Radical Moderates

Author: teejtc  /  Category: Religious

Quality #1: Place importance on what’s really important.


We, in the RCA, have been clear about what’s important. We have 3 historical standards and 3 creeds that boil down the clear, biblical essentials of the Christian faith.

Quality #2: In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.

Agustine had it right.
Essentials? See Quality #1.
Non-Essentials? See everything else.
Charity? Pretty clear isn’t it?

Quality #3: Non Nobis Domine, Non Nobis Sed Nomini Tuo Da Gloriam

“Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory” (Psalm 115:1)
The Knight’s Templar had it right.
A great majority of the controversy in the church throughout history, and indeed now, is the result of trying to glorify ourselves, focus on what we think is important and what, so discriptively, has been called “self-puffery.”

3 key concepts…seems like enough to me….

Grace and Peace,
`tim

4 Responses to “Radical Moderates”

  1. scott Says:
    October 25th, 2005 at 9:22 am

    Or one concept: Augustine’s rubric, “Love, and do what you will.” Agape as a governing principle results in the selfless pursuit of righteousness, and the diminishment of our interest in adiaphora.

  2. Ann Says:
    October 25th, 2005 at 1:20 pm

    Can our gay folks sign up to be among the ‘radical moderates’?

    While some people would classify me as being among some mysterious ‘radical agenda,’ those who know me better know that I’m really among the ‘radical moderates’ or perhaps even ‘radically orthodox.’ Fighting about homosexuality takes us away from #1, which is a tragedy for those of us who love the standards and confessions (and uphold the witness of the Bible).

  3. teejtc Says:
    October 25th, 2005 at 3:15 pm

    I think a good argument can be made that, as you so rightly put it Ann, this “Radically Moderate” approach is radical orthodoxy.

    I think another good argument can be made that anyone in the “Radically Moderate” group is going to be considered “Radically Liberal” by a huge group of people nursed on the recent schisms within the reformed tradition and the “evengelical” para-church movement.

    It seems to me that anyone willing to accept the above three points (which are, incidently, exceedingly congruent with the last 2000 years of church history and the scriptures) is welcome aboard. (Careful though: the membership dues, as you may have noticed, are excessive :roll:)

    Grace and Peace,
    `tim

  4. James Brumm Says:
    October 25th, 2005 at 10:52 pm

    I’m ready to be radically orthodox, too. I just don’t know if the ol’ RCA is ready to let any of us stay.

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