Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Interview With Pastor Douglas Wilson

On today's program I interviewed Pastor Douglas Wilson about the Federal Vision movement within Reformed theology. Wilson is pastor of Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho and professor at New Saint Andrews College. He is a prolific speaker and debater on Reformed theology and various issues related to Christianity and culture. We talked about baptism, law and gospel, liturgy, and various other issues associated with the Federal Vision.

Here is the program.



Pastor Wilson's website can be found here, and his blog is here.

8 comments:

Kirk said...

Jordan, as one who has been interested in(but not always agreeing with) Wilson over the years, I appreciate your interview.
You didn't address it, but what do you think he would say about the Lutheran concept of simultaneously saint and sinner. From my perspective that affects some of the issues you were discussing. I know you were interviewing rather than debating, but I would find great interest in a post where you would critique his comments.

Kirk said...

Jordan, as one who has been interested in(but not always agreeing with) Wilson over the years, I appreciate your interview.
You didn't address it, but what do you think he would say about the Lutheran concept of simultaneously saint and sinner. From my perspective that affects some of the issues you were discussing. I know you were interviewing rather than debating, but I would find great interest in a post where you would critique his comments.

Nicholas said...

I find it interesting how many of the Federal Vision leaders started out in Reconstructionism and are mentioned here: http://theonomists.blogspot.com/

They have not all severed their ties to that movement, either. Reconstructionism is anathema to us Lutherans.

Unknown said...

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get to all the questions I wanted to ask. I really wanted to discuss reconstructionism and postmillenialism which are essential to the Federal Vision movement. Obviously, from a Two Kingdom perspective, we don't buy into such ideas. Theonomy is just bizarre in my view.

Regarding Simul Iustus et Peccator, that would be a good question to ask. He seemed to see law and gospel primarily as the idea that the law is for unbelievers before conversion, and the gospel is for believers and includes commands and promises.

Cap'n Salty said...

Interesting link from Nicholas. Last I visited with Wilson face-to-face he was not as enthusiastic as many about Rushdoony and North. He also happened to have a legal pad holder with a big bumper-sticker inside saying "Not Reconstructed." That was in the mid-90s. No idea where he's gone since I moved farther away from that movement.

Unknown said...

Interesting. I wasn't aware that you knew Wilson personally. From what I've heard, many in the FV movement are former reconstructions who are now critical of that movement, whereas others are still loosely associated with North.

brianbechtel said...

Jordan, as for law and gospel, I wish I could remember where to find the quote, but some years ago I read Wilson saying that for unbelievers, even the gospel is law, while for believers, even the law is gospel (that's almost an exact quote). I don't think this is what he intended, but If that's the case, there is no promise for the sinner. Might a second interview be in order for law/gospel, theonomy/reconstruction, and postmillenialism?

Unknown said...

I wish I had time to ask about all of those issues, because they are really important.