One would think that by now I’d be used to people telling me what I believe. For years I had people bundling me together with the Federal Vision crowd, despite my speaking publicly against it, and writing extensively against it. I’ve been accused of being a Democrat, oddly because I grumble that the Republicans aren’t near conservative enough for me. More recently I’ve been accused of leaving the Reformed tradition. I get that it makes for interesting reading if I veer away from the convictions my father taught me, the ones we both found in the Bible. I understand my public sins make me in the minds of many fair game for slander and suspicion. The boring truth is that my theological convictions remain essentially unchanged.
It is true that I have moved from being what I always called a leaky cessationist to what I would now describe as a cautious continuationist. That, however, is about as big a change as moving from being an optimistic amillenialist to a post-millenialist. It’s no seismic shift. In fact, it’s barely even noticeable.
That my theological convictions remain unchanged, however, doesn’t mean I have remained unchanged. My convictions haven’t moved. My roots, however, have dug deeper. I’ve always believed that the evangelical church is the visible church. Now I am learning that evangelicals are my brothers. I’ve always believed that theological precision is not an accurate measure of spiritual maturity. Now I am learning that people I disagree with theologically are often the people I look up to. I’ve always believed that our problem is that we have too low a view of our own ongoing sin issues. Now I am learning that I have too low a view of my own ongoing sin issues. I’ve always believed God is sovereign over all things. Now I am learning He is sovereign even over people who don’t understand that He is sovereign over all things. I’ve always believed the Proverbs, like all the Bible, are inerrant, infallible, true. Now I am learning that we are all eager to feast upon tasty morsels of gossip.
That said, the other day I received an encouraging note from a man I’ve had little contact with the past five years or so. Among other things he had this to say,
“when you came upon hard times, my heart was full of compassion for you. I cannot imagine what you have had to endure… the loss of position and title, the loss of respect and honor, the guilt and shame of bringing reproach on the names you bear (Sproul/Christ), and the tremendous weight of burden you may carry (I am speculating) for following in the footsteps of a great theologian and father. I don’t say this to dig up old wounds, but to say this: greater men would have caved and not repented or returned to the God they profess. Remaining in the shame and sin, unfortunately, may have been easier (sinners are always eager to welcome a fallen sheep into their fold. … seems to be well-received by the World). Instead, you have exemplified the True Christian walk to me and to all who remain with you. What is your oft repeated advice? ‘Repent and believe the Gospel.’ You have remained consistent, practicing what you preach.”
I believe in the solas of the Reformation, the doctrines of grace, in the sovereignty of God, in the victory of Jesus. I believe husbands are to lead their families, elders are to lead their churches. I believe the Bible is the Word of God, inerrant, infallible, sufficient. Above all, however, I believe this, that the Lord Jesus came into this world to save sinners, of which I am the chief.