Federal Vision
Encyclopedia
The Federal Vision is a Reformed
Evangelical
theological conversation that focuses on covenant theology
, trinitarian thinking, the sacraments of Baptism
and Communion
, biblical theology
and typology, justification, and postmillennialism
.
A controversy arose in Calvinist, Reformed, and Presbyterian circles in response to views expressed at a 2002 conference entitled "The Federal Vision: An Examination of Reformed Covenantalism." The ongoing controversy involves several Reformed denominations including the Orthodox Presbyterian Church
(OPC), the Presbyterian Church in America
(PCA), the United Reformed Churches in North America
(URCNA), and the Reformed Presbyterian Church in the United States
(RPCUS).
, especially those responsible for drawing up the Westminster Confession. They see their work as a self-conscious effort to return to the theology of the original Protestant Reformers
, which they believe Reformed and Presbyterian churches have drifted away from. They argue that the emphasis on subjective, personal experience popularized by the First and Second Great Awakenings caused a shift in thinking about conversion
and covenant theology
. While they believe personal conversion is important, in their eyes, the emphasis on personal conversion over covenant membership was a deviation from what the Bible
, the Church Fathers
, and the original Reformers taught, and they seek to return to pre-Great Awakening theology. Most Federal Vision leaders still consider themselves to be broadly evangelical
.
They argue that their theology is not limited to the work of pre-Awakening writers, however. They find precedent for their beliefs through the Awakenings and up to the present day. The original Reformed concepts of covenant, justification, and conversion were for the most part preserved, Federal Vision proponents argue, through the Dutch Reformed and Old Princeton traditions. While differing in some areas with the men of Old Princeton, proponents of the Federal Vision find their views of the covenant similar to those of Charles Hodge
, A. A. Hodge, B. B. Warfield, and Lyman Hotchkiss Atwater
.
They see additional support for their position in the Dutch Reformed tradition, citing, among others, the works of Y.E.P. De Jong, Abraham Kuyper
, Herman Bavinck
, and Klaas Schilder
. Kuyper and Bavinck influenced Christian philosopher Cornelius Van Til
, who was also raised in the Dutch Reformed tradition. An influential Christian thinker of the 20th century, Van Til has influenced contemporary evangelical views on such things as apologetics, political theory and philosophy. Van Til particularly influenced R. J. Rushdoony and Greg Bahnsen
, who founded the Christian Reconstructionist movement. Several leaders in the Federal Vision began their theological careers in the Christian Reconstructionist movement until differences in methods and interpretations led to their exodus from Reconstructionism. Peter Leithart
and James B. Jordan
are two notable examples, as is, to a lesser extent, Jeffrey J. Meyers.
, hosted its annual pastors' conference with speakers Douglas Wilson
, John Barach, Steve Wilkins
, and Steve Schlissel addressing the topic "The Federal Vision: An Examination of Reformed Covenantalism." The organizers and speakers intended the conference to provide a positive covenantal (i.e., federal) view (i.e., vision) of issues such as assurance of salvation
and child-rearing. In June 2002, the RPCUS
, a small Presbyterian denomination, issued a public call for repentance by the four speakers, charging them with "a fundamental denial of the essence of the Christian Gospel in the denial of justification by faith alone" and with "introducing false hermeneutic
principles; the infusion of sacerdotalism
; and the redefinition of [certain] doctrines...." As a result of this response and further debate and discussion regarding the conference teaching, the theological views presented at the conference came to be known as Federal Vision theology or Auburn Avenue theology.
In addition to the original four conference speakers, a number of men have identified themselves as proponents of Federal Vision theology by signing a document entitled, "A Joint Federal Vision Profession." These men are Randy Booth, Tim Gallant, Mark Horne, James B. Jordan
, Peter Leithart
, Rich Lusk
, Jeff Meyers and Ralph A. Smith. A number of these men have particular areas of theological interest. For instance, Meyers writes mostly on worship, Gallant on paedocommunion, and Smith on the trinity.
Those who oppose Federal Vision theology include E. Calvin Beisner, R. Scott Clark
, Ligon Duncan
, David Engelsma, J. V. Fesko, Michael Horton, Joseph Pipa, John Robbins, Brian Schwertley, Morton H. Smith, David Van Drunen
and Guy Waters.
of Federal Vision or are currently in the process of doing so:
In reply to these denominational criticisms, several Federal Vision proponents developed and signed a "Joint Federal Vision Profession," which briefly outlines what they affirm and what they deny in each of the controverted areas. Auburn Avenue Presbyterian Church, the church at which the original 2002 conference was held, has revised and republished its statement on "Covenant, Baptism, and Salvation," which they state was "not intended to erect some new standard of orthodoxy or to imply that we were settled on these points and could not be challenged or dissuaded from them, and it was certainly not intended to erect another wall to divide the Church or as a means to denounce or exclude from fellowship our brothers who might disagree with us," and that it was "a response to the critique and instruction we have received and is an effort to make our position more clear and (we trust) more easily understood. We continue to study and learn and continue to be open to further correction and instruction."
and the Westminster Confession of Faith
. The following subsections outline the distinctives and particular emphases of the Federal Vision.
relationships among the Godhead to be the model for all covenantal relationships and the foundation for understanding the Bible. Following Van Til and Rushdoony, they claim that the Trinity is the only acceptable solution to the philosophical "one and many problem." Taking their cues from the likes of St. Augustine
and St. Athanasius and other more recent developments in Trinitarian work, their Trinitarian theology impacts all areas of their theology, particularly their view of the covenant.
to the extent of the Christian Reconstructionists. Both Peter Leithart
and James B. Jordan
have publicly repudiated Theonomy
as developed by R. J. Rushdoony, Greg Bahnsen
, and Gary North.
