» News: Federal Vision Blog Zeitgeist

PCA FV/NPP study committee member Robert Mattes (Ruling Elder) has started a new blog wherein he discusses the FV controversy and engages in the online discussion concerning the FV. Mattes criticizes Douglas Wilson's book about slavery, drawing criticism from David Baly (PCA Pastor) and a response from Douglas Wilson. Mattes's followup is here.

In response to the passage of the Federal Vision study committee report's recommendations, Peter Leithart (PCA Pastor) drafted a letter to the Pacific Northwest Presbytery. Then, in a series of followup posts, Leithart has considered several related issues: infant baptism and saving benefits, infant baptism and the FV, paedocommunion and the FV, judgment according to works, academic freedom, the committee's procedures, justification by faith, the nature of what baptism confers, temporary salvation, sociology, judgment according to works (again), Charles Hodge on the same, Adamic merit, Gospel and judgment, Trinity and Judgment, Jesus as judge, justification and judgment, Leithart's own work on the topic of justification, freedom of inquiry, verdict and promise, sloganizing and controversy, faith and creaturehood, the covenant of life, assurance, promissary nature of baptism, a reading list of books influential to Leithart's thinking on these matters, catholicity and the PCA, and the theology of the cross.

In light of Leithart's letter and posts, accusations were made that implied he was "finally" expressing his true views on matters about which he previously dissembled - said R. Scott Clark (professor at Westminster Seminary California) "Here we have a clear indication that the FV/NPP committee was telling the truth and that, perhaps, like Arminius, some FV folk haven't been entirely forthcoming about what they actually believe." Another poster called Leithart's actions disingenuous. In response to these rumors, Leithart asked the Stated Clerk of the Pacific Northwest Presbytery, Robert Rayburn, to vouch for his honesty and plain dealing in their previous inquiries. Clark interpreted Leithart's letter as his "daring his presbytery to do something" - an interpretation he reiterated after being challenged by fellow members of the bbwarfield discussion group.

Leithart's letter is the first observable result of the passage of the Federal VIsision study committee's nine recommendations. We will report on any news concerning investigation by the Pacific Northwest Presbytery, or on any additional letters that may be published by pastors as a result of the study committee's recommendations.

Lane Keister (PCA pastor) has begun a series of responses to Leithart's work on justification here.

R. Scott Clark has posted several public letters (1, 2) calling upon elders, pastors, and laypeople in Reformed denominations to take action on the Federal Vision and against specific Federal Vision advocates. He writes, "GA has spoken and now the real work must begin."

Another noteworthy contribution to the current polemics of the FV issue is James Jordan's six-part essay "How to do Reformed Theology Nowadays". He writes, "So, the churches are miniature academies. People are not taught the Bible, but the confession of faith, over and over. When they go Back to Basics they study the book by that name and thereby get a course in systematic theology. I should have thought that the 'basics' were learning to chant all the psalms, getting a real practical knowledge of the laws of Exodus and Deuteronomy, and coming to be able to walk through every book of the Bible. But not for Calvinists. ... Now, what does this mean? It means that Calvinistic churches exist in a state of perpetual warfare. The Greek notion of truth as comparison and contrast reigns supreme. There is continual fighting over doctrine and continual suspicion of other Christians, especially those closest to us! The transformative purpose of the Church is virtually destroyed; hence pastoral counseling for damage control becomes an overwhelmingly large part of the church's effort."

One response to Federal Visioninsts that is easily observable on the internet is the alleging of a contradiction between the professed "high church" approach of the Federal Visionists and their not heeding the voice of many reformed denominations that have condemned the Federal Vision. A part of this argument concerns the CREC, the church to which many FV opponents call upon the FV men in their denominations to enter. It is alleged that the CREC is the creation of Douglas Wilson and that it represents a lack of catholicity and a further fragmentation within Protestantism. Douglas Wilson responds to these criticisms in a blog post, emphasizing the history of the CREC and its unique challenge of accommodating baptists and paedobaptists in the same church.

» News: ETS Responds to Beckwith's Conversion to RC Church

The Christianity Today blog contains a press release from the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS) concerning the resignation of Francis Beckwith, both from the ETS presidency and from membership in the organization. Despite Beckwith's contention that he could, in good faith, subscribe to the ETS statement of belief, the ETS response contains an argument against Beckwith's position. Though the RC church holds to inerrancy, and obviously holds to an orthodox position on the Trinity, the ETS press release attempts to include the extent of the canon in its definition of inerrancy and the nature of biblical authority. The implicit rule is that ETS members must 1. hold to inerrancy of the scriptures where "scriptures" indicates the Protestant canon, and 2. must hold no position on church authority that compromises the authority of scripture.

The blogosphere discussions of the decision relate to whether this statement represents ad hoc causuistry or is simply the plain intention of the ETS statement. Two notable Reformed church historians have confessed to letting their ETS membership lapse due to concerns about the ETS's "big tent" approach that includes advocates of Open Theism.