Who are the top 5 contemporary reformed authors in your opinion?

[Covenant Joel]

Is Keller reformed, I don't see it? Frame denies the RPW!

Being in the PCA doesn't make one reformed...

Well I suppose it all goes back to determining what that means. If you take some version of Dr. Clark's view, then those two would probably be excluded from having that label. But with how Dr. Frame uses the term (see his review of Clark's book for an example), then surely they would be. Obviously, he doesn't take the position of the Wesminster divines on the RPW, so if that is essential to being Reformed, then no. But certainly he has been a very influential writer in the Reformed world for quite a while, whether or not all of his positions are Reformed or biblical.

What specifically in Tim Keller's teaching do you think is not Reformed? I'm no expert on Keller, but off the top of my head, the only thing that jumps out is his view of creationism, etc., though if I'm not mistaken, even Dr. Clark doesn't think that should determine whether someone is Reformed or not. I'm not challenging your view of Keller, I'm just curious, as I haven't had a huge amount of exposure to his writings.

 

[au5t1n]

Um...some....Pilgrim Board?? Pelican Board? Uhh??

Marie! You need to post here more often. You crack me up. I shall be referring to this board as the "Pelican Board" from now on!

 

[Ivan]

Top Ten in the reformed camp - who ya got? Go!

1. Tim Keller
2. Sabbatarianism
3. Baptism
4. YEC v. OEC
5. Whether Adam had a belly button. (Credit to my wife.)
6. Presuppositionalism v. Evidentialism
7. R.J. Rushdoony (Theonomy)
8. Greg Bahnsen (Theonomy again.)
9. Pot?
10. Rat brains (I ran out of material at #9, obviously.)

You forgot about how many angels can dance on the head of a needle.....and as to the Top Five, where is Rick Warren?!?!

 

[coramdeo]

TOO MANY! Gee, I wish ya'll had not done that list thing. Too many I haven't read yet! My Bucket list of Books / Authors is already way too full!

 

[Romans922]

What specifically in Tim Keller's teaching do you think is not Reformed?

Creation is one thing, the purpose of the Gospel is another.

 

[greenbaggins]

I honestly can't stand reading Piper. It is something about his style. I can only read 40 or so pages before I just put it away.

I'm with you! I never finished Let the Nations Be Glad. Reading Piper can be like (there are exceptions) watching someone chew a nice, big, juicy steak that you really would like to enjoy for yourself. He tends to repeat himself and look at things from every possible angle. Thankfully, his preaching is not like that!

I think everyone's named all the people in my list! Don't forget blogs though...what would the Young, Restless, and Reformed movement be without the internet?!

Tim Challies
Justin Taylor
Ray Ortlund
Green Baggins!
Um...some....Pilgrim Board?? Pelican Board? Uhh??

Okay, this is embarrassing! I made it on to a top 5 list? You gotta be kidding!

 

[KMK]

In no particular order...

Winzer
Keister
Buchanan
L.
Rafalsky
Zartman
Johnson
Hicks
Coldwell
Severson

to name a few...

 

[Fly Caster]

I see that several have mentioned Trueman. He hasn't written a lot, and the little that I have read didn't strike me as particularly impressive.

Is there something really great that he has written that I have missed?

 

[Zenas]

In no particular order...

Winzer
Keister
Buchanan
L.
Rafalsky
Zartman
Johnson
Hicks
Coldwell
Severson

to name a few...

Hicks just quotes other people a lot.

 

[Covenant Joel]

Creation is one thing, the purpose of the Gospel is another.

Could you elaborate? I assume you mean that to be Reformed one must hold to 6-day creation?

What do you mean about what he believes about the purpose of the gospel?

 

[KMK]

In no particular order...

Winzer
Keister
Buchanan
L.
Rafalsky
Zartman
Johnson
Hicks
Coldwell
Severson

to name a few...

Hicks just quotes other people a lot.

'Quoting' is a big part of the Reformed tradition. Besides, he is responsible, I believe, for the notion of 'rat brains'. Although it is not 'yet fully orbed', promises to be an important nuance to the Reformed paradigm.

 

[py3ak]

I see that several have mentioned Trueman. He hasn't written a lot, and the little that I have read didn't strike me as particularly impressive.

Is there something really great that he has written that I have missed?

His series of posts on Martin Luther is free and I thought it was very good.
This is the first one. If you go back through his posts from there it shouldn't be hard to find the whole series.

 

[Jeffriesw]

I am not very well read, but i do like Sproul, Horton and Sinclair Ferguson.

---------- Post added at 04:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:45 PM ----------

I honestly can't stand reading Piper. It is something about his style. I can only read 40 or so pages before I just put it away.

I am glad someone else feels this way, I have found him to be very difficult to listen to or read. I was wondering if it was just me or what...

