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Friday, February 29, 2008

On Being Reformed

Here's an essay I wrote some time ago. I sent it out to a few select friends, and Dr. Renihan asked if he could put it on the new IRBS site.

I'd say a few things differently, but the substance would remain unchanged.

I'm posting the link here because it will give you, the reader, a greater understanding of my convictions and what you can expect to read here in the future.

Enjoy.

http://www.reformedbaptistinstitute.org/?p=25

17 comments:

Bradford said...

Hey, just use your church website email address? If not, email me at bradfordmyers@cox.net

Stefan said...

I sent you an email from my yahoo account. Use that one.

dapalma said...

Well stated!! HERE HERE!!!

David

lucidstates said...

That was really good Stefan. Your explanation is very helpful for me to understand where ya'lls church is coming from.
All I can say is, the His Holy Scriptures are everything, regardless! Remain true to His Word brother :-)

Jonathan

Anonymous said...

The Scriptures are of supreme importance (they are God's Words!), but confessions of faith are vital secondary documents for the church. They mark out a theological identity for the church and prevent a descent into theological imprecision that leaves one open to any and every error and heresy. Many claim the Bible as their source of truth, but the ways that Bible is used are often beyond the pale of orthodoxy. I'll take a theologically self-aware confessional Reformed Baptist any day over a nebulous broadly evangelical who doesn't know what he believes except that Jesus is really important.

Aaron

Stefan said...

Well said, Aaron. Nice to see you here.

lucidstates said...

Extremely well put Aaron.

Jonathan

Sara Schmidt said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Stefan said...

The previous comment was deleted because it was clearly contrary to the focus and ethos of this blog. Sorry, but posting that which is unfounded slander is not welcome here.

If you return here, please don't respond to this comment. It will be deleted.

Thank you.

Paul Cohen said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Stefan said...

This is not the blog for anyone's anti-Calvin agenda.

I didn't write a defense of Calvin's role in Servetus's trial, so the comments and links regarding it should not have appeared on this thread, or anywhere on my site.

The Reformed faith is the most consistent expression of biblical Christianity. If you disagree on biblical grounds, fine; but if your arguments are purely ad hominem, such comments are not welcome here.

Furthermore, slander (or, incendiary language, if you prefer) will be deleted -- automatically.

Not to sound authoritarian, but this is my blog, I am free to edit content as I wish.

No further Calvin bashing will be permitted. If you feel the need to do so, kindly go somewhere else.

dapalma said...

Hey there Stefan,

I have been reading all this and was not sure whether to respond with a defense or is it throwing pearls... I am proud of your well thought response to these off topic posts.

David

Stefan said...

Thanks, David.

My plan at this point is to delete this off-topic stuff and no longer respond to it.

Paul Cohen said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Stefan said...

Please stop. Any of your comments will be deleted.

I have been to your website, and read your defense of Servetus's anti-trinitarianism. That tells me that we are on a totally different page, and the gospel you are preaching is one totally different than the gospel of the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Again, please do not respond. Your responses will be deleted. You've chosen the wrong blog to spread your propaganda.

GUNNY said...

Few things wear me out as much as the character attacks on Calvin as an attempt to undermine Reformed theology.

This is particularly prevalent in my SBC world.

Not only is it often historically irresponsible, but it's also patently irrelevant.

Since most of us get our Reformed theology first and foremost from the Bible, another holding to it and systematizing it (well) is an afterthought.

Stefan said...

Gunny,

Thanks for stopping by, and though I'm not privy to the SBC world and what goes on there (though I do have friends in it), I have seen this ad hominem attack on the Reformed faith far too many times.

I couldn't agree more with your comments.

Stefan