What is "Reformed?"

[ClementofRome]

I was having a conversation with a friend of mine the other day and though he is a Presbyterian, he told me that he could never get a grip on what was meant when we use the term "reformed," as in "reformed theology." Here is what I said in response and I would LOVE for any of you to clarify or add or correct me in this:

1. 5 solas
2. TULIP
3. Creation>Fall>Redemption>Consummation biblical motif
4. Insist that the Bible informs culture and not the other way around


I went into these in detail of course, but what have I missed? What else is essential? George Mardsen, in his article "Reformed and American" has suggested that there are indeed three foci within the Reformed tradition and that each plays itself out differently. He says that the "doctrinal" focus finds its roots in Old School/Princeton/Westminster theology.....the "cultural" focus finds its basis in the Dutch Reformed theologians...and that the "piety" focus finds its basis in the Great Awakening>New Evangelicalism of the 70s and 80s. He suggests that for Reformed Theology to be able to really get its late 20th-early 21st century legs under it, it needs to, with a fresh voice incorporate all three foci and let each inform the other. I say all of that to say this, that I believe that I have incorporated all three of his foci in my four statements above. The area where I am probably the weakest is in the area of "piety." I am incorporating "piety" in the the last of the 5 solas = "To the Glory of God alone." This may not be good enough in many eyes. I must admit for myself that I do not have pietistic leanings, so I may be excluding an element that fully belongs in the "Reformed" camp. I could add, #5 = "Leading a life that is pleasing to God," but I am not sure that breaking out a seperate statement is necessary as I believe that it is somehow a given...and being a bit of a "hyper" myself, I believe that God's will is ultimately done.

I know that this has been a long post and that there is a bunch of stuff here. I have enjoyed the discussions that go on in this Forum and I am anxious to read what you "reformed" folk have to say.

 

[Antman_05]

Something tells me you did a fairly good job seeing noone has posted anything.

 

[Jon_]

I struggle with piety as well. And I don't just mean that I struggle with sin. We all do. I mean that I struggle with the motivation to be perfectly sinless. It's hard, so very hard. My flesh wants to sin. My body craves carnal things. It's the most agonizing I can describe. My thoughts are echoed in the words of the apostle:

(Rom. 7:24 KJV) O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
​

I know that I have victory in Jesus Christ. I know that God will provide me with the victory if I am faithful in calling upon him for it; however, I also know that God has purposes in store for all of my failures. I don't use this as a means to justify my transgressions at all. I know that I am morally responsible for each and every sin, and the fact that God is able to use them for good does not excuse the wickedness of my heart. To say otherwise would be the heresy of Antinomianism.

But I still find it so very hard to truly desire sinlessness all the time. I suppose this is simply the plight of we Christians. We're always going to be disappointed with ourselves because of our fleshly nature. We can't be separated from it until we die. That's a simple fact of life. In fact, the only thing that even keeps us from sinning is God's grace. Apart from that, we can't even resist sin. It's both liberating and depressing at the same time.

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

 

[ClementofRome]

Thanks....we are not alone!