Informal Outline in Ecclesiology, Part 1

I'm going to write an informal response for those who are interested in a Reformed view of the church (invisible/visible delineations). These are not structured notes but are proper outlines of theology. Having read Clowney's The Church: Contours of Christian Theology—or at least a majority of the book—I have reserved notions of a Reformed view, more properly a Presbyterian view. Having said that, here are my notes.

Notes: Two, "People of God"

1. Began with Adam
   
2. Continues with Abraham through an oath (Hebrews 6:17)
   
3. The story of the church begins with the Old Testament people.
   

The very foundations of a Reformed ecclesiology is covenant theology. People of God/ Covenant Oath/ Assembly of Israel at Sinai confirm the covenant/ New Covenant is the reality of the old covenant shadows. [Obviously this is a rough outline. There are some outlines that are not dealt with here. I will update the outline when I have more time and structure of historical theology.]

Rooted in the idea of "People of God." We cannot separate the idea of the old covenant in transition with the new. Strangely, some dispensationalists disconnect these outlines of theology for a practicalism in pietism. Similarly, I have encountered this kind of pietism at work, and even some random places, like Borders, Barnes & Noble, etc. People unclassed in theology (historical theology) tend toward this frame of reference. One particular case was with a girl at work. Her pietism was so reflexive of Pentecostalism/Pietism that encroachments against an intellectual faith become an affront to "true religious experience." [In fact, they try to do away with such terms like 'religion' or 'organized religion' for the sake of personalized faith, i.e., "personal relationship" language.] Apparently, this is almost seen as orthodox, though a more Reformed approach sees this as heterodox. I know I do.