Theological Pride

Trevin Wax at Kingdom People is doing a chapter by chapter review of Collin Hansen's book Young, Restless and Reformed. Here he points out an interesting commonality and symmetry between the new Reformed resurgence and the Emerging Church movement:

A common thread that seems to unite both the Emerging Church movement and the “young, restless, Reformed” crowd is that both seem to be most attractive to young, disaffected evangelicals. In other words, the same angst (some may call it “young” or “restless”) that drives one from his theologically-light home church into an “emerging” church is often the same attitude that drives one from his theologically-light home church into the Reformed camp. I cannot help but wonder if pride and elitism forms the foundation for many of the people in both movements.

Some of those quoted in Hansen’s book seem to have adopted a kind of dismissive, condescending attitude toward their home church—churches in which they were loved, heard the gospel preached, were saved, and discipled. Ironically, many of today’s restless Reformed students came to faith in the “biblically illiterate” churches they so quickly criticize. Instead of showing a humble appreciation for the local churches that nurtured them into the faith, some Calvinists return to their churches, armed and ready to “reform” their theology.

I am all in favor of both stronger theology teaching and biblical literacy, and communicating the Gospel to post-modern culture. But maybe we all need to have and show a little more humility while seeking those goals. Over 30 years ago a wise friend once told me "There is no such thing as a humble young man" (and he was only 26 when he said it). God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.