I have been reading several books over the past few months, include Cornelius Van Til's critique of Karl Barth and a couple of volumes from the works of Gordon H. Clark. I plan to do a review of those books soon.
I have also planned to do a review of Alister McGrath's book on the King James Bible and how that relates to the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. These two fine English works have had an impact well beyond England to the rest of the world even down to the present time.
In addition, I just received in the mail a copy of Recovering the Reformed Confession, R. Scott Clark, and Mike Horton's new systematic theology. I am planning to review both of those works as well. Clark's book was written in 2008 but is just as relevant today as when it was written. This is particularly true for Anglicans who are concerned to reform the Anglican Communion in line with the original vision of English reformers like Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, John Hooper, Nicholas Ridley, Hugh Latimer, and those who followed after. The Parker Society is an excellent resource for such studies.
At this point it looks as if those of us in the sideline denominations, as R. Scott Clark put it so eloquently, have little to no influence in the mainline and borderline Reformed denominations. As bad as the situation looks in the Presbyterian and Dutch Reformed denominations the situation is even worse in the Anglican Communion. Anglo-Catholicism rather than Evangelical and Reformed theology predominates with few exceptions--perhaps the Church Society in England and the Sydney Anglicans of Australia remain vigilant against the encroachment of liberalism and Tractarianism--but over all the situation looks bleak. The Global South is probably more Evangelical than Tractarian but even there the encroachment of Anglo-Papist theology has made major inroads.
The future of the Gospel depends on the sovereignty of God first and foremost. Be that as it may, we as Reformed believers are called to teach and preach the doctrines of grace and to reform our congregations and denominations according to the precepts and doctrines of God's Word. God alone is able to bring success to our efforts since He is sovereign over all. (Psalm 115:3).
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5 comments:
Looking forward to your reviews of RRC and Horton's systematic. I read Clark's book shortly after it came out and liked it. Lately, I've thinking I should reread it as I think I would benefit even more. Horton's tome is in my wife's hands, from which I can't pry it away. The good news... She's nearing the end!
I just finished reading Horton's introduction to his systematics and R. Scott Clark's introduction to RRC.
I've already got several critical opinions of Horton's work, judging from the introduction at least. It reads like you're listening to an episode of The White Horse Inn rather than the deep analysis you'll get in other systematic theological works.
Clark's book is much more on the seminary level with precise analysis. I have a few theological and philosophical differences with both RS Clark and Horton, mostly because I am a member of the Gordon H. Clark fan club. Also, I read both Donald Bloesch (a supposedly "Reformed" and Evangelical theologian who is really a Barthian) and Carl F. H. Henry (God, Revelation, and Authority). Henry was a student of Gordon H. Clark and advocated a commitment to Scripture as propositional truth and fully inspired of God in every word. Horton does not seem to hold that view. I'll have to read what he has to say about Scripture later in the book before I draw any conclusions but the first section dealing with postmodernism is a confusing mix of empiricism, existentialism, and a loose appeal to Scripture as "doctrine" and a "factual myth".
Truthfully, despite my differences with R. Scott Clark, it seems to me that Clark is a much better theologian than Horton. Horton should stick to his "practical" or "pastoral theology".
Give Horton some time and a bit of leeway as you start reading. I have read some snippets here and there. I think he approaches things from, a sometimes, different angle than the those systematic theologians of the past. I think that is due to our era. Yet he ends up affirming the doctrines of grace consistent with the Reformed tradition. True, his WHI outreach heart bleeds into his systematic. I don't think that is bad... just his approach.
You got a message from heaven.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2lWSAVqh5E
http://youtu.be/AufWWR_WIf8
I normally don't post those wacky comments and links. But in this case a new cult I had never heard of surfaced. Apparently the Moonies do not have a corner on heresy in Korea. They have another cult that claims there is a Father God and a Mother God. Sad that people fall for this sort of deception. (Ephesians 4:14).
See: World Mission Society Church of God
and: I Have Already Come
The catchy dance tunes and the hypnotic mood music can't be topped even by Pat Robertson and CBN. This only proves that seducing spirits know how to manipulate the emotions. True religion works through teaching the propositional truths of Scripture in logical and rational form. (John 1:1-2; John 1:14, 18; 2 John 1:7-11).
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