Last month we brought you this post How Doug Wilson and Co. Are Wailin’ on the Culture War, explaining why many are drawn to them. This is absolutely required reading before this post, being the first part of it, so click the link, give it a read, and then check back in. Also note that ‘Op-Ed’ means “opposite the editorial page” and does not necessarily reflect our opinion on Wilson and company, but we occasionally allow for diverse thought if we find it helpful to draw distinctions and dividing lines.
Earlier I made a post on what draws people to Doug Wilson and the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches. (CREC) (The aforementioned one we said to read) What I offered I think is overwhelmingly true. Further, I think that broadly the church can improve on dealing with current issues and society. That being said DW’s and the CREC’s approach is misguided and here’s why:
1. Most people reading this post probably don’t like CNN. They find the leftward slant of CNN obnoxious, but there is another factor. CNN or any 24/7 news services constantly plays off of your need to be in the “know” and tries to make you afraid. They always attempt to repackage the same story over and over again for maximum public impact. I am not accusing DW of being CNN, or fear-mongering. I am saying that just like mass media they are always out to spin things for maximum impact and greatest coverage. If you have ever felt vexed, and like it never ends with a 24hr news cycle I would say DW operates on a similar basis.
2. DW and the CREC are obsessed with the “culture war”. Engaging in it and fighting it, but I see a huge problem with their engagement. They are quick to show the tom-foolery of authorities in the church and state. They are steadfast in speaking against the wokeness of our age. But, what I don’t see them do is preach the Gospel to our age. They take positions on cultural issues, and cultural issues are important. Yet, to truly transform the culture it happens one sinner being converted at a time. The Gospel must be at the fore- Redemption offered to fallen and sinful man from a Crucified Savior must always be the heart of our message.
3. Cultural Transformationalism from Neo-Calvinism. This is intimately tied in with point 2 but let me further expand. Instead of the Gospel, and sinners being converted transforming a culture the CREC does something different. They opt for a “Cultural Transformationalist” approach that has its roots in Neo-Calvinism and came to them by way of Theonomy. In a nut shell, the “culture war” is vital to the CREC because they want to transform and better this culture. They are also actively working to build a counter-culture, but so much is predicated on culture. This leads them to seek cultural influence over Gospel influence (if I may term it is this way), there is a subtle danger in their tactic as it makes friendlies out to be those that agree with them in the culture war, not their brothers and sisters in Christ.
4. Cultural Transformationism and the “Culture War” means you take your cues from the culture. If you are always countering the culture, the culture becomes your guide. Instead of operating on the basis of the Scriptures and what they say, the culture dictates where your theology goes. This can lead to some pretty heavy uneven results and theological imbalance. (One of the in house debates the church needs to have is Neo-Calvinism its influence and cultural-transformationism. I will link at the bottom the best critiques of Neo-Calvinism I am aware of.)
5. Where is the first table of the law? In Matthew 22:37-28 Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is to love and serve God with all that we have- he refers to it as the first and greatest commandment. There is a second commandment Jesus gives about loving neighbor but love to God is first because you can’t love your neighbor without first loving God. What Jesus says about loving God is a summary of the first 4 commands of the 10. What Jesus says about loving neighbor a summary of the latter 6. It is on the first four that Christ puts priority. The idea of loving God involves worship, it involves public life and public policy. To put it simply you should be as passionate about Blasphemy and Sabbath-breaking as your are about abortion. As passionate about worship in your own congregation as you are with any cultural impact. Now let me offer the critique in two subpoints:
a. The first table of the law is strangely lacking in much of what the CREC does. Sure, they might mention things about worship and “Christian Nationalism” but lets be frank the worship in their own churches is not in accord with the Word of God. They are Anglicans or Cyrpto- Papist. They have all sorts of errant and aberrant worship practices.
b. Its lacking in how they see cultural transformation, sure they acknowledge it at points. Recently though I saw a CREC church doing an ethics class on only the second table of the law. When they approach issues of public policy and cultural impact,, why is the first table not more at the front? Further, when they address cultural issues it seems the fear, and honor due to God is lacking.
6. The CREC draws you in by appealing to your cravings for solid food, and then fails to provide it. Ultimately slowly starving you. It works like this- the Christian feels a need to hear cultural and political issues addressed from a Christian perspective, they are drawn to the CREC. Instead of getting a healthy diet once there though, the culture wars dominate the church. And what is left is a flawed sacramentology, and view of worship. They love liturgy and weird views of sacraments because I am afraid they don’t preach Christ well, and the culture war has little place for Experimental Religion.
The CREC/DW “Culture War” tact leads the church lose the vitality of its message. Instead of the Gospel it becomes about the culture and transforming it. Instead of preaching the “old paths” the church’s paths meander through current cultural and societal issues. The CREC and DW have derided others for trying to be relevant, while they themselves seek after relevance by constantly firing volleys in the the “Culture War”. The church must never be afraid to address, societal, or political issues.
This fear, which I think characterizes much of the church (yes, even the Reformed church) gives Wilson and the CREC a following. The church must also remember that its message is the Gospel, and the truth’s the Scripture contain are timeless. It is not the church’s job to play tit for tat in a culture war. Rather the church must take the timeless truths found in the Word of God and apply them today’s culture and situation. We must remember the Gospel is effective because it is timeless.
*** Critiques of Neo-Calvinism***
1. Dr. William Young’s astute and sage paper: “Historic Calvinism and Neo-Calvinism”:
https://www.westminsterconfession.org/…/historic…/
2. Dr. C. Pronk’s critique of Neo-Calvinism:
https://christianreformedink.wordpress.com/…/neo…/
3. William Dennison “‘Dutch Neo-Calvinism & the Roots for Transformation: an Introductory Essay”:
http://the-highway.com/neo-calvinism.pdf
Ed. Note. This post is a Facebook post from Zach Dotson. Adapted for this page.
