This blog explores both historical and current events guided by the thought of the leading thinkers, past and present, of this school or movement of theology. Refer to the Classic Posts, Great and Contemporary Thinkers, various links of all kinds, in addition to the Archives themselves. David is the founder and manager of this website, but many friends contribute to it on a regular basis.
Twitter @ressourcement Twitter @ltdan4123
Saturday, May 12, 2007
“When it comes to visible unity, it is time for us Protestants to admit that we have failed”
Dr. Long is not the first to suggest the need of a "papal" figure in the Protestant church. No doubt this is not very popular among many evangelicals - but it isn't absent either. My ex-thesis advisor, Dr. Hans Boersma, has stated on numerous occasions that he believes without some sort of evangelical Magisterium, Protestant evangelicalism as we know it will be a thing of the past. Dr. Long's call for a papacy for Protestantism echoes much of the same. In fact, much of the difficulty with Catholic-Protestant dialogue is that who speaks for Protestantism? This becomes especially problematic in a Free-Church tradition that accepts no authority outside of the local church (at least theoretically - practically, most submit to a larger "fellowship" combined of churches - they just don't have the heart to call it authoritative :) ). Is there, then, a need for a Protestant "papal" figure along with a Magisterium, both for unity inside of Protestantism, but also for unity with those outside of Protestantism? Many questions left that Dr. Long has not answered and must before his thoughts go much further, but I believe he has a hunch that may find grounding in the Church's Tradition. Much more work, of course, left to be done!
1 comment:
Dr. Long is not the first to suggest the need of a "papal" figure in the Protestant church. No doubt this is not very popular among many evangelicals - but it isn't absent either. My ex-thesis advisor, Dr. Hans Boersma, has stated on numerous occasions that he believes without some sort of evangelical Magisterium, Protestant evangelicalism as we know it will be a thing of the past. Dr. Long's call for a papacy for Protestantism echoes much of the same. In fact, much of the difficulty with Catholic-Protestant dialogue is that who speaks for Protestantism? This becomes especially problematic in a Free-Church tradition that accepts no authority outside of the local church (at least theoretically - practically, most submit to a larger "fellowship" combined of churches - they just don't have the heart to call it authoritative :) ). Is there, then, a need for a Protestant "papal" figure along with a Magisterium, both for unity inside of Protestantism, but also for unity with those outside of Protestantism? Many questions left that Dr. Long has not answered and must before his thoughts go much further, but I believe he has a hunch that may find grounding in the Church's Tradition. Much more work, of course, left to be done!
Post a Comment