My friend Tim over at Broken Wills and Saving Grace has graciously provided a link to R. Scott Clark’s brief thoughts on Colin Hahnsen’s new book. I think Clark’s criticism’s go right to the heart of what it means to be Reformed, and how a reductionistic view of Reformed theology can, however unintentionally, be devastating and misleading. The the resurgence of Calvinistic soteriology is a blessing, especially in a largely Arminian evangelical subculture. Notwithstanding, Reformed theology is much more than the 5 points of Calvinism. The Canons of Dordt, in which the historic 5 points are systematized and confessionally explained, are only one theological component of a much larger system of doctrine. The canons can’t be taken in isolation from their confessional counterparts: The Belgic Confession and Heidelburg Catechism. Southern Baptist’s, so called “Calvinistic Charismatics”, or any other evangelical subgroup have no right to parade around as genuine Reformed scholars, much less leaders of Reformed revival. Most of those who claim the name Reformed would have been ousted from Calvin’s Geneva in a heartbeat for their abberant views on ecclesiology, eschatalogy, or the supernatural gifts. What’s at stake in this issue is a blatant disregard for the entire system of Reformed teaching: covenant theology, paedobaptism, Calvin’s eucharistic theology, realized millenialism, Reformed hermeneutics, the authority of the church, the character of the church as the divine mediator of supernatural grace- just to name a few! A love for the doctrines of grace combined with a disdain for the entire system of Reformed doctrine has the potential to breed devastating consequences. This isn’t a matter of a harsh parochialism clothed in theological bigotry- this is a matter of historical accuracy and theological consistency. Let Baptist’s be Baptist’s, charsismatics charismatics- but let them never claim the name Reformed simply for believing in Calvinistic soteriology. Sorry to say, but you can’t have one foot firmly planted in Baptist ecclesiology or 20th century expressions of evangelical thinking, with the other firmly planted in the doctrines of grace, and then proceed to label yourself Reformed.  Again, this is not a trivial argument over words. This is a matter of serious alarm for confessional Christians, especially when some of their core theological doctrines are being trampled upon. If you want to read a far better rant concerned with the very same issues, I’d highly recommend you read Richard Muller’s article How Many Points? Read it over and over and over again.