David Gadbois argues here that FV proponents hold that infant baptism is normative, and somehow marginalize those baptisms which are performed on the basis of a profession of faith. In this course of this argument, he quotes Pastor Bordow, who put it this way: “If you look for a credible profession before baptizing, aren’t you …
Better Christians Than Logicians
After his Introduction, but before his first chapter, John Piper includes a short chapter on the necessity of — given the state of the world — controversy and polemics. He writes this as a pastor. “I am a pastor first. Polemics are secondary and serve that” (p. 27). In short, shepherds are to fight because …
The Problem of the Timeless Jew
John Piper begins and ends his Introduction with the observation that he has been too long in the service of the gospel to amuse himself by playing games of disputation. He graciously assumes the same for N.T. Wright, and then makes the central appeal that we should always make — to the law and to …
Guardians of the Baby
I just got my published version of John Piper’s new book The Future of Justification this last week. I had seen an earlier incarnation of the book in manuscript form, but according to the acknowledgments, this book is now twice the size it was when I saw it last. I really appreciate how careful John …
Temporary Justification
In the discussion of my previous Auburn Avenue post, one commenter asked what Reformed group has ever allowed for notions of temporary regeneration or justification. An outstanding answer to that question can be found here. Note carefully the three reasons that the English divines gave to the good gentlemen at Dort for their appeal, and …
The Demands of the System
Andy Webb tries to take us to task, but it doesn’t come out very well. He says: “There are so many non-Reformed doctrines floating around in the FV that one hardly knows where to begin addressing them. But the idea that everyone in the covenant is ‘saved in some sense’ regardless of whether they are …
Imagination Rules the World
As critics are rummaging around, trying to find something that works, you have to expect the occasional novelties. The most recent one is that I am a theological liberal, akin to those who were resisted by Machen back in the day. This argument is made by Pastor Todd Bordow (OPC). He does this while granting …
Mooning the Ref
These are not talking points. These are just remember points. You don’t have to say anything, or “talk” to anybody about them. All you have to do is remember these things as you watch the unfolding saga continue. For ease of remembrance, I have just listed ten of them. 1. To keep things simple, the …
All Wolves, All the Time
I just now have gotten an opportunity to respond to Andy Webb’s “nuclear” response on the SJC process. His response was two-fold, the first being an explanation why charges did not originate against Wilkins from within the Louisiana Presbytery. Andy said this: “The majority in the presbytery had already shown its hostility to such requests, …
Loving the Truth
It is difficult for me to express how grateful I am to the Bayly brothers for their continued refusal to play the petty game of ecclesiastical politics. The only thing I am worried about for them is the possibility that they will fall between two stools. Their insistence that the Reformed church debate these FV …