 

[PresbyDane]

R.C. Sproul
Michael S. Horton
Sinclair B. Ferguson
Joel Beeke
Tim Keller

 

[Romans922]

What do you mean about what he believes about the purpose of the gospel?

The main purpose of the Gospel for keller is to change the culture.

 

[Andres]

What do you mean about what he believes about the purpose of the gospel?

The main purpose of the Gospel for keller is to change the culture.

and he has women deacons.

 

[dudley]

I like R. C. Sproul, Michael Horton, Carl Trueman ,Sinclair Ferguson and Anthony N.S. Lane

 

[Covenant Joel]

The main purpose of the Gospel for keller is to change the culture.

Hmm, can you provide some citations or references on this? I'm not trying to be a pro-Kellerite here or something, I'm not particularly familiar with his work. But in the stuff that I have read of his, he's seemed pretty clear on the gospel and its purpose. Clearly, he indicates that the gospel, when applied in the lives of God's people, ought to change the culture. But I'm not sure that that's something particularly new, nor outside of the Reformed tradition (Kuyper, Bavinck, and others). I'd be interested to see where he's ever said that that is the main purpose of the gospel.

 

[devonturnbaugh]

look at things from every possible angle.

This can get somewhat redundant, but I think for shear ability to get others to think critically (from every angle) about an issue he is definitely a keeper. I love to read him, you just have to not read every page of his books because of this but for the most part very helpful in my opinion.

 

[CharlieJ]

Puritan Board law #6: In any thread in which admiration for people are expressed, the only sustained conversation will be about what's wrong with some of the persons mentioned.

BTW, Dudley, as a church history guy, I love Anthony Lane. What a mind for detail.

 

[Notthemama1984]

I am glad someone else feels this way, I have found him to be very difficult to listen to or read. I was wondering if it was just me or what...

Nope it isn't just you. Just to clarify it isn't WHAT Piper is saying, just HOW he says it.

 

[Romans922]

The main purpose of the Gospel for keller is to change the culture.

Hmm, can you provide some citations or references on this? I'm not trying to be a pro-Kellerite here or something, I'm not particularly familiar with his work. But in the stuff that I have read of his, he's seemed pretty clear on the gospel and its purpose. Clearly, he indicates that the gospel, when applied in the lives of God's people, ought to change the culture. But I'm not sure that that's something particularly new, nor outside of the Reformed tradition (Kuyper, Bavinck, and others). I'd be interested to see where he's ever said that that is the main purpose of the gospel.

Well, I have gone and looked up where I knew this from. It was an audio recording, but I have been asked not to post it. So you can do two things with what I said... You can either forget what I said and believe Keller doesn't actually teach anything like that OR you can search keller's teaching yourself to see where he clearly teaches that the Gospel's purpose is to transform the city/culture.

 

[Covenant Joel]

Well, I have gone and looked up where I knew this from. It was an audio recording, but I have been asked not to post it. So you can do two things with what I said... You can either forget what I said and believe Keller doesn't actually teach anything like that OR you can search keller's teaching yourself to see where he clearly teaches that the Gospel's purpose is to transform the city/culture.

Ok, well, it's not that I had a problem with looking stuff up on my own, I just figured it would be helpful to have a citation/direction, since he's written and taught a lot. But anyhow, I will go do some searching. Though you may be intrigued by this comment, which seems fairly clear (posted after I asked you the question, fyi).

 

[Romans922]

I can be more helpful. Look up Gospel Eco-systems on google search.

Nice comment from Keller.

 

[Covenant Joel]

I can be more helpful. Look up Gospel Eco-systems on google search.

Nice comment from Keller.

Thanks. Yeah, it was a little surprising.

 

[nicnap]

Puritan Board law #6: In any thread in which admiration for people are expressed, the only sustained conversation will be about what's wrong with some of the persons mentioned.

Well said, sir.

 

[Zenas]

Tim Keller is rumored to like cats. (If you'll refer to Calvin's Institutes, 2nd Book, p. 673, paragraph 3, 2nd sentence, it states explicitly that Roman Catholics like cats, whereas Christians like dogs.)

 

[py3ak]

Puritan Board law #6: In any thread in which admiration for people are expressed, the only sustained conversation will be about what's wrong with some of the persons mentioned.

Excuse me, Charlie, I believe that's actually #8.

 

[Zenas]

Ruben is too uptight.

 

[kvanlaan]

Tim Keller is rumored to like cats. (If you'll refer to Calvin's Institutes, 2nd Book, p. 673, paragraph 3, 2nd sentence, it states explicitly that Roman Catholics like cats, whereas Christians like dogs.)

Then we've got enough evidence for a speedy trial, no? Who's bringing wood, who's bringing oil, and who's got marshmallows?