That this is not true to language or Scripture is something I’ve argued (here, here, and here, for example). But, again, this is being said by people claiming some sort of friendly relationship to the Reformed heritage. It is this revisionism that is so offensive. From Zacharias Ursinus to Francis Turretin the Reformed Tradition has taught time and again that not all conditions are meritorious.

For a good contemporary statement about this, I would heartily recommend John Piper’s Future Grace.

Accoding to Ronald Kalifungwa in this issue, “we must examine the patterns, within our churches that erect barriers to other races and endeavour to remove those barriers with the help of God.” What might some of these be?

There has been some good stuff both in the issue on racism and on the blog. I have a couple of thoughts–pretty minor things but I think they ought to be considered. If you want to tear down barriers, you need to get an agreement among your prominant speakers at Ecclesiastical meetings that it is not a warm embrace to hear about how special and important and pious some people are because they come from a long line of Presbyterians, Presbyterian Elders, and/or Presbyterian Ministers. While I’m sure no harm is meant, it can really sound like an arbitrary turf is being established on the basis of blood and soil. And speaking of soil, I think it also might help if Presbyterians tried not to speak of Scotland in tones and terms that sound like those of a faithful Roman Catholic matriarch who just returned a pilgrimage to the Vatican provided by her adult children describing the relics of Rome. What do Korean Presbyterians think when they hear such gushing?