I have taken a long path to Confessional Reformed Theology: KJV-only Fundamentalism; Seeker-Sensitive; Emergent; Evangelical Mega-Church; Expository Preaching Dispensationalism. Along the way I have had to unlearn quite a bit. Here are a few in somewhat chronological order:
1. The King James Version is the Word of God. All other translations are not the Word of God.
2. Pre-tribulational, Pre-millennial, Dispensationalism.
3. Predestination is not in the Bible.
4. Free will means the ability to make an uninfluenced decision between good and evil.
5. Nineteenth-Century revivalist songs are the only true Christian music.
6. Credo-baptism.
7. Altar Calls.
8. Topical Preaching.
9. Door to Door Evangelism.
10. Every member ministry.
11. Congregational church government.
12. Seeker-sensitive worship.
13. Contemporary Christian music is the only music to be played in the worship service, because it is most appealing to the unchurched.
14. Worship should be lead by a charismatic musician fronting an energetic praise team instead of by the pastor.
15. Calvin killed Servetus, ergo predestination is not true.
16. The worship service is better experienced in candlelight.
17. Multimedia enhances every sermon.
18. People who speak more about the Bible than experience or community should repeatedly be cautioned against making the Bible into an idol – Bibleolatry.
19. Small groups are the lifeblood of the church. This is where ministry really happens.
20. The Lord’s Supper should take place at most once per month.
21. Bigger is always better.
22. Multi-campus churches with video sermons are the most effective way of reaching people.
23. Doctrine divides, and that’s always a bad thing.
24. A person’s entire theology can immediately be evaluated based on his/her view of the end-times.
25. The Lord’s Supper is strictly memorial.
26. Theologians with whom I disagree have nothing to contribute, therefore I should not read them.
27. People who do not believe in 6/24 Creation do not believe the Bible.
28. The Anabaptists were right.
29. Paedo-baptism is a holdover of Constantinian Church/State Christianity. The Reformers continued the practice solely because they wanted to keep order in the community.
30. Holding at least 3 of the 5 points of Calvinism earns one the title “Reformed.” All other aspects of someone’s theology, piety, and practice do not factor in to wearing that title.
8 responses so far ↓
Jared // Saturday, October, 31, 2009 at 3:18
You forgot the most important thing you’ve unlearned: the confusion of Law & Gospel.
danborvan // Saturday, October, 31, 2009 at 3:18
That is an important one. This list is far from exhaustive. I’ve had to unlearn a lot of bad theology.
D. Philip Veitch // Sunday, November, 1, 2009 at 3:18
Oh my word.
GLW Johnson // Monday, November, 2, 2009 at 3:18
So, you gave up modern day Evangelicalism. Darryl Hart would be so happy.
danborvan // Monday, November, 2, 2009 at 3:18
I think that Darryl would be even happier to know that he gets some of the credit. His works, especially the Machen bio and Deconstructing Evangelicalism, were extremely influential in my transition to Reformed Theology and Westminster California.
int3grity // Sunday, November, 8, 2009 at 3:18
I cant seem to figure out how paedo baptism is Biblical and credo baptism is not. Isn’t paedo baptism purely based on tradition? Are credo baptists actually sinning in baptizing believers by immersion?
danborvan // Sunday, November, 8, 2009 at 3:18
Hi int3grity,
You ask a good question. As I reflect in the post, I used to believe that paedo-baptism was unbiblical. I also thought that the Reformers kept the doctrine mainly due to tradition and political expediency.
I was wrong on both counts. For the biblical evidence check Col 2:11-12; Rom 4:16; Gal 3:8-9, 17; Matt 19:14; Acts 2:39; 1 Cor 7:14. You can also read Danny Hyde’s book, Jesus Loves the Little Children.
Zrim // Sunday, November, 15, 2009 at 3:18
If there are 3-point Calvinists, why no 2-point Arminians?
int3grity, think of it this way: paedobaptism doesn’t disclude professing believers from baptism at all. Paedo’s have enough water for everybody.