Recovering the Reformed Confession: Available Now

It’s available now from The Bookstore at WSC. Here’s a sample chapter.

Early comment on Recovering the Reformed Confession:

At a time when “all that is solid melts in the air” and distinct colors fade to gray, R. Scott Clark reminds us of the loveliness, depth, and richness of Reformed Christianity.  Not only a TULIP, but a confession that bears fruit in both faith and practice, the account that you will find in this book may challenge, but its point is not to be missed.

Michael S. Horton, Ph.D.
J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics
Westminster Seminary California

In a day when many follow charming personalities, fundamentalism, heterodoxy, individualism, and postmodernity and attempt to commandeer the Reformed tradition, Dr. Clark ably challenges such efforts. Clark brings a much needed corrective for basing Reformed identity in its understanding of the Scriptures through its historic confessions and creeds and a robust understanding historic Reformed worship. Well-researched, thoughtfully presented, and provocative, this work is a must-read for ministers, elders, and for anyone who claims to be Reformed.

J. V. Fesko, Ph.D.
Pastor, Geneva Orthodox Presbyterian Church
Woodstock, Georgia,
Adjunct Professor of Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary

In addition to being a first-rate scholar, Dr. Clark is a brave man.  He’s not afraid to remind us of the substance and meaning of many aspects of our historic Reformed confessions which we now either take for granted, or which are at odds with a number of our current practices.  In Recovering the Reformed Confession, Clark reminds us of what it means when we “confess” that we are “Reformed.”  It means focusing upon those things set forth in our confessions (the highest common denominator), instead of neglecting them or even denying them.  In addition to gently pointing out where our words don’t match either our praxis or our deeds, Clark offers a number of practical ways we can recover our confession, and thereby recover a distinctly “Reformed faith and practice.”

Kim Riddelbarger, Ph.D.
Pastor, Christ Reformed Church, Anaheim
Adjunct Professor of Systematic Theology, Westminster Seminary California
Co-host, White Horse Inn

While I am personally encouraged by and enthusiastic about what has been called the “young, reformed awakening,” we still await (and long for) a renaissance of a genuinely confessional reformed theology, piety and practice. Scott Clark’s historical work, diagnosis and critique, and constructive, churchly, confessional recommendations are all worth a rigorous and respectful engagement, and point us in a number of helpful directions. As one who comes from and happily identifies with a branch of the Reformed tradition far from immune to Dr. Clark’s critique, I welcome this volume as a faithful conversation partner, seeking to administer “the wounds of a friend” for the sake of the church and the glory of God in this world.

Ligon Duncan, Ph.D.
Senior Minister, First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
President, Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals
Adjunct Professor, Reformed Theological Seminary

Pages: 384
Binding: Paperback
ISBN: 9781596381100

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments ix

Abbreviations xi

1. Whatever Became of Reformed Theology, Piety, and Practice? 1

Part I: The Crisis

2. The Quest for Illegitimate Religious Certainty 39
3. The Quest for Illegitimate Religious Experience 71

Part 2: The Recovery

4. Recovering a Reformed Identity (1) 119
5. Recovering a Reformed Identity (2) 153
6. The Joy of Being Confessional 193
7. Recovering Reformed Worship 227
8. Whatever Happened to the Second Service? 293

Epilogue: Predestination is Not Enough 343

Index 347

    Post authored by:

  • R. Scott Clark
    Author Image

    R.Scott Clark is the President of the Heidelberg Reformation Association, the author and editor of, and contributor to several books and the author of many articles. He has taught church history and historical theology since 1997 at Westminster Seminary California. He has also taught at Wheaton College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Concordia University. He has hosted the Heidelblog since 2007.

    More by R. Scott Clark ›

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13 comments

  1. Dr. Clark:

    Would you be willing to post the table of contents online? The book seems most interestng and much needed. I am looking forward to reading it.

    Thank you!

    ECR

  2. Thanks Dr. Clark. Me personally, no problem “taking the risk.” I know that I shall. 🙂

    Hey, by the way. I can’t believe you haven’t put me on your blogroll. 😉

    How about I put you on mine and you put me on yours? (READ: Tongue in Cheek) Hope you got a laugh from this comment.

    kazoo

  3. K,

    I’m not sure how to answer these questions. The book is very challenging and I gore a few sacred oxen. I’m sure some folks won’t like it and I don’t expect many folks to agree with me entirely, but I think the basic premise is indisputable.

    I hope you’ll take the risk, read the book, and see where you come out. I’ve posted links on the HB to lectures and interviews I’ve given on this material, so it’s not like you can’t find out what I’m about.

  4. Hi Dr. Clark,

    Just curious. Reading what you read in your earlier posts responding to Lane about your other book where you say that Historical Theology is telling the truth of what ‘was’ verses Systematic Theology is what ‘ought,’ I am wondering what type of response to this book you would expect to get from fellows like me (you know what I’m talking about.’

    In other words, if I were stubborn and closed minded, would I still feel that this book benefits me? Or would I just get all worked up in disagreement?

    Being that I am not closed minded, I personally am interested in acquiring this as my very first book authored by the great Dr. R. Scott Clark! 🙂

    kazoo

  5. Thought I add that, puffed rice is great. The long grain rice (Chinese) is much better than the sticky rice (Korean), in my opinion.

  6. I always liked puffed rice as a kid . . . oh, wrong kind of puff.

    Anyways, the book announcement will be in the bulletin up till its being in-print.

    D

  7. Sometimes book blurbs are all puff. Not so with this book! I said it once and I will say it again, this is a book I wish I had written. It will get under your skin, and make you think, but all good books should do that.

    I expect to see more like this…

  8. Hi Brad,

    They were very kind and it didn’t cost me much to generate them.

    Now stop salivating and order a copy today! Order now before midnight. Slightly higher west of the Rockies. No COD. Hurry, hurry, hurry. Don’t miss out. They’re going like hot-cakes! Sunday, sunday, raceway. Monster trucks! No down payment!

    Oh wait, that was another commercial altogether.

    Sorry about that. Carry on.

  9. Whoa.

    Those are some amazing puff pieces written by some heavy hitters.

    I’m salivating for my copy.

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