At the end of August I'm giving an evening lecture on "Current Theological Trends" to a group of part time ministerial students. I have been asked to deal with the doctrine of Scripture, with particular reference to Peter Enns and Andrew McGowan, and the Federal Vision.Whilst there is a wealth of material available on both subjects I would be interested in hearing from anyone engaging with these issues on the ground. Best to use the email address in the righthand sidebar.
3 comments:
Nothing to add or offer, but to say keep up the good work, Martin. FV is really based not a high view of Scripture vis-a-vis literal reading but "trumping" certain passages over the other by way of misusing covenantal theology. Synergism, defectible grace, fallible perseverance, etc. though not the terms used are the real and present implications of the FV. FV is anti-Reformed, at the end of the day.
What complete garbage from an alleged Augustinian. FV is 100% monergist and absolute predestinationist. If you want to know FV, just read Augustine's _Rebuke and Grace_, which John Calvin recommended so highly. The only difference is that Augustine thought that justification meant being made actually righteous whereas everyone in FV believes it refers to a forensic declaration. I think internet slander is a lot more anti-Reformed than anything that is "Federal Vision."
Of course, FV is synergistic. Decretal election and monergism, that's all in the background - worse still, it's interpreted in light of the Covenant. Romans 9 teaches that the Covenant is to be interpreted in light of predestination. It's that clear. So, proponents and sympathisers of the the FV are being deceitful on this matter. The FV may claim to believe in forensic justification, but then it adds to that with obedience, hence the whole scheme is muddied. The distinction between Law and Gospel is lost. Faith is re-defined.
On St. Augustine, he did not only taught infused righteousness (to use an anachronistic, i.e. scholastic, term), but forensic righteousness too. It's not either or, but both and. Being made righteous is dependent on being clothed with righteousness, not vice-versa. This is effectual and infallible predestination.
So, your ignorance shows ...
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