More good news from the floor of the synod of the URCNA. Despite the pre-synod opposition from a few sources (e.g., Nampa, ID) the justification report was not only strengthened by synod but it also passed without audible dissent. Apparently the body was not persuaded that the report misrepresented the self-described Federal Vision movement. Thanks to the committee for their excellent work. With the re-affirmation of the 9 Points and the adoption of the report there can be no question that the URCNA have rejected the self-described FV movement root and branch.
R. Scott Clark
R.Scott Clark is the President of the Heidelberg Reformation Association, the author and editor of, and contributor to several books and the author of many articles. He has taught church history and historical theology since 1997 at Westminster Seminary California. He has also taught at Wheaton College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Concordia University. He has hosted the Heidelblog since 2007.
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Randy:
You are quite right that repentance is integral to the life of the church, even when she is embroiled in theological controversy. However those who have disturbed the church with their schism ought to recant of their error(s) and seek the unity of Christ’s bride in the truth.
Ironically, however, the greatest harm that the FV has caused was/is to confuse our repentance with faith in our justification.
Randy
Is that what you think the FV debate is all about? You are badly mistaken.
What exactly did Paul preach so that people might “receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith” in Christ? Before the King, he said, “I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.” While relying on Christ’s merit, perhaps some on both sides of this “debate” should take care to prove their repentance by their deeds, rather than proving something quite different by their words. By God’s grace, may we all do the same.
correction: should read ‘not invited’.
I noticed today that the FV Vatican is hosting its annual ministerial conference in the Fall on the topic of ‘Keeping Calvinism Sassy for the next 500 years’. Given the crypto-Arminian nature of the FV ,one wonders why Clark Pinnock was invited to be one of the plenary speakers.
Well, right on cue ,the Bishop of Moscow is once again crowing that he has been ‘badly and baldly’ distorted, misrepresented,fabulated,pseudologized, tortuosized…whatever.
XI. Of the Justification of Man.
WE are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by faith, and not for our own works or deservings. Wherefore that we are justified by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort; as more largely is expressed in the Homily of Justification.
Let me be very Lutheran here re: Mr. Wilson and his puerile limerick.
“I’d rather hear a cow fart during Holy Communion” than Wilson. ”
End of that discussion, now and forrever more, world without end, Amen.
Not too surprising that Doug Wilson would rant by writing a limerick. He is just following his limerick forefather, Edward Lear. I’m sure his link will continue in the same vain.
The limerick form was popularized by Edward Lear in his first Book of Nonsense (1845) and a later work (1872) on the same theme. Lear wrote 212 limericks, mostly nonsense verse.
Appropriately so, the conclusions/recommendations state the core substance of the report making everything simple and clear for all, something the FV has never been able to learn.
Scott:
If you don’t mind me making an editorial comment let me state, for the record, that the report did not pass nor was it adopted. The 15 points at the end of the report (slightly amended) along with the points from the overture were passed or affirmed. The report is being distributed to the churches which means that it is not the official URCNA position. If the report had been recommended to the Synod to be adopted it likely would not have passed without dissent.
Please do not take this to mean that there is anything wrong with the report. I believe it was excellent and should be read and studied by all. But the report is not what we have passed as a Synod; just the recommendations.
Thanks for the clarification. I have been told that, contrary to the how the Presbyterians handle business, reports are not adopted in the URCNA – only the recommendations. I have made the necessary changes on the URCNASynodReports website.
Doug Wilson has written a cutesy little limerick in response to this excellent news:
http://tiny.cc/p7l5s
Seems we’ve “made ourselves a laughingstock” (see the comment thread) in taking this very excellent and needed stand….
If the Mullah of Moscow doesn’t like, we’re probably on the right track
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise
Than for a man to hear the song of fools.
Eccl. 7:4-5
Mr. Wilson uses a nonsense verse to call the URCNA stupid. Mr. Wilson is too clever for me. But I hear he’s a brilliant orator.
Excellent!
When will the the full text of the “strengthened” report be available for download?
Hi Frank,
That’s up to stated clerk. The minutes will come out at some point this summer or fall and the report should be in them.
Also, may those who seek to do something about it not be charged with breaking the 9th commandment.
May they take a strong stand and then proceed to actually do something about it.
May all NAPARC communions (including my own) take such a strong stand as the URC’s against those among them that cast any doubt on danger of the FV.