For instance, James Jordan notes that "the true keys to dominion" involve reforming worship through restoring the centrality of prayer, full Bible reading, the sacraments and Psalm singing, and he cautions against "treat[ing] the Bible first of all as a 'blueprint for dominion,' a 'handbook of activism,' or a 'lawbook for society.'"
Similarly, Douglas Wilson has written critically of the Reconstructionist books of Gary North, noting that "In the past, we have resisted any promotion of books by the Reconstructionists, and in particular, any books by Gary North. ... Gary North has written much that is truly outstanding, along with other things that are, to use a theological phrase, more than a little odd. ... Consequently it has been easiest just to read and pass by.
Christian Reconstructionists believe that seeking to establish a fully Christian society is an important requirement for Christians and churches
. Federal Vision advocates believe the church should put its own house in order before trying to make a broader impact culturally (based on Matthew 7:3-5 and other passages).
, believing that Christ currently rules over the earth from the heavenly throne and reigns on earth through his people, the Church. They further believe that Christ will not physically return to earth until the earth is as "full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea" (Habakkuk
2:14), which postmillennialists understand to refer to the conversion of the majority of the world to Christ.
. In keeping with the historic Reformed understanding of Covenant Theology
, Federal Vision proponents argue that God has had two covenants
with humanity throughout history: the first pre-Fall
and the second post-Fall. The second covenant was progressively expanded throughout the Old Testament
in various advanced covenants (Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic and Davidic), and reached its climax with Jesus
and the New Covenant
.
What distinguishes the Federal Vision from other interpretations of Covenant Theology is its view of the nature of the covenant, namely that the covenant is "objective" and that all covenant members are part of God's family whether or not they are decretally elect.
It is an admixture of covenant
objectivity and God's predestinating power in election
that has resulted in the Federal Vision position on the covenant. Because Federal Vision leaders believe the Old Testament
argued for corporate election of all Israel, so too does the New Testament
for all who are in the Church
. This results in a distinction in election - there are the decreed elect (that precise number God intends to save and who will persevere in their faith) and the covenantally elect (those who are predestined to be a follower of Christ for a time, but are not predestined to persevere in their faith and who will eventually fall away). Consider Lusk's comment:
He goes on to speak of apostates within the covenant:
Proponents of the Federal Vision claim to reflect the authentic views of John Calvin on election and covenantal objectivity, citing Calvin's distinction between common election and special election: "Although the common election is not effectual in all, yet may it set open a gate for the special elect." Calvin wrote concerning effectual calling
,
Advocates of the Federal Vision believe that in the covenant, God promises certain blessings for faithful living, and promises curses for unfaithful living (based on Deuteronomy
28), which makes the covenant objective. Once a person has entered the covenant through baptism
, he cannot escape its consequences. If, through unbelief, he lives a life unfaithful to the covenant or abandons it, he will be subject to God's curses and displeasure.
that they argue returns to the beliefs of the original Reformers
, particularly John Calvin
. This baptismal view is different from both Roman Catholic and contemporary Protestant beliefs on baptism. Douglas Wilson
writes:
To them, baptism
is the entrance into both the covenant
and the church
. As a result of the covenantal union between the act of baptism and the work of the Holy Spirit
, Federal Vision advocates affirm a form of baptismal regeneration
that they argue is a return to Calvin's thought and the teachings of the historically Reformed.
This point has generated much controversy and confusion, because the advocates of the Federal Vision do not mean regeneration
as the term is used today. Rather, they claim to employ the original sense of the word as used by the reformers. Louis Berkhof writes, "Calvin also used the term [regeneration] in a very comprehensive sense as a designation of the whole process by which man is renewed." Critics point out, however, that all the benefits of saving union with Christ are associated with baptism by Federal Vision writers. Critics complain that this teaching more closely aligns them with Lutheran views of baptism.
Using this definition of regeneration
, the Federal Vision position is that physical and spiritual baptism
should be seen as a unity normally. Rich Lusk
writes,
In his concluding analysis of the Federal Vision baptismal theology
, Joseph Minich (who claims not to be an FV advocate) writes, "Baptism is not a 'work' performed, after which one can have full assurance. It is not another 'instrument' of justification alongside faith. Rather, it is a visible act of God (especially apparent in the case of infants) that is to be seen as the locus of Christian certainty. It is the place where God promises to meet His own. To look to baptism for assurance is not to look for salvation in 'water,' but to cling to the place where God promises to meet His people and bless them."
