I really enjoy eating down-home southern food. Nothing beats good ole' comfort food: mashed taters, fried okra, deep fried catfish / chicken / pork / whatever, and pecan pie. Finger lickin' good, as Colonel Sanders would say...
And then there is Southern Fried Presbyterianism. You may ask, "What is Southern Fried Presbyterianism?" Great question. You see, a huge number of Reformed folks in America are Southern Fried without knowing it. Their theology is more shaped by the nuances and perspectives of Robert Lewis Dabney and James Thornwell (19th century Southern-American / post-revivalist theologians) than John Calvin and John Knox (16th century continental / Scottish theologians).
For example, what is "the" Reformed understanding of children in the covenant? Calvin's view was that we should rest in the covenant promises of God and believe that they have a "seed of faith," are presumed regenerate, and should be nurtured as God's children. In contrast, Thornwell's view was that covenant children are unregenerate souls in need of evangelism and conversion.
When people appeal to the Westminster Standards, it is important to understand what lens they are reading it through - a Calvinian or a Southern Fried lens? If you read through a continental lens, you see continental theology - if you read through a Southern Fried lens, you see Southern Fried theology. That's the way it goes.
Look, this isn't about Calvin and Knox always being right, and Dabney and Thornwell always being wrong. Not at all. There are differences and we should admit them. What gets me is that some Southern Fried Presbyterians won't admit that their perspective on certain of these matters is unique to their lens, not to the Bible or the confessional standards themselves.
I once heard some folks talk about certain positions not being in accord with "PCA Presbyterianism." At the time, I laughed and then got a bit perturbed. Looking back, I think they were on to something. I just would prefer to call it "Southern Fried" instead of "PCA." Whether or not its finger-lickin' good - well, I don't think Colonel Sanders would go that far.
What our October conference is all about with Gregg Strawbridge! We have a debate scheduled as well: God's Way with the Children of Christian Parents: Conversion Experience or Covenant Nurture. Pecan pie, YES...revivalism, NO.
Posted by: Brian Penney | June 23, 2006 at 04:54 AM
Well, I guess that's what we get for holding the PCA G.A. in the south year after year. How'd it go for you?!
Posted by: Theisens | June 23, 2006 at 07:06 AM