to have those churches disappear from the street corner.

The Hospitality Argument Regarding the Angels and Sodom

The ancient Greek myth regarding Philemon and Baucis tells the story of an impoverished couple visited by Zeus and Hermes in the guise of men. The gods had already traveled through the area and had received no hospitality. The poorest and most destitute household, that of Philemon and Baucis welcomed the gods and were even willing to slaughter their precious goose in order to put on a proper spread.

Wal-Mart and the Library of Sodom

Once again I recently found myself in a Wal-Mart and as usual I perused the book section. It's instructive because of the fact that Wal-Mart is only interested in carrying a relatively small number of books that are guaranteed to sell. In other words Wal-Mart carries the best-selling books within certain categories and of course it also targets its demographics, the types of people that shop in its store.

Stonestreet's Hat Trick (Part 2)

On 9 January 2020, Stonestreet addressed the situation in China. Citing the imprisonment of Wang Yi, Stonestreet seems ignorant to the fact that Beijing would consider Wang a threat due to his open collaboration with the American Empire. Once again while I think Beijing's policies are deplorable and bestial, Wang is not suffering for the gospel but for his political activism.

Stonestreet's Hat Trick (Part 1)

John Stonestreet has taken up the mantle of Charles Colson and promotes his Dominionist Theology through the BreakPoint outlet which runs its daily commentaries on Christian radio stations all across the United States. I often listen but very rarely do I agree with what is said. Even when Stonestreet is right, it's usually for the wrong reasons. Their religion is not the Christianity of Scripture but is instead Capitalist Western Civilisation, a kind of Christo-Americanism. Though ostensibly Protestant their version of Christian Sacralism is particularly broad and easily embraces everything from Roman Catholicism to significant elements within the theologically liberal mainline. What really matters for Stonestreet is that everyone is engaged in trying to build Christian culture, whatever that means.