Those associated with the Federal Vision often include under the name "Christian
" all who have been baptized in the name of the Triune God.
as the nourishing feast of the covenant. While denying both mere symbolism and the presence of Christ in the elements themselves, they believe that Christ's presence with the church in the sacrament has sanctifying effects.
Most advocates of the Federal Vision are proponents of paedocommunion, the participation of small children in communion
. They argue that accepting small children to the Table was the classic Christian
position until the 14th century, and that all covenant members, including children should be admitted to the table unless they are under formal church discipline.
Although many Federal Vision proponents are also advocates of paedocommunion (e.g., John Barach, Tim Gallant, James B. Jordan
, Peter Leithart
, Rich Lusk, Gregg Strawbridge, Steve Wilkins, and Douglas Wilson
), it is not an exclusively Federal Vision position. Other Reformed advocates of paedocommunion include C. John Collins, Curtis Crenshaw, G.I. Williamson, Gary North, R. J. Rushdoony and Andrew Sandlin
. Other non-Reformed Evangelical supporters are William Willimon and N. T. Wright.
Biblical theology
methods of interpretation do not treat the Bible as a collection of facts and doctrines as systematic theology
does. Rather, it treats the Bible as a great story of God's redemptive and transformative purposes in the world for the world. Thus, interpreting the Bible through the typological
system means emphasizing literary analysis and the flow of the overarching Story through each of the smaller, individual stories.
This method of interpretation has been around since the Catholic Church Fathers
, and writers such as Geerhardus Vos
and other 19th century Presbyterian theologians have contributed to the present Presbyterian understanding. In the 20th century, it was fleshed out by David Chilton
and Meredith G. Kline
, but especially by theologian James B. Jordan
, whose books on typology (such as Through New Eyes), and the commentaries of Peter Leithart
serve as the interpretive foundations for the Federal Vision theology.
Adherents of the Federal Vision often make use of and recommend the general interpretive works of Sidney Greidanus, Christopher J. H. Wright
, Richard Gaffin
, N. T. Wright, Stanley Hauerwas
, George Stroup, Richard Hays
, Rikk Watts, Willard Swartley, Sylvia Keesmaat, Ben Witherington, J. Ross Wagner, Don Garlington, Craig Evans, Steve Moyise, and David Pao.
of Christ
's active obedience
in His earthly life. Theologians involved with the Federal Vision are not agreed on the denial of imputation. James Jordan has denied that any part of Christ's earthly works are imparted to believers. Norman Shepherd is in agreement with him. Peter Leithart has publicly said in a letter to PCA Pacific Northwest Presbytery that,
Rich Lusk's position seems to be the closest to a representative position for the Federal Vision theologians as a whole. First, he does not deny Christ's active obedience:
Similarly, James Jordan writes "that there is a double imputation of our sins to Jesus and His glory to us is certainly beyond question, and I am not disagreeing with the general doctrine of imputation, or of double imputation
."
What the Federal Vision proponents do question is whether Christ's earthly works do us any good. Jordan says:
Lusk agrees:
Rather, the Federal Vision theologians see believers as being in "union with Christ
," as partaking of Christ's resurrection
and glorified Life, rather than believers getting righteousness
credit given to them. Lusk again:
Both Andrew Sandlin
and Norman Shepherd agree that union with Christ's resurrection life, rather than the imputation of Christ's earthly obedient works, is how sinners are justified before God.
11.
. Federal Vision proponents have sought to maintain a distinction between the two theologies while acknowledging that they do have some general ideas in common. Yet many critics of the Federal Vision still group the two movements together. Outspoken critic Guy Waters notes,
Proponent James B. Jordan says similarly,
Douglas Wilson has noted six foundational tenets of the NPP. He affirms the correctness of points 1-3.
Most of the Federal Vision proponents have publicly said they appreciate much of what N. T. Wright has written. Both Mark Horne and Rich Lusk have defended Wright against his Reformed critics. Horne has said that the NPP "is not a rejection of the Reformed doctrine." Lusk has said virtually the same thing, saying that Wright "is a true sola scriptura Protestant." Douglas Wilson has called Wright a "Christian gentleman" who "has a lot to contribute," and has commended Wright's insistence that Paul is a "thorough-going covenant theologian," but has also leveled criticism at Wright:
Peter Leithart
, Steve Wilkins and Steve Schlissel share similarities theologically with the NPP, though they have not publicly said they have consciously shaped their theology after Wright's. Leithart, however, has said that Federal Vision theology "is stimulated by Anglican New Testament scholar N. T. Wright . . ."
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
Evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
theological conversation that focuses on covenant theology
Covenant Theology
Covenant theology is a conceptual overview and interpretive framework for understanding the overall flow of the Bible...
, trinitarian thinking, the sacraments of Baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
and Communion
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
, biblical theology
Biblical Theology
Biblical theology is a discipline within Christian theology which studies the Bible from the perspective of understanding the progressive history of God revealing Himself to humanity following the Fall and throughout the Old Testament and New Testament...
and typology, justification, and postmillennialism
Postmillennialism
In Christian end-times theology, , postmillennialism is an interpretation of chapter 20 of the Book of Revelation which sees Christ's second coming as occurring after the "Millennium", a Golden Age in which Christian ethics prosper...
