So recently I have noticed a new phenomenon that seems so ironic. A lot of folks who have grown up in evangelical Protestant homes, as they have actually encountered other forms of Christianity, feel like all that they have learned is wrong and what we need to do is adopt more traditions outside their Protestant tradition. Seriously, since Vatican II, there’s little difference between Protestants and Roman Catholics (especially to the Hans Kungs of the world). There is so much history left to learn about. But some persons, scholars and laypersons alike, I have noticed especially within the white-led emerging church try to down play the real doctrinal differences and implications between Eastern Orthodoxy, the Catholic Church, and Protestantism, especially of the American variety.
Since I am familiar with works in 18th century Christianity in the US, I know that particularly persons like Jonathan Edwards was proud to be a Protestant and took aim at Catholicism, especially in his interpretation of the book of Revelation. I am not imitating John Piper in asking that we go back to those days. What I want is simple: honesty. Just admit that Protestantism and the Reformers are fallible, but so are all Christian traditions. There is no need to pretend who we aren’t or adopt teachings that we do not agree with in good conscience. We don’t have to make a refrigerator religion where we go with just whatever sticks. I think staying true to ourselves is the best way forward without making our experience an idol
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