In reaction to Rick Phillips’ critique of a response by a Federal Visionist to his (then) presbytery, one of the proponents of the Federal Vision made the following argument: Surely, we all know there’s a difference between how we use terms in . . . Continue reading →
Federal Vision
20 Federal Vision Errors
1. Pitting Scripture and Confession against each other. 2. Regarding the enterprise of systematic theology as inherently rationalistic. 3. A mono-covenantalism that sees one covenant, originating in the intra-Trinitarian fellowship, into which man is invited, thus flattening the concept of covenant and . . . Continue reading →
The Federal Vision (Part Two): Justification And The Role Of Faith
One would be hard-pressed to find a doctrine more treasured and jealously defended in Reformed theology than the doctrine of free justification. It was, after all, Martin Luther who said that justification is the article by which the church stands or falls.1 If . . . Continue reading →
The Federal Vision (Part One): Redefining Covenant And Justification
I have heard it before and I will hear it again, “The Federal Vision is dead. Move on.” Though it is true that the Federal Vision (FV) is now well over twenty years old, it has lost none of its steam in . . . Continue reading →
With Sons Of Patriarchy On Wilson And The Federal Vision Theology
The abuse documented in this series and even by a CREC committee (and Rarchel Shubin) did not come from nothing. It was derived from a theology and that theology is known as the Federal Vision. Continue reading →
The Moralist’s Catechism
Moralism is the teaching (doctrine) that God approves (accepts or justifies) of us either because we have cooperated with his grace (semi-Pelagianism) or because we have kept the law without his help (Pelagianism). According to moralism, God approves of us because of . . . Continue reading →
Review: Children At The Lord’s Table? By Cornelis P. Venema (Part Three)
According to Venema, the “most important and compelling piece of New Testament evidence that bears on the question of paedocommunion is undeniably 1 Corinthians 11:17–34” (101). This is because this passage is “the most extensive and comprehensive New Testament passage on the . . . Continue reading →
Review: Children At The Lord’s Table? By Cornelis P. Venema (Part Two)
Venema observes that the Reformed churches are committed to the principle of sola Scriptura which means that the Scriptures are to be “regarded as the supreme standard for their faith and life,” but that principle does not mean that we read the Scriptures in isolation from the church or from church history (27). Continue reading →
Review: Children At The Lord’s Table? By Cornelis P. Venema (Part One)
In this volume Cornelis Venema tackles a serious problem in the Reformed world that needs to be addressed, and he has done so in a thoughtful, thorough, biblical, and confessionally Reformed manner. Background to the Review Before we begin the review, it . . . Continue reading →
What The Confessional Reformed Churches Have Said About Doug Wilson
The Heidelberg Reformation Association has received a queries in recent days asking about our view of Doug Wilson, a proponent of theonomy, Christian Reconstruction, Christian Nationalism, and the Federal Vision movement, among other things. We think that the best way to respond is to let the study committees of the confessional Presbyterians Reformed churches answer the question. As a service to the Christian public we have harvested the most salient portions from three study committee reports and we present them here for your consideration. Continue reading →
Heidelcast For Dec, 10 2023: A Federal Vision Special
In this episode Dr Clark talks to the Rev Lane Keister, who, 13 years ago was serving a dual charge in South Dakota. Today he is pastor of Momence OPC in Momence, IL and he’s currently working on a PhD. In this . . . Continue reading →
Stankorb Understands Wilson
This November, Wilson’s month of antagonistic blog posts (usually printed later as anthologies sold for $6.95) did not evoke his anticipated fear and trembling. For Wilson watchers and critics, some days online it felt like Wilson’s annual firestorm might have finally reached . . . Continue reading →
When Is a Church Not a Church?
I was searching for something the other day and ran across chapter 18 of the Scots Confession (1560) which speaks to the “Notes” (from the Latin, nota or “mark” or “indicator”) of the True Kirk (church). Ordinarily, when I think of the . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast For February 12, 2023: With Chris Gordon On Why You Should Not Go To Moscow
In this episode Abounding Grace Radio’s Chris Gordon joins Dr Clark to answer emails and to explain why you should not move to Moscow. They answer email from L asking for further explanation about how the Apostle Peter was not a Baptist, . . . Continue reading →
Lordship Salvation, The Federal Vision, And The Covenant Theology That The Reformation Rejected
Or Why History Is Useful
More than twenty years ago, in the summer of 2001, Mike Horton and I were sitting beside a hotel swimming pool one evening during Synod Escondido, along with several ministers from our federation (denomination) of churches (the United Reformed Churches in North . . . Continue reading →
Settling In And Standing Firm
It is now around nine months since my wife and I moved to Grande Prairie (GP) in Alberta, Canada where I have taken a call as Minister of Word and Sacrament at Covenant Reformed URC. We are so thankful to the Lord . . . Continue reading →
Federal Vision Qualifies Salvation By Faith Alone
Because the FV generally denies the existence of merit, many fail to understand whether there is any real concern with the FV’s formulation. But the formulation is elusive. Wilson writes, “Obedient faith is the only kind that God ever gives, and when . . . Continue reading →
Dr. Clark With NoCo Radio On The Federal Vision (Part 2)
Fun, frivolity, and even serious discussions about important issues ensue when our own Dr. Clark sits down to talk with HB contributor Mike Abendroth, on his radio show, No Compromise Radio. You can subscribe to NoCo Radio and listen to the episode in . . . Continue reading →
Dr. Clark With No Co Radio On The Federal Vision (Part 1)
Fun, frivolity, and even serious discussions about important issues ensue when our own Dr. Clark sits down to talk with HB contributor Mike Abendroth, on his radio show, No Compromise Radio. You can subscribe to NoCo Radio and listen to the episode in . . . Continue reading →
What Happens When A Bloke Looks At The Facts About Wilson
Language Warning: He Quotes Wilson
(HT: Examining Moscow) Resources How To Subscribe To Heidelmedia The Heidelblog Resource Page Heidelmedia Resources The Ecumenical Creeds The Reformed Confessions The Heidelberg Catechism Recovering the Reformed Confession (Phillipsburg: P&R Publishing, 2008) Why I Am A Christian Support Heidelmedia: use the . . . Continue reading →