Actually, almost everything at The Boar’s Head Tavern is worthwhile, but a couple of things inspire quick links:
- Michael Spencer links Can’t we be civil, damn it?! I’m mentioned in this. Makes some constructive comments in line with observations at the Craw.
- These comments about assurance jive with the questions that popped into my own head in looking at the Challies piece. But, as providence would have it, I had some time to work through the beginning of Calvin’s 1536 chapter on Christian Liberty while waiting to get my hair cut. (By the way, if you don’t own the 1536 edition of the institutes, you are missing out on some great stuff!) Calvin makes no bones about it. Liberty is essential to the Gospel, the work of Christ, and to justification. Why? Because people would be paralyzed with fear if they thought that God was scrutinizing their actions to see if they are blameless. But God is a loving Father who happily receives our deeds. The idea that a Christian should ever doubt this is simply unthinkable in Calvin’s system. It would overthrow everything he has to say about the cross, the gospel, grace, and justificaiton.
I realize, of course, that it is possible to find precedents for later Reformed thought in Calvin’s extensive writings. And, frankly, I think it is right to distinguish between faith and assurance for many who have struggles with assurance. Pastorally, I would be opposed to anything that denied such struggling believers were God’s children. Nevertheless, Calvin’s position does make a lot of sense in Romans 14. Not sure what to think of all this.