.
A controversy arose in Calvinist, Reformed, and Presbyterian circles in response to views expressed at a 2002 conference entitled "The Federal Vision: An Examination of Reformed Covenantalism." The ongoing controversy involves several Reformed denominations including the Orthodox Presbyterian Church
Orthodox Presbyterian Church
The Orthodox Presbyterian Church is a conservative Presbyterian denomination located primarily in the United States. It was founded by conservative members of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America who strongly objected to the pervasive Modernist theology during the 1930s . Led...
(OPC), the Presbyterian Church in America
Presbyterian Church in America
The Presbyterian Church in America is an evangelical Protestant Christian denomination, the second largest Presbyterian church body in the United States after the Presbyterian Church . The PCA professes a strong commitment to evangelism, missionary work, and Christian education...
(PCA), the United Reformed Churches in North America
United Reformed Churches in North America
The United Reformed Churches in North America is a theologically conservative federation of churches. The United Reformed Churches trace their roots back to the earlier Protestant movements in Europe, and to the Reformed churches in Belgium and the Netherlands...
(URCNA), and the Reformed Presbyterian Church in the United States
Reformed Presbyterian Church in the United States
The Reformed Presbyterian Church in the United States is a small Presbyterian denomination with twelve congregations in the United States. The RPCUS was established in 1983, subscribes to the unrevised Westminster Confession and upholds biblical inerrancy...
(RPCUS).
Origins
Proponents of Federal Vision theology view themselves as heirs of the ReformationProtestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
, especially those responsible for drawing up the Westminster Confession. They see their work as a self-conscious effort to return to the theology of the original Protestant Reformers
Protestant Reformers
Protestant Reformers were those theologians, churchmen, and statesmen whose careers, works, and actions brought about the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century...
, which they believe Reformed and Presbyterian churches have drifted away from. They argue that the emphasis on subjective, personal experience popularized by the First and Second Great Awakenings caused a shift in thinking about conversion
Religious conversion
Religious conversion is the adoption of a new religion that differs from the convert's previous religion. Changing from one denomination to another within the same religion is usually described as reaffiliation rather than conversion.People convert to a different religion for various reasons,...
and covenant theology
Covenant Theology
Covenant theology is a conceptual overview and interpretive framework for understanding the overall flow of the Bible...
. While they believe personal conversion is important, in their eyes, the emphasis on personal conversion over covenant membership was a deviation from what the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, the Church Fathers
Church Fathers
The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, Christian Fathers, or Fathers of the Church were early and influential theologians, eminent Christian teachers and great bishops. Their scholarly works were used as a precedent for centuries to come...
, and the original Reformers taught, and they seek to return to pre-Great Awakening theology. Most Federal Vision leaders still consider themselves to be broadly evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
.
They argue that their theology is not limited to the work of pre-Awakening writers, however. They find precedent for their beliefs through the Awakenings and up to the present day. The original Reformed concepts of covenant, justification, and conversion were for the most part preserved, Federal Vision proponents argue, through the Dutch Reformed and Old Princeton traditions. While differing in some areas with the men of Old Princeton, proponents of the Federal Vision find their views of the covenant similar to those of Charles Hodge
Charles Hodge
Charles Hodge was the principal of Princeton Theological Seminary between 1851 and 1878. A Presbyterian theologian, he was a leading exponent of historical Calvinism in America during the 19th century. He was deeply rooted in the Scottish philosophy of Common Sense Realism...
, A. A. Hodge, B. B. Warfield, and Lyman Hotchkiss Atwater
Lyman Hotchkiss Atwater
Lyman Hotchkiss Atwater was an American Presbyterian philosopher.-Life:He was born in Cedar Hill, New Haven, Connecticut. He started going to Yale University at the age of 14 in 1827 and graduated in 1831...
.
They see additional support for their position in the Dutch Reformed tradition, citing, among others, the works of Y.E.P. De Jong, Abraham Kuyper
Abraham Kuyper
Abraham Kuijper generally known as Abraham Kuyper, was a Dutch politician, journalist, statesman and theologian...
, Herman Bavinck
Herman Bavinck
Herman Bavinck was a Dutch Reformed theologian and churchman.-Background:Bavinck was born in the town of Hoogeveen in the Netherlands to a German father. He first went to theological school at Kampen, but then moved on to Leiden for further training...
, and Klaas Schilder
Klaas Schilder
Klaas Schilder was a theologian and professor in the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and later in the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands .Schilder was born into a state church family...
. Kuyper and Bavinck influenced Christian philosopher Cornelius Van Til
Cornelius Van Til
Cornelius Van Til , born in Grootegast, the Netherlands, was a Christian philosopher, Reformed theologian, and presuppositional apologist.-Biography:...
