No Place for Heresy
One of the dominant patterns in church history is that of corruption and reform. In his article from this month's issue of Tabletalk, C. Fitzsimmons Allison begins with tenth century corruption and reform and eventually the necessary reform to that reform. Looking at this pattern through the years leading to the Reformation, Allison asks "What, then, is the lesson for today, when the churches are tragically divided and the Christian message is being corrupted by scandals and accommodations to an increasingly corrupt society?" Ultimately, he suggests, the answer will begin with the centrality of the gospel. "One’s life follows one’s heart. What the heart desires and believes the will will choose and the mind will justify. Hence, starting at behavior is not as effective as starting with the gospel story, the teaching, and the doctrine that speaks to the heart."