Monday, October 31, 2011

Introductory post

Today is Reformation Day, the day on which Protestant Christians remember the act of Martin Luther in 1517, who nailed his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany.  Luther was not the first person to recognize the need for reform the Christian church and to take an action that risked his life for that effort, but his action on that day is generally believed to be the catalyst for everything that followed, as elements of the church returned to a firm grounding on the Word of God as the definitive voice of God toward humankind.

While a number of terms could and would be used by others to describe me, for the purposes of this blog I am a Christian, of the Protestant variety.  I consider my theology to be Reformed, in the sense that it is descended from the work of theologians such as John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, Herman Bavinck, Karl Barth and Michael Horton.  They represent the major voices I have read in the past few years and I find that they have much to say to our time, regardless of the historical era in which they lived.  I read lots of others as well, theologians and otherwise.    

As a further disclaimer I have a Master’s degree in Divinity and find myself thinking theologically about nearly everything in life.

I call this blog Sola Deo gloria, which is Latin for “Glory to God alone.”  It is one of the Five Solas, five phrases that represent the essence of the Reformation.  My intent, my hope, my prayer, is that the thinking and writing that take place in this space would point to God, and bring him the glory to which he alone is due.

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV.