Wilkins’s exam, part 12

January 13, 2007 at 11:55 am (Federal Vision, Heresy)

At last we come to the end of the exam. I am not going to deal with the SJC stuff at the very end, since that is irrelevant to my concern about what Wilkins is teaching.

I have very little with which to quibble in the last section of his exam. Almost everything he says there (pg. 26, question 4 through page 27) I can affirm. I might say that we need to be more careful with how we use the term “Christian.” It is most often used in the sense of “one who is born again.” I think this is the more common usage of the term. Therefore, if we are to use the term in a federal sense (which the DPW does do, as Wilkins notes), then we need carefully to distinguish the two usages. Otherwise, we will sow much confusion among the people of God.

So, after 14 posts and 635 comments, have we arrived at any conclusions? I for one am more convinced than ever that Wilkins is out of accord with the WS. I do think that a very important conversation is happening right now with Xon on this thread. Indeed, I think it is safe to say that it is the most important thread on my blog with regard to FV concerns. Xon would agree, I think, with that assessment. It is a logical debate about the implications of Wilkins and the WS. Can it be logically stated that Wilkins is out of accord with the WS? The back and forth has been the most fruitful discussion, devoid of name-calling, and dealing with real issues, and where both sides are understanding each other. I would advise that anyone who is interested in this debate follow this thread closely. With this post, however, I am done commenting on the FV for about two weeks. With that mysterious comment, I close this examination of Wilkins’s exam. I hope and pray that this debate has been clarifying.

4 Comments

  1. Todd said,

    January 13, 2007 at 12:45 pm

    I agree. Xon has initiated the most fruitful way to discuss these things. Keep it up, guys.

  2. Andrew said,

    January 14, 2007 at 4:56 pm

    http://www.reformation21.org/Reformation_21_Blog/Reformation_21_Blog/58/vobId__5069/

    I’d just thought I’d post this.

  3. greenbaggins said,

    January 15, 2007 at 10:04 am

    Now that is hilarious. Thanks for that Andrew.

  4. Todd said,

    January 15, 2007 at 11:28 am

    I liked it, too. But didn’t the FV critics used to complain about the serrated edge? They used to complain about theology being done on blogs, too.

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