TGC Part 17: Michael Horton Drama, “The Dance”
In this clip, Horton dances around what he really believes about the relationship between justification and sanctification. He makes reference to those pesky evangelicals who “collapse justification into sanctification.” Huh? Dr. Horton, please just tell the truth and say that you believe they are both the same. And by the way, nobody can dance with theological terms like you can.
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
Hey Paul…the links to this post and the previous don’t work for me.
LikeLike
Never mind! I was trying to hit the link from my email. It’s good!
LikeLike
This Justification film is a red flag, a monotonous repetition of ALONE, ALONE, ALONE! Horton doesn’t seem to know the Reformers, Luther and Calvin. Some think
these men were workaholics. They never believed in Faith without accompaning works – ever. Calvin strongly opposed the idea of part-time Christianity and claimed it doesn’t exist for any Christian. The “Protestant Work Ethic” comes from him. Many historians think both men died young because they pushed it to hard! Horton hides the “Perseverance of the Saints” and obligations as usual. He quotes Romans 8 “No Condemnation for those who are in Christ,” but we never hear the qualifier – “who do not live according to the sinful nature…therefore we have an obligation – but it is not to the sinful nature.” Remember this: “a lie is a distortion of the truth.”
Arkansas Bill
LikeLike
“The greatest deceptions are closest to the truth”
LikeLike
Pduggie sent me a blog link that comments on Puritan writings–their (the Puritans) view of the law makes Moses look like Tim keller. I will try to find the link.
> —–Original Message—– >
LikeLike
Remember, Horton is a professor at Westminster Theological Seminary. He’s charged with upholding the Westminster Confessional view of justification. He sees justification as the heart of salvation, the heart of the Reformation, and the article by which any religion stands or falls. Since justification theology is a “core conviction” all other theology is built on this foundation. If justification theology is wrong, you have another gospel. He whines: “people don’t understand justification.” All contrary views “collapse justification into sanctification.” What does he mean? How could this be?
Well, I think the logic he’s trying to weave (doesn’t say in the film) might be this: The imputed righteousness of justification leaves man in his sins. Man, not being made righteous, cannot perform actual righteousness before God. Even best works fall short, and never rise above the sin level. Justification theology comes first and sets the stage for sanctification theology. Justification can never be overridden by sanctification! “Collapsing justification into sanctification” to Horton means that people are trying to raise the level of mans works to some merit level above sin. They think sanctification (purity and holiness) elevates our practice of righteousness. Horton believes not, and reasons thus: If man is not actually righteous in practice, how can he be actually holy in practice? Who ever heard of an unrighteous, holy man God! If man is merely “declared righteous” then it follows that he is merely “declared holy.” If man is actually righteous only before men, then he is actually holy only before men. Our standards of sanctification can never rise above the foundational standards of justification. Systematic theology must always be compatible and not contradictory.
This line of thinking is driving Horton and others into, what they think, is a mission from God. The mission being none other than reconstructing sanctification theology properly on the justification foundation. This means the concept of who we are in this world, the Christian identity, and Christian practice must be inverted from traditional teachings.
Now Horton acknowledges that God accepts our works of obedience that come from faith. However, he can never perceive of God accepting works anywhere above “filthy rags,” and how can this be holy? Therefore, Horton must change our thinking and look for a new way to interprete the Bible since it doesn’t seem to fit. Notice that in testimonials (see YouTube) Keller and other GS/Sonshipers compare themselves with Budhists or other worldlings. Naturally, the revelation unvails a worldling as having the better family, better lifestyles etc.. The pattern shows the Christian, equal to, or below the level of worldly living. At least they are consistent with their theology. Their theology says man is only declared righteous and declared holy. Being righteous and holy has nothing to do with our actual practice to them. Hence, their Christian world view is that no difference is seen between Christians and the world!
I’m running long here, just one more thing. Horton is right when he says we’re still battling over the issues of the Reformation of the 1500’s. But he’s wrong when he assumes these premises are correct. The correct answer is found in the correct answer to this question: When am I sinning, and when am I not? Cypher on that for a while.
Arkansas Bill
LikeLike