, who was also raised in the Dutch Reformed tradition. An influential Christian thinker of the 20th century, Van Til has influenced contemporary evangelical views on such things as apologetics, political theory and philosophy. Van Til particularly influenced R. J. Rushdoony and Greg Bahnsen
Greg Bahnsen
Greg L. Bahnsen was an influential Calvinist philosopher, apologist, and debater. He was an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and a full time Scholar in Residence for the Southern California Center for Christian Studies.-Early life and education:He was the first born of two...
, who founded the Christian Reconstructionist movement. Several leaders in the Federal Vision began their theological careers in the Christian Reconstructionist movement until differences in methods and interpretations led to their exodus from Reconstructionism. Peter Leithart
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is an American author, minister, theologian and Senior Fellow of Theology and Literature as well as Dean of Graduate Studies at New Saint Andrews College and holds a doctorate from Cambridge University. He was selected by the Association of Reformed Institutions of Higher...
and James B. Jordan
James B. Jordan
James B. Jordan is a Protestant theologian and author. He is director of Biblical Horizons ministries, a think tank in Niceville, Florida that publishes books, essays and other media dealing with Bible commentary, Biblical Theology, and liturgy.-Education:Jordan attended the University of Georgia,...
are two notable examples, as is, to a lesser extent, Jeffrey J. Meyers.
History and controversy
In January 2002 Auburn Avenue Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Monroe, LouisianaMonroe, Louisiana
Monroe is a city in and the parish seat of Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 53,107, making it the eighth largest city in Louisiana. A July 1, 2007, United States Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 51,208, but 51,636...
, hosted its annual pastors' conference with speakers Douglas Wilson
Douglas Wilson (theologian)
Douglas James Wilson is a conservative Reformed and evangelical theologian, pastor at Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, faculty member at New Saint Andrews College, and prolific author and speaker...
, John Barach, Steve Wilkins
J. Steven Wilkins
J. Steven Wilkins is a conservative American Calvinist and evangelical pastor and author.-Biography:Steve Wilkins holds degrees from the University of Alabama and the Reformed Theological Seminary of Jackson, Mississippi...
, and Steve Schlissel addressing the topic "The Federal Vision: An Examination of Reformed Covenantalism." The organizers and speakers intended the conference to provide a positive covenantal (i.e., federal) view (i.e., vision) of issues such as assurance of salvation
Salvation
Within religion salvation is the phenomenon of being saved from the undesirable condition of bondage or suffering experienced by the psyche or soul that has arisen as a result of unskillful or immoral actions generically referred to as sins. Salvation may also be called "deliverance" or...
and child-rearing. In June 2002, the RPCUS
Reformed Presbyterian Church in the United States
The Reformed Presbyterian Church in the United States is a small Presbyterian denomination with twelve congregations in the United States. The RPCUS was established in 1983, subscribes to the unrevised Westminster Confession and upholds biblical inerrancy...
, a small Presbyterian denomination, issued a public call for repentance by the four speakers, charging them with "a fundamental denial of the essence of the Christian Gospel in the denial of justification by faith alone" and with "introducing false hermeneutic
Biblical hermeneutics
Biblical hermeneutics is the study of the principles of interpretation concerning the books of the Bible. It is part of the broader field of hermeneutics which involves the study of principles for the text and includes all forms of communication: verbal and nonverbal.While Jewish and Christian...
principles; the infusion of sacerdotalism
Sacerdotalism
Sacerdotalism is the idea that a propitiatory sacrifice for sin must be offered by the intervention of an order of men separated to the priesthood...
; and the redefinition of [certain] doctrines...." As a result of this response and further debate and discussion regarding the conference teaching, the theological views presented at the conference came to be known as Federal Vision theology or Auburn Avenue theology.
In addition to the original four conference speakers, a number of men have identified themselves as proponents of Federal Vision theology by signing a document entitled, "A Joint Federal Vision Profession." These men are Randy Booth, Tim Gallant, Mark Horne, James B. Jordan
James B. Jordan
James B. Jordan is a Protestant theologian and author. He is director of Biblical Horizons ministries, a think tank in Niceville, Florida that publishes books, essays and other media dealing with Bible commentary, Biblical Theology, and liturgy.-Education:Jordan attended the University of Georgia,...
, Peter Leithart
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is an American author, minister, theologian and Senior Fellow of Theology and Literature as well as Dean of Graduate Studies at New Saint Andrews College and holds a doctorate from Cambridge University. He was selected by the Association of Reformed Institutions of Higher...
, Rich Lusk
Rich Lusk
Rich Lusk is an author and speaker and his book Paedofaith: A Primer on the Mystery of Infant Salvation and a Handbook for Covenant Parents is a book-length discussion of Christian infant faith. He is currently the pastor of in Birmingham, Alabama as well as a contributing author to The Federal...
, Jeff Meyers and Ralph A. Smith. A number of these men have particular areas of theological interest. For instance, Meyers writes mostly on worship, Gallant on paedocommunion, and Smith on the trinity.
Those who oppose Federal Vision theology include E. Calvin Beisner, R. Scott Clark
R. Scott Clark
Robert Scott Clark is an American Reformed Pastor and Seminary Professor. He is the author of several books, including his most recent work, Recovering the Reformed Confession.-Biography:...
