Here's a revealing, Biblically inaccurate interview with another in a long line of Evangelical intellectuals who felt that repudiating--really, really repudiating--their Baptist roots required them to turn to the Roman Catholic heresy. Honestly, what's with these guys? Can I see the hand of a man--just one man--who repents of his parachurch, Baptist heritage without becoming a Sacramentalist (you know, ex opere operato and all that), and then a full-blown Roman Catholic?
This is why I've said to my F-V sympathizing friends that we have to find a way to innoculate our parachurch, Baptist brothers against feeling the need to take the most radical step possible to put the faith of their childhood behind them.
First they embrace infant baptism, and that's not enough; then it's the smells and bells of...
Anglicanism or Lutheranism or Episcopalianism, or the "repristination of time" (church year) and paedocommunion and clerical collars of Federal Vision, but even that's not enough; then it's the Magisterium and Papal infallibility and Mariolatry and works of supererogation and the Church's treasury of merit and plenary indulgences and infusion...
And since Rome is the furthest anyone can flee from their humble but embarrassing parachurch, Baptist childhood, that's far enough. Now people may finally believe them when they say they can't stand polyester doubleknit leisure suits.
Poor Young Lifer Scott Hahn. Poor Baptist Francis Collins. Poor Baptist J. Budziszewski.
Home Sweet Rome? No, never.
Home Sweet Romans!
Home sweet Galatians and James and Jude and Ephesians and Matthew and John and Isaiah and...
Home sweet Scripture. Home sweet Geneva. Home sweet Mother Church.
Home sweet Heaven!