09 - Chapter 7 The Reformed Case Reformed Escape Routes

Time and again I will refer to what I call ‘Reformed glosses’, ‘escape routes’, or
‘waste-paper baskets’. 1 Let me explain. We all meet awkward biblical statements on
the law, texts which are hard to fit into our system. We all do, I say. The temptation is
to trim the text, pare off awkward corners, insert words, and such like, and thus leave
our system pristine. The right way, however, is to trim our system, not Scripture. ‘Let
God be true but every man a liar’ (Rom. 3:4). Running the undoubted risk of being
accused in terms of pots and kettles, I contend that the Reformed are particularly
subject to this glossing, escape-route, waste-paper basket approach. Let me say at once,
if any reader feels I have done it, I would appreciate it very much if he would write to
me and give me a chance to examine the accusation and, if necessary, take steps to put
it right. All I say is, we must always take full account of the context, and do all we can
to avoid imposing our template on Scripture. I contend that the Reformed fail badly in
this area.