I just finished an article at Reformation 21 A Forgotten Text? Why Is That, I Wonder?. The author, Carl Trueman, makes some claim to have roots in fundamentalism or at least to have stood with those who laugh at them, calling our standards "unsophisticated taboos" and claiming that those who held to them were "the older generation."
First I would like to point out that, while I am beginning to approach being "the older generation" there are plenty of men who hold these standards who are not older. There are some very fine young men who embrace separation from the sins of this world. Our numbers may not be swelling in the same sense as the young restless and reformed, but we are doing pretty well thank you very much, at reaching this generation with the gospel and with our message of separation from this world.
Secondly I would like to suggest that Mr. Trueman's own fears over the lack of separation in the reformed crowd betrays the idea the reformation practices of liberty are overboard. What he calls legalism we claim as honest separation from the error of this world. We, whose doctrines of separation he calls "taboos" are fully aware that doing faithful Christianity is not a requirement of salvation and that certain actions we encourage Christians to avoid are not "cardinal sins". Those who cry out for liberty, it seems to me, are blinded by their selfish desire to get their own way and call it godliness.
Thirdly, I take some umbrage to the term unsophisticated. It implies that those of the reformed crowd have some how grown passed these taboos. As if sin changes with culture. What was sin fifty years ago is still sin today. Nothing has changed but the modern reformed crowds willingness to wrest Scriptures in order to get their way and find a following.
• It's time we return to standards of separation.
• It's time we take a listen to that older generation
• It's time we stop excusing our thirst for worldliness
I applaud Mr. Trueman's brass in confronting the fleshly tendency of the reformed crowd to use sex speech as a means to draw a larger crowd into their churches. I would suggest that he take it further. I would suggest that he also challenge them to rethink their positions on alcohol, modesty and etc.
But wait. If he does that he will fit in with the old generation better than the young restless and reformed.
Marvin McKenzie
In the fields
First I would like to point out that, while I am beginning to approach being "the older generation" there are plenty of men who hold these standards who are not older. There are some very fine young men who embrace separation from the sins of this world. Our numbers may not be swelling in the same sense as the young restless and reformed, but we are doing pretty well thank you very much, at reaching this generation with the gospel and with our message of separation from this world.
Secondly I would like to suggest that Mr. Trueman's own fears over the lack of separation in the reformed crowd betrays the idea the reformation practices of liberty are overboard. What he calls legalism we claim as honest separation from the error of this world. We, whose doctrines of separation he calls "taboos" are fully aware that doing faithful Christianity is not a requirement of salvation and that certain actions we encourage Christians to avoid are not "cardinal sins". Those who cry out for liberty, it seems to me, are blinded by their selfish desire to get their own way and call it godliness.
Thirdly, I take some umbrage to the term unsophisticated. It implies that those of the reformed crowd have some how grown passed these taboos. As if sin changes with culture. What was sin fifty years ago is still sin today. Nothing has changed but the modern reformed crowds willingness to wrest Scriptures in order to get their way and find a following.
• It's time we return to standards of separation.
• It's time we take a listen to that older generation
• It's time we stop excusing our thirst for worldliness
I applaud Mr. Trueman's brass in confronting the fleshly tendency of the reformed crowd to use sex speech as a means to draw a larger crowd into their churches. I would suggest that he take it further. I would suggest that he also challenge them to rethink their positions on alcohol, modesty and etc.
But wait. If he does that he will fit in with the old generation better than the young restless and reformed.
Marvin McKenzie
In the fields
