David Nilsen reviews Michael Horton’s book, Christless Christianity:
One famous Evangelical pastor has recently made popular the phrase, “deeds, not creeds.” Evangelicals have their doctrine right, this pastor tells us, they just aren’t living it. Against such sentiments, Dr. Horton argues that many Evangelicals actually do not have their doctrine right, or at least they aren’t preaching it correctly. Evangelicals have confused the important categories of Law and Gospel, turning the Gospel message (which is supposed to be the good news of something that Christ has already done for us), into the Gospel program. If you’ll only live out the Gospel (by reading your Bible every day, joining a certain group at church, and learning how to be a Christ-like example to others), you’ll be healthy, wealthy and wise. The question to be answered is, “What would Jesus do?” rather than, “What has Jesus done?”
For a lot of people it’s easier and more natural to follow a plan than to meditate upon doctrine. I suspect that’s the way God made us.
Yes, but sound doctrine is practical doctrine. Many teachers and pastors have failed to apply their doctrine well and many others haven’t had good doctrine to apply. So “deeds, not creeds” is not great b/c it’s really creeds and deeds. Faith without works is dead, but works without faith is also dead, at best only misguided.