The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum When did it stop?

Denny,

That is a good recommendation. And one could and should add to that one Louis Berkhof's excellent book as well, The History of Christian Doctrine, printed by the Banner of Truth.

In regard to Kalled2Preach's question: The by-word of the Reformers was "Semper Reformanda", always reforming. However, by that they did NOT mean that as time progresses we are to throw off those doctrines which have been found to be unassailable true, e.g., the Trinity, deity of Christ, Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Solus Christus, et al. The Church will doubtless grow in learning more of its application of these fundamental truths, but it can never change/exchange those truths which have been tried by myriad groups and individuals throughout the centuries. In our own day, we have those would are calling into question the Church's understanding of such essentials as "justification by faith alone", e.g., N.T. Wright, Doug Wilson &co, Norman Shepherd etc. We also have others who are calling into question the entire structure of the Church, the message it is to preach and teach and its methodology which has been established upon the message itself. Such groups are many, e.g., "mega-church", "seeker-friendly" and most recently this post-modern "Emerging Church" heresy. And ALL of these individuals and groups share one particular thing in common which they most freely throw in the faces of all those who oppose them on solid biblical grounds. That one thing is what they demand of others a misuse of the word they call "toleration". In essence, this "toleration" is nothing more than a demand for those who love the truth to acquiesce and deny that those old doctrines are based upon absolute truth, which would open the door wide for them to enter into the Church with their contrary doctrines. The truth is, the most loving thing the Church could and should do is to point out the seriousness of their error(s) and admonish them to repent. And if they refuse to do so, then it is incumbent upon the Church to disciple them and if necessary excommunicate them with the hope that they will see the seriousness of their error(s), repent and return to the fold.

In His grace,