Calling for a Return to the Doctrinal Ideals and Kingdom Ethics of the First Reformation
Ignatius of Antioch (d.108) is counted among the Apostolic Fathers, those who had direct connection to the Apostles or were taught second-hand by someone connected to them. In other words they represent the earliest testimonies of Christian leaders in the period just after the New Testament was completed (around the year 95).
Ignatius was the Bishop of Antioch, the city where the disciples were first called 'Christians' (Acts 11:26).
Putin is afraid of a fifth column at work within his country. He knows the West has been scheming to remove him from power. He also is attempting to forge a Russian unity or monolith - or what I would call a sacral state. But even this is nuanced as Russia has no issues with its Tatar population or those of Central Asian heritage who are Muslim. They may live as something akin to second-class citizens (in some cases) but they are not persecuted on the basis of religion. There are even indigenous Buddhists in Russia - such as the Kalmyks who have their own autonomous republic. This too is not a problem for the Kremlin.
I was in Oberlin, Ohio recently. Every once in a blue moon, we take a trip over to Cleveland, and I've been meaning to do the little side-trip over to Oberlin for years. I'm not fan of Charles Finney but (like him or not) his influence on American Church history has been nothing less than profound.
The instability of the world order is starting to snowball. It's overwhelming and frankly it's hard to keep up. I cannot remember a time like this where a combination of factors are coming together to create a situation in which the world seems precarious, and precedent provides little guidance.
If you're ever near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, it's worth taking a few minutes to drive through the charming little village of Mercersburg. The area is best known for its associations with James Buchanan who was born nearby, but for the German Reformed, it was a center of both secular and spiritual education in the 19th century.
There are some who will insist that Systematics and Biblical Theology are complimentary and admittedly some Systematic theologians are better than others. And yet ultimately we return to basic questions - What is the Bible? What is the nature of revelation? How do we judge and interact with it? How did the Fall affect our intellect? And how do we faithfully understand and communicate what God has spoken? Is it our task to reflect Scriptural teaching even if it results in unresolved tensions and we are forced to limit some of our concepts - leaving loose ends and unanswered inquiries? Or is it the task of the theologian as Charles Hodge (1797-1878) argued - to treat the Scripture as something like data or a 'storehouse of facts' to be organized? The theologian's task consequently becomes something like a scientific discipline with the primary requirement being philosophical training.
Redemptive-History focuses on the development of doctrine as it is revealed throughout the history of salvation. This is the history of God working to save a people for Himself, to defeat death and break the effects of the Genesis 3 curse, all culminating in the Kingdom of Heaven. The central character as well as the plot are all centered on the person of Christ. As such Redemptive-Historical Theology (or Biblical Theology as some would have it) focuses on development and context in relation to Christ as opposed to logical structure and ordering.
In 2nd Timothy 3:16, the Apostle Paul refers to the Scriptures as 'God-Breathed'. It is the very Word of God and as such it reveals a great many truths about the way the world is, why it is this way, the true nature of reality, as well as what is to come. It explains how and why the world is broken and how mankind can be reconciled to God through the Person of Jesus Christ.
For Protestants wishing to return to Biblical Christianity, the Five Solas became something like a battle cry. Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone) is the foundational authority for doctrine and the Christian life. And this points to a gospel of Sola Gratia (Grace Alone) effected through Sola Fide (Faith Alone) and by means of Solus Christus (Christ Alone). This brings us to the final element - Soli Deo Gloria, to God alone be the glory.
After considering the Solas regarding Grace, Faith, and Christ, we come to the heart of the dispute between the Reformers and Rome, the question of authority. How do we know what we know in terms of God and His doctrine? For the Reformers, the very gospel was at stake in how this question is answered.
After working through Sola Gratia (By Grace Alone) and Sola Fide (By Faith Alone), we come to Solus Christus - Christ Alone.
