A Rebuttal to Anti-Protestant Rhetoric: Evangelicalism, Ecclesiology, and Historical Christianity
A Rebuttal to Anti-Protestant Rhetoric: Evangelicalism, Ecclesiology, and Historical Christianity J. Neil Daniels Introduction The pinned post on X (formerly Twitter) by Princeton graduate and Peachtree Publishing Services Bible proof-reader, Mitchell Esswein (@Brosephos), presents a sweeping and caustic indictment of Reformed Baptist and evangelical theology, alleging that its essence is merely "I am not Catholic," that it is shaped more by "American individualism" than biblical fidelity, and that it exhibits a gnostic disdain for the sacred. While rhetorically provocative, the post relies on misrepresentations, historical anachronisms, and theological caricature. This response aims to subject its claims to rigorous critique, demonstrating that evangelical and Reformed theology is not only coherent and historically grounded, but deeply faithful to the apostolic witness. I. Is Evangelicalism Merely Anti-Catholic? Esswein begins with the assertion that evangeli...