Macchiatos Real And False

But, in modern America, a culture not known for its sensitivity to history and precedent, “Reformed” has started to refer to “a different drink”. As Starbucks re-discovered espresso and popularized it, people have re-discovered Augustinianism (i.e., predestination) and are now marketing it for the masses under the name “Reformed”. Sure, God’s sovereignty in salvation is important to historic Reformed identity. But the presence of espresso doesn’t mean you have a Macchiato – Lutherans and Thomists have been Augustinian for hundreds of years but would never dream of calling themselves “Reformed.”

— Zac Wyse, “Macchiatos and Reformed Identity

    Post authored by:

  • R. Scott Clark
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    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.

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One comment

  1. This reminds me of the debate on middle knowledge between the Dominicans and the Jesuits. The Jesuits called the the Dominicans, Calvinists, and the Dominicans called the Jesuits, Semi-Pelagians. The Catholic (as in not Roman) Augustinian Jansenists had their run in with the Jesuits over the issue of predestination and middle knowledge as well. Even Leibnitz took issue with middle knowledge.

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