Continuing with the Solas of the Reformation, we come to Sola Fide or Justification by Faith Alone. Martin Luther argued this was the article upon which the Church stands or falls. The New Testament speaks of salvation in multiple ways. For example we encounter terms like adoption, justification, sanctification, election, and union and they all touch on the question of salvation and our relationship with God. Luther and the other Reformers tended to put justification at the front of the line, making its 'legal declaration of righteousness' the central and most critical aspect of our standing with God. The righteousness in question is that of Christ - His righteousness is applied to us. We are justified. How is this accomplished? Through various works? No, by faith alone.
Over the next couple of weeks I will be publishing short articles which were written for a church newsletter..... This is the first in the Sola series. Unlike most of what I produce, these articles are brief and simple. In some cases I would say a great deal more and may in fact differ (to some extent) with what I've written.
But the purpose was not to make an argument but rather to touch on the issues of historical theology and (at most) raise a few points of consideration.
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During the centuries we call the Middle Ages, the gospel was obscured, if not buried under a mountain of tradition and theology driven more by philosophy, than a faithful reflection of Scriptural teaching. While the New Testament teaches baptism and the Early Church clearly placed a great deal of stock in the Lord's Supper, over time these simple rites were transformed into complex rituals, and many more were added to the list. Repentance became confused with penances and to this was added pilgrimages, the veneration of relics, the cult of saints, and so much more. By the time we reach the Middle Ages, the gospel of grace taught in the New Testament was all but lost. The average Catholic believed that through the ministrations of the priests, the various rituals, and after a season of suffering in purgatory, they would at last be granted access to heaven and the Divine Presence. The gospel was no longer one of grace but of man-made works and the traditions of men.
Mary de Rachewiltz (1925-2026) has died at the age of 101. She wasn't exactly a household name but as the daughter of Ezra Pound and Olga Rudge, she was somewhat famous in European and American artistic circles. But her reputation was tarnished at least in part by her father Ezra and his associations with Fascism and Mussolini and the fact that she devoted most of her adult life to curating his work and memory.
For the most part I appreciate Jordan Cooper and the work he does. Despite my many differences with him on questions of doctrine and Scriptural interpretation, I appreciate his spirit and the careful and conscientious way in which he approaches theological questions. In terms of being an ambassador for Confessional Lutheranism, there is no one better that I'm aware of.
However on this point concerning the uniqueness of the Lutheran Reformation and the way he frames it as a 'Traditional' or 'Conservative' Reformation as opposed to being 'Radical', I must disagree. But the debate itself is interesting and informative.
In terms of philosophical analogy, the Biblicism being advocated here is akin to the Correspondence Theory of Truth - the Logos-Scriptures being the epistemological measure and our task is to reflect (or mirror) and project these teachings as they are taught (in their context). This framing (in contrast to the Coherence Theory) is usually tied to Empiricism and on that point we must depart. We communicate an analogy wherein we must acknowledge the danger of our ideas becoming a filter or playing a mediatorial role in how God's truths are understood. Our understanding always runs the risk of being slanted or tainted by how our eyes, minds, and hearts see and understand these things and so that too is a cause for caution and humility. This in contrast to the kind of 'direct realist' approach (or ethos) seen in Fundamentalist literalism - an effort that results not only in oversimplification but is often blind to its own biases. It also differs (strongly) from the systematics approach which seeks to reorganize and reframe revealed doctrine into a coherent and comprehensive theological product - I use this term deliberately.
We've considered various Sola Scriptura camps that are found wanting in their claims as well as briefly touching on some of the groups that esteem Scripture down to those who functionally despise it.
We must weigh all of these versus a genuine Biblicist rendering of Sola Scriptura. For some this is an impossibility, for others Pandora's Box that can only lead to chaos.
To some extent the rise of Dispensationalism in the early 20th century can be understood as an expression of this same reaction-to-liberalism dynamic, even though the theological system it spawned (despite its claims) was actually proven to be an inaccurate and unfaithful interpretation of the Scripture itself. It's hyper-literalism proved to be selective and driven by certain commitments. Once these were undermined by more solid exegesis, the entire system collapsed like a great house of cards.
