Some myths about Reformed Evangelicalism

 

Or at least some myths about better versions of well-informed Reformed Evangelicalism as we might like it to be.  

Do you agree these are myths? Which people actually tend to believe? Would you have suggested others?

(1) They believe in the sole authority of Scripture.

Not so. We hold that Scripture is the only final and supreme authority, but that doesn’t mean we don’t believe in a role for tradition and reason. They are subordinate authorities.

(2) They are so in to “grace alone” they are antinomian (lit. against the law, the idea being that there is no point or place for good works).

Actually, the Reformed champion the (Old Testament) Law as a kind of guide for Christian living (the so called ‘third use’ of the Law).

They have thought carefully about good works as the fruit and evidence of justification. Many of them have been big on effort and self-discipline but ideally powered by the gospel of grace.   

(3) They necessarily have a low view of history and most things before 1517 or so.

Calvin was something of a student of the church fathers. We want to be Reformed Catholics. Arguably the Reformation was a recovery of one strand of Augustine. It was claimed to be a movement for getting back to history, to those things which had been forgotten or corrupted.

(4) They are captive to individualism with little interest in liturgy, the church, corporate worship etc.

Cranmer himself was a Reformed Evangelical. The reformation of the church service for the glory of God and the good of people was a driving concern.

(5) They are pretty much un- or anti-sacramentalists who think baptism is just getting wet and maybe best for adults only, and the Supper is just a helpful reminder.

The Reformers were all at pains to distance themselves from the Anabaptists. Calvin believed the Supper was a true participation in Christ. And the C of E Book of Common Prayer and The Thirty-Nine Article are very influenced by Reformed view of these matters.

(6) They believe the Holy Spirit has retired.

Even if the traditional view is that there is no new revelation and certain gifts of the Spirt have ceased, the Holy Spirit is very much at work in regeneration, sanctification, edification and other long words ending in “shun”.