At the Orientation Seminar for RTS Virtual Campus for my MA program, the campus president Andy Peterson emphasized the need to be “winsomely Reformed.” While Dr. Peterson didn’t originate the term, I think he gets it, as do you and the folks in leadership at Sovereign Grace and some other Reformed groups like Acts 29.

On the one hand, it’s good to have strongly held theological convictions, especially on core issues we share with all Christians. It’s possible to over-correct to the point of tossing out issues we ought to die for, like the Atonement, the Trinity, and the concept of truth itself. But at the same time we should remember that one of our most important apologetics is to manifest, to incarnate the person and character of Christ. Fire-breathing polemics doesn’t serve that task well. Fortunately there are more and more voices that are resonating with the very effort you emphasize here. Kindness and gentleness manifest the character of Christ in a way that being arrogant and censorious never would.

Keep up the good work.

Couldn’t agree more.

It seems obvious to me now that at its origin ‘reformation theology’ intrinsically carried with it a highly-charged, anti-Catholic aversion to the doctrine of unity/harmony. The 5 points of Calvinism and the 5 solas were elevated above Christ’s summation of the 2 priority doctrines (loving God and loving others). These Reformed 10 commandments fail to mention of the importance of the unity of the Church as a testimony to the unity of the Trinity… and the gospel… despite the scripture’s clear teachings.

And the Church has paid the price — ineffectiveness, as we’ve fractured the Body into a million consumeristic, egocentric pieces… with little or no accountability to the God-glorifying, scriptural model. And it shows. Barna Research shows that less than 4% of Americans hold a biblical worldview. The Church is getting beat 96-4. Hardly a testimony to the overcoming power of the gospel.

Thankfully, in the 21st Century, there’s less ability to remain isolated… and thus less able to demonize others. Christ-followers are guarding their speech. And hopefully, they’re truly developing their theology more carefully, to determine what really IS to be prioritized.

Those of us involved in cityreaching believe that it is imperative that the Church re-connect… and escalate theological/practical discussions of the nature and the mission of the model Church in a city.

And let’s see just where God might take us as a result.