This sphere of discussion is both delicate and frustrating as these well-meaning folks are (in some respects) upholding Scripture and yet pushing it beyond the boundaries of how it's supposed to function in this present evil age. And, they are guilty (we would argue) of imposing an alien epistemological commitment in their reading and interaction with the text which ultimately undermines a faithful rendering and interpretation.
We must also mention the somewhat unusual structuring of Lutheran conceptions of Sola Scriptura - something a lot of people are unaware of. As already mentioned, it's largely confined to gospel-related questions - an issue itself not always easy to categorize. But in addition, the Lutherans have (historically) a two-tiered concept of Scripture. Following Eusebius, there are the New Testament Homologoumena - the undisputed books, and the Antilegomena which were disputed in some quarters for a time - a list that would include the Epistle of James along with Hebrews, 2 Peter, and Revelation.
Author Brian Godawa appeared on my radar back in the early 2000's when Christian publications called attention to his participation in the 2001 film To End All Wars. For my part, I didn't really care for the film - all the more as I refuse to accept some of the assumptions at work in the Anglo-centric narrative.
Godawa was an open Theonomist and was pointed to as an example of positive Christian cultural engagement. He seemed to be something of a rising star in those circles but then I didn't really hear about him again for the next decade or so. Then in the mid-2010's he popped up on my radar again in connection with his fictional works on the Antediluvian world and the Nephilim. I listened to and read some of his material in connection to these themes and found it palatable, interesting, and sometimes refreshing.
Recently I was in a used book store and stumbled across Christianity and Neo-Liberalism by Paul Elliott (published by the Trinity Foundation in 2005). Some will immediately know this is a book connected to the followers of Gordon Clark (1902-1985), a controversial figure within Reformed circles in general and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) in particular.
https://reformedforum.org/vos-and-neo-calvinism-rethinking-a-transatlantic-identity/
Bucey provides some helpful analysis regarding this rather pivotal episode in the life of Geerhardus Vos (1862-1949) and his 1886 refusal to join Abraham Kuyper at the Free University in Amsterdam. The young Vos instead made his way to Grand Rapids to teach at what would become Calvin College and Seminary.
Woods' appeals to New Testament limits on state power are also guilty of non sequitur. He confuses a Christian ethic and call to bear witness with enumerated powers. Likewise in his state of deception and delusion (32:00) he seems to find the Second Amendment in the Scripture - even when numerous passages in the New Testament repudiate the ethic of vengeance, self-defense, let alone the taking of life in self interest. His interpretations of Luke 22 and Christ's words regarding the two swords being enough are telling as he falls into the very same misguided interpretive traps as did the Pharisees who argued with him and the apostles in some of their worst moments of ignorance. The sword in Luke 22 has nothing to do with walking around with a gun strapped to you - or strategically placed under you car seat. And Christ made very clear in the garden that he was not calling them to take up swords and warned them against doing so. They were either an object lesson or a case of his exasperation due to their lack of understanding - which He knew would be clarified in short order. Woods completely misinterprets these passages as indeed he has demonstrated a repeated failure to grasp basic New Testament teachings and ethics.
https://www.vcy.org/crosstalk/2026/02/24/the-bible-and-your-vote/
If you can stomach it, listen to this episode of CrossTalk - or more properly John Birch Society Radio. The show frequently hosts the society's leaders and thinkers and functions as a platform for its brand of Right-wing politics. It's almost a comprehensive study in all that is wrong with the Christian Right and today's Evangelical movement. Woods (the guest) is a bit simplistic to be sure, but he's consistent in his representation of their platform. With the Bible in hand, he launches an assault on New Testament Christianity every bit as subversive as that of James Talarico. The latter won't actually fool anyone grounded in Scripture but Woods and his ilk are persuasive to many and continue to do great harm.
