Popular Reformed Author Endorses Catholic Apologist’s New Book

Most Christians know Michael Horton for his best-selling book Christless Christianity, his teaching career in apologetics and theology at Westminster Seminary, or his radio show The White Horse Inn. In more scholarly circles, Horton is respected for his research at Oxford and Yale, as well as his publications on covenant theology. Indeed, the Christian community (especially the Reformed community) has much to thank for when it comes to Horton’s work.

But the atmosphere is quickly changing with Dr. Horton. The first wave of controversy came when John Frame heavily critiqued Christless Christianity. Frame, of course, used to teach at Westminster (31 years) and currently resides at RTS. Frame said in the review:

So Christless Christianity is essentially an evaluation of the American church, not from the standpoint of a generic Protestant theology, but from what I must regard as a narrow, factional, even sectarian perspective. Readers need to understand this…Horton has mounted a critique of the American church with the most serious implications. He says that if we continue in our ways we will lose the gospel and Christ himself. But he utters these warnings from a position that almost nobody considers orthodox. He is saying that unless the church comes to emphasize exactly what he does, what his factional position dictates, it will soon be without Christ or the Gospel. I cannot regard that position as having any plausibility at all.

Now, a second wave has recently developed with Roman Catholic apologist Scott Hahn’s new book Covenant and Communion: The Bible Theology of Pope Benedict XVI. Horton endorsed the book:

“Even when one disagrees with some of his conclusions, Benedict’s insights, as well as his engagement with critical scholarship, offer a wealth of reflection.  In this remarkable book, Hahn has drawn out the central themes of Benedict’s teaching in a highly readable summary.  An eminently useful guide for introducing the thought of an important theologian of our time.”  Michael Horton, Westminster Seminary California

There are two huge ironies about this surprising endorsement. First, Horton endorsed the book The Roman Catholic Controversy in 1996, which is one of the most concise critiques of Roman Catholic  theology in print.  The second irony, is that The Roman Catholic Controversy was written by James R White, who is one of the most outspoken critics of Scott Hahn’s adherence and conversion to Roman Catholic theology. In fact, White has offered to publicly debate Scott Hahn on more than one occasion.

What does the Reformed scholar Michael Horton and Roman Catholic Scott Hahn have in common?

1. Both are considered “apologists,” since they publish on apologetics.
2. Horton is Reformed (URC) and teaches at a Presbyterian seminary; Hahn used to be a Presbyterian (PCUSA) minister until he converted to Roman Catholicism.
3. Horton’s doctoral dissertation was on covenant theology, as was Hahn’s doctoral dissertation.

Regarding Horton’s actual endorsement, Horton is clearly treating his inherent problems with Roman Catholic theology as neutral territory. He’s endorsing the content of Hahn’s book, not Hahn’s theology. Of course, there is a sense in which Horton is saying “I’m OK with Hahn,” which is strange since Horton is obviously “OK with White.” Indeed, everyone has a reason to be suspicious of Horton’s endorsement of Hahn’s book. This isn’t to mention that Horton had already brought out the distinctions between his own Protestant beliefs and Roman Catholicism in his essay “What Still Keeps Us Apart” in Roman Catholicism (Moody, 1998).

Whatever the case, Horton couldn’t possibly stretch his reputation as a Reformed scholar through this bridge building any more. Hahn’s book was only released last month (October 2009), so it could be a while before the real controversy hits the fan.