Journal: Westminster Theological Journal
Volume: WTJ 65:2 (Fall 2003)
Article: Postmodern And Reformed? A Response To Professors Trueman And Gaffin
Author: John R. Franke

WTJ 65:2 (Fall 2003) p. 331

Postmodern And Reformed? A Response To Professors Trueman And Gaffin

John R. Franke

[John Franke is Associate Professor of Theology at Biblical Theological Seminary, Hatfield, Pa.]

At the outset I would like to express my thanks to Professors Carl Trueman and Richard Gaffin for taking the time to read and interact with my essay, and to Professor Peter Enns for allowing me the space to provide a brief response to the comments of Trueman and Gaffin. My chief hope was that the article would spark some conversation about the direction of Reformed dogmatics in the postmodern context. The responses here, along with the communication and feedback I have already received from other districts of the Reformed theological community, convince me that this hope was justified. Of course, given the nature of what is being proposed, I could not have reasonably expected all of the responses to be favorable, particularly in light of John Frame’s recent description of the proponents of “American conservative evangelical Reformed theology” as Machen’s “warrior children.”1 The responses of both Trueman and Gaffin represent two quite different forms of criticism, the former of a more combative and dismissive nature while the latter is more genial and conversational. Thus, while both raise challenges to the article, they do so in strikingly different ways: Truman essentially questions its academic competence, while Gaffin raises issues related to its specific content. Since these differing approaches to criticism demand two different types of response, I will reply to each in turn rather than considering them together.

I. Carl Trueman

To say that I find Professor Trueman’s response to be disappointing would be something of an understatement. Of course, at one level, this is admittedly a visceral reaction. After all, who likes to be called negligent and incompetent in any context, public or private, much less in the pages of a respected academic journal with an extended shelf life in libraries all over the world? However, after talking things over with friends and colleagues and regaining my equilibrium, I came to the simple realization that this kind of criticism goes with the territory and is, sadly, part and parcel of any project that seeks to promote change. Beyond this level of disappointment, however, lies a more substantive concern, namely, that Trueman’s tone and critique will give readers license to dismiss prematurely

WTJ 65:2 (Fall 2003) p. 332

the issues raised in the essay and the proposal it suggests without due attention. This would work against the hope, mentioned at the outset, of stimulating conversation about the practice of Reformed dog...