Be serious, pilgrims...

This tidbit was written on the Boar's Head Tavern:

Michael's biggest failing in the Reformed Blogosphere is his consistent inability to attract and hold onto sycophants. The TR crowd needs them to survive, much more so than even the TBN crowd. Perhaps we should end each post with "iMonk rules!", even if we are disagreeing with him. Then at least we will be able to pass for a Reformed blog.

Sycophant: A servile self-seeker who attempts to win favor by flattering influential people.

Let's grant that this exists in the 'Reformed blogosphere'; but let's also grant that this exists in any and every environment where human nature is in play. Let's not grant that this defines the Reformed blogosphere exclusively, though, or even to some kind of signature degree. (About TBN I can't say, not being in their target audience.)

Reformed Theology is pure, apostolic biblical doctrine. When you can see it and understand it and value it you tend to also value individuals who are able to be rock solid on-the-mark with it themselves. Wobblies are everywhere, either in full-blown manifestation or in potential. At any given time a new wobbly will make himself/herself known. Individuals who have a strong track record of not being wobbly tend to attract an audience. Not sycophants, just an audience.

The iMonk suffers from wobblism (though I'll grant him his claim that he'd never known the truth - never was a Calvinist - to begin with).

When you just alone mock Reformed Theology, or individuals who hold to Reformed Theology, by calling them 'TR' (Truly Reformed) it kind of undermines any other reason you might give for that person not being taken seriously among Reformed people. It's like you're saying: "The iMonk couldn't be popular in the Reformed blogosphere because they hold his mocking of them and of Reformed Theology against him."

Did I mention that Reformed Theology is pure, apostolic biblical doctrine? For serious Christians in the 'Reformed blogosphere' that kind of is the most important thing. That transcends everything, and is the foundation of everything. If you want on-the-mark doctrinal teaching from theologians you turn to, ultimately, Reformed theologians. Whether John Calvin, or John Owen, or Jonathan Edwards, or any number of living sinners who have and can use the discernment of the Spirit of Truth within them.