Wide Mercy Far and Away

A simple google search of "wide mercy" returned some 812,000 hits! I guess mercy is wide; at least the subject matter is, anyway. Wide mercy is often seen as the theological opposite of the Calvinist view of "limited atonement." I have no desire to discuss the subject of Calvinism in this piece. Rather, I want to discuss why most theologians can only go back to the Reformation for its dogma. So much happened then; I know. So much changed then; I know. So much of what we believe and teach today is rooted there; I know. But why? Why only go back to the 1500's for our theology? Why do I need to base my theology only on a relatively small group of European reformers for major issues affecting the church? Where would we be without Germany? If you remember, Germany may have produced Calvin but it also produced "German Rationalism," and the primacy of Mark--a fairly anti-Semitic Gospel. The Apostle Paul did not think European nor did the Apostle Peter. Interpreting their writings in the vein of Reformation thinking is circular reasoning. "I am Calvinist, and Paul said "predestined," so he too must be a Calvinist. That makes Calvin right!" I am not saying Calvin was or is wrong; nor am I saying there is anything wrong with adopting the teachings of Reformation theologians. Before one dismisses "wide mercy," one had better look outside their "TULIP" garden.