Last week, American Reformer published my essay, “The Bugenhagen Option: Yet Another Option from a Forgotten Reformer.” I briefly critique some of the one-sided presentations of the so-called “Benedict Option” (Rod Dreher) and the “Boniface Option” (Andrew Isker, C.R. Wiley, and Douglas Wilson). I argue that both of those options contain valuable emphases, but that we need more. That’s where Johannes Bugenhagen comes in. Bugenhagen was a Lutheran Reformer (actually Martin Luther’s pastor) who labored in the realms of civil reform, church reform, education reform, and poverty alleviation. Bugenhagen thus had a wholisitc view of ministry—one that we desperately need in our increasingly chaotic and fragmenting culture.
Timothy Paul Jones, an apologetics professor, theologian, and writer, was kind enough to post about my article. I actually quote from Jones in my article, so it was fun to get his response!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the essay, too!
