Carl Trueman (given his regard for boxing he may not mind the photo).
First, he weighed in on the recent trend to polemicize against Reformed Protestants who engage in polemics. Trueman wrote:
So, please, let’s bin this sad, misguided self-loathing on the polemic front. We must repent where necessary, where we have crossed the line; but, just as necessary, we must fight where we see the truth is at stake. We should be grateful for the truth that polemics have preserved so that we have a gospel to proclaim; and we should not allow a misguided commitment to being nice to allow us, in effect, to dump huge problems on the next generation by running up a massive theological and moral deficit in the church of the present.
Then he followed up with a post against a video that downplayed the differences between Reformed and Wesleyan Protestants:
Pastorally, there is, of course, a huge difference between Wesleyan and Reformed: whichever side one comes down on, on sin, on redemption, on election, on sovereignty, on sanctification etc., is going to have a profound impact on how one preaches the gospel on a Sunday, counsels the woman who has just had a miscarriage, or consoles the family whose father has just died of cancer. In saying this, I am not making a qualitative judgment on which of the two approaches is more biblical, simply commenting that the differences in theology between the two make a significant difference at the grassroots level of church practice.
These are worthwhile points, the sort of argument you might find in the pages of the Nicotine Theological Journal.
Old Life 
That should be a regular weekly blog- like Forensic Friday, Where’s Waldo Wednesday and 2K Tuesday. Perhaps polemicist Thursday would suffice. Warfield used to go out looking to aggressively defend the faith. It seems that it helps one grow in the faith when it is done properly. Luther, Lewis, Calvin and even Machen were beaten up on a few occasions too. Taking a few punches never did anyone any harm and it is usually good for you. As Nietszche used to say, “if it doesn’t kill you it just makes you stronger.”
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I don’t think Joel Osteen has been in a good fight over the defense of historical Christianity in his life- they would rather fight flight attendant’s in their private jet or first class flight’s. The same could probably be said of Robert Schuller. They like to fight Calvinists though but usually do it in a passive/aggressive way and back down with their tails between their legs when they realize what they are up against. Then they avoid it for the rest of their lives.
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I might add that it is not easy to do properly either. You have to have your theological ducks in order, be able to communicate efficiently and effectively, not come across as offensive and arrogant and maintain your self-control while doing it. A very tall order indeed.
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Yes, Trueman intellectually takes a back seat to the titans of the NTJ. Following this blog is like following the scrawny playground kid who internally knows he can’t cut it with the rest but attempts just to yell louder.
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Rodney, I mean Norm, I mean Trey, you have to admit the stuff by Martin Kenunu is top shelf.
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By the way, I did realize that Darryl was taking a swipe at Trueman but I was trying to make the point that there is a time and place for polemics- but only the most able do it properly. There is a fine line between arrogance, incompetence and doing it at the proper place, in the proper time, with the right highly trained and able person doing it. I’m not sure if you can fault Trueman for trying to do it even though he may be out of his league (which is what Trey seems to suggest). Like I said, sometimes a good beating up does one some good. At least he is taking a crack at the battle- live and learn. Luther and Calvin and all those who defended the faith lost many of the polemical battles they involved themselves in.
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John, no swipe at Trueman. His posts are sound. Can’t vouch for everything he writes under an alias.
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I’m confused. I thought Darryl was praising Trueman and Trey was swiping at Darryl because he thought Darryl was swiping Trueman.
Is anyone being swiped?
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Rick,
Hey, what can I say- it was the noetic influence of sin in my life. My mind can get confused at times and not interpret what the other saying properly; another reason for the importance of creeds and catechism’s. It helps out the easily confused.
Bye the way, it is good to hear from you again!!
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Rick, apparently Trey may think that being quoted approvingly by the editors of the NTJ is to be damned by false praise. Talk about idiosyncratic and peculiar.
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Let me make one more quick post here- I think I understand the source of my confusion and why I think “swipes” were being taken. There is a distinction on this blog site between being a cultural warrior like Pastor Bret and the theonomists he represents (a bad thing) and being a polemicist who knows what he is talking about (can be a good thing). Polemicists usually take aim at the bad theology of those in the Church where cultural warriors take aim at those whose cahoonas are not big enough to fight the “evil” in the culture. So, it easily can get confusing when those distinctions are not kept in mind.
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Dr. Hart, did you happen to catch CT on Reformed Forum this week discussing his forthcoming book, “Republocrat?” I was a bit disappointed, given the RF guys’ acquaintance with you and your perspectives, that they didn’t talk more about what his new book treats (i.e. politics and the Church). He only briefly mentioned “radical” 2k (his word, oddly), at about the 47 minute mark, and two mins later they were done. I would very much appreciate engagement between the both of you on that topic. Maybe I missed a previous encounter somewhere either in RF’s archives or here on OLT?
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Mr. Burns, any relation to the plant owner on The Simpsons? I’m waiting to watch the video until I’ve read the book for review. I’m disappointed, though, to hear that CRT may be trafficing in the “radical” nonsense. It seems to me that the point of the spirituality of the church is similar to Trueman’s, that the church should not be captive to the agenda of either political party.
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No relation, Dr. Hart, but I can do a mean impression of him, given the right circumstances.
I was a bit disappointed for the word, too, but it was in his response, nonetheless. I don’t know where he really stands with regard to it; I’d have thought you and he were rather closer on that subject than not. But that’s the reason I’m interested to hear/see further engagement between the two of you there. I appreciate both your and Dr. Trueman’s perspectives on a number of issues. So I was curious. I guess now I’ll have to pray for patience (always a fearsome activity…for me, anyway).
gnp,
wtb
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Now I see Trey’s remark more clearly- he was the swipster; he must not like some of the things being said at the NTJ. I do not read the NTJ but I think I am going to have to subscribe now. Trey’s remark kind of threw me off- I was misinterpreting him and the swipe he was making more than anything else. That was a pretty major and condescending type swipe too.
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Mister Burns,
It seems to me some guys can be forgiven for slipping up and employing a slur, especially when the greater balance of his words were eeeexcellent. But if he really does think certain 2kers don’t think “the Bible has something [moral] to say about abortion and poverty, etc.,” I’m less forgiving. Part of the point is to be at least more cognizant of the fact that to utter certain words in 2010 America is to necessarily be political, and thus to be more thoughtful about what that might entail in the midst of proclaiming the unfettered gospel. I’m still puzzled as to what is so “radical” about that concept.
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You’ve got to be out of your mind. An average reader can actually read these things and disagree. The fact that you actually entertained the possibility of myself as a Trueman alias just cements my initial instincts of this as just a self-absorbed, ego-massaging hub.
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Trey, actually, the average reader actually supplies an actual email address when responding. And I’m not sure I’d bring up meglomania if my alleged email service provider was named after me.
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