, Ligon Duncan
Ligon Duncan
J. Ligon Duncan III is an American Southern Presbyterian scholar and pastor.-Early life and education:Duncan is native to Greenville, South Carolina. His father, J. Ligon Duncan, Jr. was an eighth-generation Southern Presbyterian ruling elder. He had a small commercial printing company, still in...
, David Engelsma, J. V. Fesko, Michael Horton, Joseph Pipa, John Robbins, Brian Schwertley, Morton H. Smith, David Van Drunen
David M. VanDrunen
David M. VanDrunen is the Robert B. Strimple Professor of Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics at Westminster Seminary California...
and Guy Waters.
Ecclesiastical responses
In addition to the RPCUS's 2002 response, several other Reformed and Presbyterian denominations have ruled on the orthodoxyOrthodoxy
The word orthodox, from Greek orthos + doxa , is generally used to mean the adherence to accepted norms, more specifically to creeds, especially in religion...
of Federal Vision or are currently in the process of doing so:
- In 2004, the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, examined CREC pastor Douglas Wilson regarding his views of justification, the covenant, the church, and the sacraments, and came to the unanimous decision that Wilson's theology was orthodox.
- In 2006, The Orthodox Presbyterian ChurchOrthodox Presbyterian ChurchThe Orthodox Presbyterian Church is a conservative Presbyterian denomination located primarily in the United States. It was founded by conservative members of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America who strongly objected to the pervasive Modernist theology during the 1930s . Led...
's "Report on Justification" did "not condemn all of the views of those mentioned herein [but] does agree that aberrant views on justification have been promulgated from within these circles," and it reaffirmed its commitment to the traditional understanding of the doctrine of justificationJustification (theology)Rising out of the Protestant Reformation, Justification is the chief article of faith describing God's act of declaring or making a sinner righteous through Christ's atoning sacrifice....
and offered a critique of the Federal Vision.
- In 2007, the Presbyterian Church in AmericaPresbyterian Church in AmericaThe Presbyterian Church in America is an evangelical Protestant Christian denomination, the second largest Presbyterian church body in the United States after the Presbyterian Church . The PCA professes a strong commitment to evangelism, missionary work, and Christian education...
(PCA) appointed a study committee to examine the issue, and that committee produced a non-binding report concluding that the teachings of Federal Vision on election, justification, and other doctrines are contrary to the Westminster StandardsWestminster StandardsThe Westminster Standards is a collective name for the documents drawn up by the Westminster Assembly. These include the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Westminster Shorter Catechism, the Westminster Larger Catechism, the Directory of Public Worship, and the Form of Church Government, and...
, the PCA's doctrinal standards. Among others, Federal Vision theologian and PCA minister Jeffrey Meyers responded to the report in depth, but the PCA's 2007 general assembly accepted the report as written.
- In June 2009, the Reformed Church in the United StatesReformed Church in the United StatesThe Reformed Church in the United States is a Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. The present RCUS is a conservative, Calvinist denomination. It affirms the principles of the Reformation: Sola scriptura , Solo Christo , Sola gratia , Sola fide , and Soli Deo gloria...
rejected Federal Vision theology as not being in accordance with its doctrinal standards.
In reply to these denominational criticisms, several Federal Vision proponents developed and signed a "Joint Federal Vision Profession," which briefly outlines what they affirm and what they deny in each of the controverted areas. Auburn Avenue Presbyterian Church, the church at which the original 2002 conference was held, has revised and republished its statement on "Covenant, Baptism, and Salvation," which they state was "not intended to erect some new standard of orthodoxy or to imply that we were settled on these points and could not be challenged or dissuaded from them, and it was certainly not intended to erect another wall to divide the Church or as a means to denounce or exclude from fellowship our brothers who might disagree with us," and that it was "a response to the critique and instruction we have received and is an effort to make our position more clear and (we trust) more easily understood. We continue to study and learn and continue to be open to further correction and instruction."
General beliefs
The leading proponents of Federal Vision theology are Reformed, and consider their understanding of these issues to be, with some exceptions, in keeping with the major Reformed confessions: the Three Forms of UnityThree Forms of Unity
The Three Forms of Unity is a collective name for the Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dort, and the Heidelberg Catechism, which reflect the doctrinal concerns of Continental Calvinism and are accepted as official statements of doctrine by many of the Reformed churches.-History:From 1618 to 1619...
and the Westminster Confession of Faith
Westminster Confession of Faith
The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith, in the Calvinist theological tradition. Although drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly, largely of the Church of England, it became and remains the 'subordinate standard' of doctrine in the Church of Scotland, and has been...
. The following subsections outline the distinctives and particular emphases of the Federal Vision.
