New lenses

Returning from labours overseas, especially with limited internet
access (and most of that devoted to communication with the family),
means returning to Reformation21 with a somewhat fresh perspective. A
survey of the material over the past couple of weeks reveals some
interesting themes, and makes one wonder what a new reader of the blog
might make of us.

The new reader would find Mark “Fireball” Jones
employing his usual theological blitzkrieg. First comes a barrage of
quotations, a sort of shock-and-awe tactic, followed by a couple of
armoured hammerblows to complete the case. Those who dare to differ are
given another fairly thorough firebombing of supporting quotations,
leaving behind thoroughly scorched earth, and not a critic standing.

Our recent disciple must also contend with
the undiluted genius of Lee “Vicar” Gatiss, demonstrating beyond a
shadow of doubt that – in much the same way as the current occupant of
the alleged throne of Peter might be considered part of the Roman
communion, and ursine mammals are accustomed to performing their natural
functions among the trees – the esteemed John Owen was a paedobaptist.
Who knew?! But before one bows to these staggering acts of relentless
logic, we must remember that Vicar Gatiss has rather shown his hand. He
openly promises that, in good and time-honoured fashion, these are
merely the deliberate misdirection of the historical illusionist who, by
means of an unprecedented feat of factual prestidigitation, will prove
that John Owen was not one of them, but one of us. In this case, the
pledged grand reveal is that Owen was a time-serving and faithful
Anglican. We await that particular display of inexactitude with some
glee. As the Vicar might have said himself, “Have they not read Owen?”
Speaking of which, those interested in following up this thread might be
intriuged by the upcoming annual lecture
of the Strict Baptist Historical Society, when the esteemed Crawford
Gribben of Queen’s University, Belfast, will address the gathered throng
on “Owen and the Baptists.” Intending attendees should make their way
to Bethesda Baptist Church, Kensington Place, London W8, on Friday 20th
March 2015 at 7 p.m.

Fortunately, “Rocksteady” Rick Phillips
ploughs his steady furrow, wrestling with the issues of truth, justice,
and often the American way, not least in tracing the daft excesses of
the evangelical subculture back to their roots, and demonstrating that
many of those who appear shocked by it are part of it or contributors to
it. If I might briefly piggyback, something similar could be said about
the horrific Fifty Shades of Grey phenomenon. It is hard to
push back against allegedly Christian attempts to claim this for our own
when the previous years have been spent assuring us that culture is
neutral, that there are no necessary divides between sacred, secular and
profane, and that pretty much anything can be redeemed for Jesus if we
can just find the redemptive motif. Good luck with that. Not to leave
out others, Sean “Bebop” Lucas picks up the cudgel of the otherwise
irreplaceable Leon “Strangely” Brown, while the Esoteric Brothers
continue to mine the depths of the magisters.

It’s a strange world
at Reformation21. I had not thought it would be possible to so lament
the long silence of Paul “Luther” Levy.

Come back from your Wartburg exile, brother … the Reformation needs you.