The Federal Vision and the PCA's Report, Part 1

After recently writing a post on the Federal Vision, I took it upon myself to read C. Hodge and other magisterial reformers on the topic of justification, error among the clergy, and divisions in the church. These are surely broad strokes in theology, but I hope to make a case that answers some of my thoughts and concerns as they relate to the Federal Vision—a minority of heretical teachers within both the PCA and OPC.

Earlier I noted that the reports and study committees of both Presbyterian bodies haven’t dealt with the issue concerning the FV satisfactorily. I also noted that the PCA was more lenient than the OPC in their final ruling on the report. I will focus more or less on the PCA since it is my Presbyterian denomination. This should concern elders within the church, both in the PCA and those outside the denomination. Paul warns,

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. (Romans 16:17-18 ESV)

Calvin in his commentary on 1 Timothy warns similarly,

A good pastor ought therefore to be on the watch, so as not to give silent permission to wicked and dangerous doctrines to make gradual progress, or to allow wicked men an opportunity of spreading them. But it may be asked, “How is it possible for a bishop to constrain obstinate and self-willed men to be silent? For such persons, even though they are vanquished in argument, still do not hold their peace; and it frequently happens that, the more manifestly they are refuted and vanquished, they become the more insolent; for not only is their malice strengthened and inflamed, but they give themselves up to indolence.” I reply, when they have been smitten down by the sword of God’s word, and overwhelmed by the force of the truth, the Church may command them to be silent; and if they persevere, they may at least be banished from the society of believers, so that they shall have no opportunity of doing harm (Calvin, 298.).

My question still remains at this juncture, what has the PCA done so far? Have they heeded Paul or Calvin? Yet still, there’s more they need to heed. In PCA’s Book of Church Order, who every elder in the church is vowed to keep, says of the General Assembly (also known to others as a synod): “The General Assembly shall have power (g.) To suppress schismatical contentions and disputations, according to the rules provided therefor” (BCO, 14-6[g].). Of course, answers to this kind of precedence could rouse the retort that the officers conducted a study which concluded to adjudicate those elders teaching FV as “brothers in Christ.” I would then ask, is the study committee compromised? Can they not tell the difference between the Gospel of Christ and the doctrine of which is not of faith?

(More to come in part 2. We will look at the report the committee produced and evaluated it more fully.)

The Federal Vision, NPP, and "Dangerous" Underpinnings

After doing some careful research, what I found concerning the NPP (The New Perspective on Paul) and the Federal Vision among two leading conservative Presbyterian bodies have declared unwittingly that the Federal Vision is “dangerous.” That concerns me, mainly because the OPC hasn’t declared it heretical. The PCA is even more lenient in its study committee. They went on to say that they [Federal Vision proponents] are “brothers in Christ.” I have a hard time accepting this line of thinking if what is being taught is contrary to the Scriptures and more specifically contrary to the Westminster Standards, the confession and catechisms of both Presbyterian bodies.

Brian Schwertly writes, “Most importantly it [the report] explicitly states that the Federal Vision doctrine of justification is contrary to the Word of God and the Westminster Confession of Faith.” I would like to see what the reasons were behind the label of “dangerous” instead of “heretical.” Mr. Schwertly goes on to write that the FV denies the active obedience of Christ imputed to the Christian, which is a definite blow at the doctrine of justification by faith alone.

Paul’s words are more than apt as it concerns the church’s body of beliefs, confessions and elders:

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8-9 ESV)