Trinity
Proponents of the Federal Vision believe the trinitarianTrinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons : the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct yet coexist in unity, and are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial . Put another way, the three persons of the Trinity are of one being...
relationships among the Godhead to be the model for all covenantal relationships and the foundation for understanding the Bible. Following Van Til and Rushdoony, they claim that the Trinity is the only acceptable solution to the philosophical "one and many problem." Taking their cues from the likes of St. Augustine
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo , also known as Augustine, St. Augustine, St. Austin, St. Augoustinos, Blessed Augustine, or St. Augustine the Blessed, was Bishop of Hippo Regius . He was a Latin-speaking philosopher and theologian who lived in the Roman Africa Province...
and St. Athanasius and other more recent developments in Trinitarian work, their Trinitarian theology impacts all areas of their theology, particularly their view of the covenant.
Biblical law
Most who advocate the Federal Vision believe in some form of law-code based upon Scripture, but not many (if any) advocate Biblical lawTheonomy
Theonomy is a theory in Christian theology that God is the sole source of human ethics. The word theonomy derives from the Greek words “theos” God, and “nomos” law. Cornelius Van Til argued that there "is no alternative but that of theonomy or autonomy"...
to the extent of the Christian Reconstructionists. Both Peter Leithart
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is an American author, minister, theologian and Senior Fellow of Theology and Literature as well as Dean of Graduate Studies at New Saint Andrews College and holds a doctorate from Cambridge University. He was selected by the Association of Reformed Institutions of Higher...
and James B. Jordan
James B. Jordan
James B. Jordan is a Protestant theologian and author. He is director of Biblical Horizons ministries, a think tank in Niceville, Florida that publishes books, essays and other media dealing with Bible commentary, Biblical Theology, and liturgy.-Education:Jordan attended the University of Georgia,...
have publicly repudiated Theonomy
Theonomy
Theonomy is a theory in Christian theology that God is the sole source of human ethics. The word theonomy derives from the Greek words “theos” God, and “nomos” law. Cornelius Van Til argued that there "is no alternative but that of theonomy or autonomy"...
as developed by R. J. Rushdoony, Greg Bahnsen
Greg Bahnsen
Greg L. Bahnsen was an influential Calvinist philosopher, apologist, and debater. He was an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and a full time Scholar in Residence for the Southern California Center for Christian Studies.-Early life and education:He was the first born of two...
, and Gary North.
For instance, James Jordan notes that "the true keys to dominion" involve reforming worship through restoring the centrality of prayer, full Bible reading, the sacraments and Psalm singing, and he cautions against "treat[ing] the Bible first of all as a 'blueprint for dominion,' a 'handbook of activism,' or a 'lawbook for society.'"
Similarly, Douglas Wilson has written critically of the Reconstructionist books of Gary North, noting that "In the past, we have resisted any promotion of books by the Reconstructionists, and in particular, any books by Gary North. ... Gary North has written much that is truly outstanding, along with other things that are, to use a theological phrase, more than a little odd. ... Consequently it has been easiest just to read and pass by.
Christian Reconstructionists believe that seeking to establish a fully Christian society is an important requirement for Christians and churches
Christian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
. Federal Vision advocates believe the church should put its own house in order before trying to make a broader impact culturally (based on Matthew 7:3-5 and other passages).
Postmillennial eschatology
Advocates of the Federal Vision are usually postmillennialPostmillennialism
In Christian end-times theology, , postmillennialism is an interpretation of chapter 20 of the Book of Revelation which sees Christ's second coming as occurring after the "Millennium", a Golden Age in which Christian ethics prosper...
, believing that Christ currently rules over the earth from the heavenly throne and reigns on earth through his people, the Church. They further believe that Christ will not physically return to earth until the earth is as "full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea" (Habakkuk
Habakkuk
Habakkuk , also spelled Habacuc, was a prophet in the Hebrew Bible. The etymology of the name of Habakkuk is not clear. The name is possibly related to the Akkadian khabbaququ, the name of a fragrant plant, or the Hebrew root חבק, meaning "embrace"...
2:14), which postmillennialists understand to refer to the conversion of the majority of the world to Christ.
Covenant objectivity
The central distinctive of the Federal Vision is its view of the covenantCovenant (religion)
In Abrahamic religions, a covenant is a formal alliance or agreement made by God with that religious community or with humanity in general. This sort of covenant is an important concept in Judaism and Christianity, derived in the first instance from the biblical covenant tradition.An example of a...
. In keeping with the historic Reformed understanding of Covenant Theology
Covenant Theology
Covenant theology is a conceptual overview and interpretive framework for understanding the overall flow of the Bible...
, Federal Vision proponents argue that God has had two covenants
Covenant (biblical)
A biblical covenant is an agreement found in the Bible between God and His people in which God makes specific promises and demands. It is the customary word used to translate the Hebrew word berith. It it is used in the Tanakh 286 times . All Abrahamic religions consider the Biblical covenant...
with humanity throughout history: the first pre-Fall
The Fall of Man
In Christian doctrine, the Fall of Man, or simply the Fall, refers to the transition of the first humans from a state of innocent obedience to God to a state of guilty disobedience to God. In Genesis chapter 2, Adam and Eve live at first with God in a paradise, but the serpent tempts them into...
and the second post-Fall. The second covenant was progressively expanded throughout the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
in various advanced covenants (Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic and Davidic), and reached its climax with Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
and the New Covenant
New Covenant
The New Covenant is a concept originally derived from the Hebrew Bible. The term "New Covenant" is used in the Bible to refer to an epochal relationship of restoration and peace following a period of trial and judgment...