https://cne.news/article/4938-how-arts-draw-europe-back-to-paganism
This article struck me as rather strange. In many respects I can resonate with Placentino's concerns about pagan revival in connection with 18th and 19th century Romanticism, but at the same time I found his arguments wanting and often guilty of begging the question.
https://au.thegospelcoalition.org/book-review/not-god-divine-simplicity-simple/
I appreciated this review of James Dolezal's 2017 work All That is In God: Evangelical Theology and the Challenge of Classical Christian Theism - a work that has generated controversy and led to the creation of new factions within Reformed circles. As the subject interests me, I find myself returning to it once again.
https://philosophical-theology.com/2025/10/17/abandoning-the-faith-in-college-really/
DiGiacomo finds parental discourse surrounding the issue of apostasy to be confused but we could say the same adjective describes his discourse as well. The bottom line is this - what does the New Testament say? And this is the rub, Calvinism all too often commits itself to rationalist systemic frameworks that logically prioritize certain truths and as a consequence, verses (even if there are literally dozens of them) that suggest something to the contrary must be explained away and/or subordinated.
https://religionnews.com/2025/10/09/new-book-debunks-spanking-and-the-myths-of-christian-parenting/
Evangelicalism has an established track record of compromise and worldly thinking. From its inception in the post-war context, this movement has left the doors wide open to worldly influence.
Therefore it's no surprise to read of these assaults on Biblical parenting being offered by women - women who are effectively teaching doctrine and ethics. Their disobedience to the Scriptures and the fact that they are given standing and an audience within the Evangelical sphere only further emphasizes this point.
The BBC recently interviewed a farmer in the American Midwest. He was upset over rising fertilizer prices connected to the Iran War. The markets have spiked due to petroleum and natural gas interruptions and 'supply chain' problems associated with the conflict.
The farmer contended that the US is energy independent. After all this is a point the Right has championed for a number of years - a point even associated with Trumpism. If the US becomes energy independent, it will be able to divorce itself from Middle Eastern instability and entanglements - or so it was argued. Not everyone agreed.
https://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1011-76012018000100013
I think I first encountered JAT Robinson (1919-1983) and discussions of his 1963 work 'Honest to God' in the writings of Francis Schaeffer and authors such as Iain Murray of the Banner of Truth. This would have been back in the mid-1990's.
For those unfamiliar with the discussion, Robinson was the Bishop of Woolwich and while in that office he published 'Honest to God' in which he revealed his doubts about conventional theism. It shocked the Christian world at the time (1963) - a bishop who was effectively (at least according to traditional definitions) an agnostic, if not an outright atheist.
Historians have long debated the relationship between the Cynics and early Christianity. There are some striking similarities to be found in the lives of the Cynics who emerged in the context of Classical Greece, a few hundred years before Christ - so much so, that some believe Christ may have been influenced by them.
The likeness is superficial. The Cynics rested their thought on a different epistemological basis and their ethics were also different - and yet similar enough at times to generate a lot of discussion. For those wishing to make direct comparisons or find some trace of lineage, it's a dead end. That said, the similarities can be striking and nevertheless generate some interesting reflection. The Cynics raise issues in terms of ethics and society that the Church can benefit from. And this is not something new or something that emerged in this era of comparative religious studies.
https://petehurst.com/prosperity-the-big-lie-and-the-big-truth/
https://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-sweet-taste-of-vomit.html
I commented on Hurst back in December of 2025 but this article crossed my path and left me more astonished than usual. Does anyone actually read the Scriptures?
https://reformedpolitics.substack.com/p/a-christian-case-for-borders
Apparently PCA pastor David Hall was so moved by Speaker Mike Johnson's apologia for border defense that he chose to re-post it on his website.
https://reformedpolitics.substack.com/p/religious-gains-2025
Hall's work has been repeatedly promoted on websites like The Aquila Report and I've also encountered him in the podcast world. Hall thinks 'gains' are being made with the Trump presidency. Needless to say there are a lot of assumptions being made as well as the typical pronoun confusion (and the thought that undergirds it) that we've come to expect.