The machine works mechanically and it is flawless.
- Slander/libel a group of Presbyterian ministers as “Romanist” because robes and James 2 are no worse than praying to Mary or relying on purgatory to pay for unconfessed sins.
- Drive off anyone who disagrees
- Of that number, there may be a tiny minority of lost souls who have actually begun praying to Mary or deciding that the Pope must be submitted to–souls whom you have, in fact, encouraged to believe they might as well do so if they are going to allow for robes in worship leadership or regard James 2 as inspired.
- Watch with self-gratification the ones you have driven off gravitate to the Presbyterian ministers you have slandered/libeled–including the ones that have indeed broken away from the true Protestant faith.
- Watch those who the slandered/libeled Presbyterians are unable to bring to repentance go on to Rome or Byzantium
- Boast at your further proof that the ministers are “leading to Rome.” Trot out testimonies from some people who were headed to Rome long before they ever heard of the “Federal Vision” as if they are exemplars of it.
Of course, no one is actually leading anyone to Rome. A few are being driven there.
Let’s also remember that there is a distinction between street-level Romanism of the Carnival variety, and the more refined and Augustinian University caste.
Failing to admit that the latter is actually a formidable intellectual opponent is often a recipe for disaster.
“the latter is actually a formidable intellectual opponent”
Quite. And Rome must be wringing her hands in grief at such wasted talent on her side. I’m jolly glad I wasn’t evangelised by the kind of “Reformed” brother who can’t tell a fern seed from an elephant as long as they’re both dressed up for worship.
Ken Howell was a Van Til quoting PCA minister until he became a professor at RTS Jackson. He left to join the Roman Catholic Church.
Scott Hahn supported the original Westminster Confession because it condemned the Pope as Anti-Christ. He went to Gordon-Conwell and later became Roman Catholic (Scott traces part of his move to Rome to his time at Gordon-Conwell).
The clear moral: The road to Rome runs through RTS Jackson and Gordon-Conwell.
I’m quite sure moves to Rome have nothing to do on either side (as if there are only two: FV or not FV) with the general culture of Reformedville today that works its way through the entirety of our churches. Nahhh. :)
The notion that only one side is to blame for this phenomenon is clearly prejudicial. FV advocates have to own up to their own pastoral shortcomings just like everyone else (and vice versa for all you brothers AMEN’ing that statement) – all sides are clearly working with failure from both external and internal pressures. It kills me that there is often such a running from pastoral responsibility for failure in ecclesial environments where federal headship is deemed overly important to church and minister alike.
If you can’t admit that there are incipient problems in the FV camp, Mark, I don’t know what to say because failing to note that in the midst of excessive criticism may serve to illustrate that you are perhaps as biased and unfair as your opponents.
I for one would like to see where you guys think the Reformed ministry has gone wrong (on your side as well as elsewhere–but especially within your own camps) and what you think needs to be done to fix it.