Nebraska Senator and rising conservative star Ben Sasse describes himself as a “Lutero-Calvinist.” Though he grew up and came to faith in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and says he is “in love with the Lutheran tradition,” he is now a member of a Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) congregation. He talks about his faith and his Reformed theology with World Magazine, excerpted and linked after the jump. I then raise some questions.
From J. C. Derrick, Ben Sasse: A Reformed reformer – WORLD:
How did you come to faith in Christ? I am blessed to have grown up in a church where the gospel had long been faithfully preached. I knew myself to be a sinner and Christ as my only hope for as long as I can recall. In the Lutheran tradition you’re called to remember your baptism and what it means, so I self-consciously affirmed the faith in my confirmation class in April-May 1986. I was confirmed and became a communicant member at age 14.
Note the Calvinist numbering of the three uses of the Law.
Sasse was involved with Immanuel Lutheran Church in Alexandria, VA, when we lived in the area and my wife was interim headmaster in their school.
I wonder why a Lutheran would become a Calvinist. Don’t Lutherans already have the good stuff in Calvinism (grace alone, etc.)? I suppose Calvinist rationalism can be attractive. But then, if you are a Calvinist, why would you also be “Lutero-“? Is it the liturgy? The Sacraments?
Are any of you Lutero-Calvinists (a category and a word I did not know exists until now)?