.
What distinguishes the Federal Vision from other interpretations of Covenant Theology is its view of the nature of the covenant, namely that the covenant is "objective" and that all covenant members are part of God's family whether or not they are decretally elect.
It is an admixture of covenant
Covenant Theology
Covenant theology is a conceptual overview and interpretive framework for understanding the overall flow of the Bible...
objectivity and God's predestinating power in election
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
that has resulted in the Federal Vision position on the covenant. Because Federal Vision leaders believe the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
argued for corporate election of all Israel, so too does the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
for all who are in the Church
Christian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
. This results in a distinction in election - there are the decreed elect (that precise number God intends to save and who will persevere in their faith) and the covenantally elect (those who are predestined to be a follower of Christ for a time, but are not predestined to persevere in their faith and who will eventually fall away). Consider Lusk's comment:
If we oversimplify, we can say that election relates to God’s eternal plan to save a people for himself. The number of the elect is fixed from eternity past and may not be increased or diminished. The covenant is God’s administration of salvation in space and time, the historical outworking of his eternal plan. We have then two basic perspectives, the decretal/eternal and the covenantal/historical, through which to view salvation.
To do full justice to the biblical teaching, we must distinguish covenant and election without separating them. Sometimes Scripture simply conflates the elect and the covenant body, such as in Eph. 1:3ff and 2 Thess. 2:13. Other times, Scripture distinguishes the elect from the covenant community, such as when the biblical writers warn that some within the covenant will fall away (Rom. 11, 1 Cor. 10). To follow the Biblical model, we must view our fellow church members as elect and regenerate and threaten them with the dangers of falling away. This is not contradictory because we admit we only have a creaturely knowledge of God’s decree. We can never, in this life, know with absolute certainty, who the elect are. So we have to make evaluations and declarations in terms of what has been revealed, namely the covenant (Dt. 29:29).
He goes on to speak of apostates within the covenant:
God has decreed from the foundation of the world all that comes to pass, including who would be saved and lost for all eternity. Included in his decree, however, is that some persons, not destined for final salvation, would be drawn to Christ and to his people for a time. These people, for a season, enjoy real blessings, purchased for them by Christ’s cross and applied to them by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacrament. ... They may be said to be reconciled to God, adopted, granted new life, etc. But in the end, they fail to persevere, and because they fall away, they go to hell.
Proponents of the Federal Vision claim to reflect the authentic views of John Calvin on election and covenantal objectivity, citing Calvin's distinction between common election and special election: "Although the common election is not effectual in all, yet may it set open a gate for the special elect." Calvin wrote concerning effectual calling
Effectual calling
Effectual calling in Christian soteriology is a stage in the ordo salutis in which God calls a person to himself...
,
Besides this [universal call] there is a special call which, for the most part, God bestows on believers only, when by the internal illumination of the Spirit he causes the word preached to take deep root in their hearts. Sometimes, however, he communicates it also to those whom he enlightens only for a time, and whom afterwards, in just punishment for their ingratitude, he abandons and smites with greater blindness.
Advocates of the Federal Vision believe that in the covenant, God promises certain blessings for faithful living, and promises curses for unfaithful living (based on Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy
The Book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Hebrew Bible, and of the Jewish Torah/Pentateuch...
28), which makes the covenant objective. Once a person has entered the covenant through baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
, he cannot escape its consequences. If, through unbelief, he lives a life unfaithful to the covenant or abandons it, he will be subject to God's curses and displeasure.
Baptism
Proponents of the Federal Vision have a view of baptismBaptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
that they argue returns to the beliefs of the original Reformers
Protestant Reformers
Protestant Reformers were those theologians, churchmen, and statesmen whose careers, works, and actions brought about the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century...
, particularly John Calvin
John Calvin
John Calvin was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530...
. This baptismal view is different from both Roman Catholic and contemporary Protestant beliefs on baptism. Douglas Wilson
Douglas Wilson (theologian)
Douglas James Wilson is a conservative Reformed and evangelical theologian, pastor at Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, faculty member at New Saint Andrews College, and prolific author and speaker...
writes:
In a sacrament we have a covenantal union between the sign and the thing signified. The Roman Catholic position destroys the possibility of having a sacrament through identifying the sign with the thing signified. The modern evangelical position destroys the definition of a sacrament through divorcing the sign and the thing signified. In this position, the sign is a mere memorial of that to which it points, and thus there can be no sacramental union between the two.
To them, baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
is the entrance into both the covenant
Covenant (religion)
In Abrahamic religions, a covenant is a formal alliance or agreement made by God with that religious community or with humanity in general. This sort of covenant is an important concept in Judaism and Christianity, derived in the first instance from the biblical covenant tradition.An example of a...
and the church
Christian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
. As a result of the covenantal union between the act of baptism and the work of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
, Federal Vision advocates affirm a form of baptismal regeneration
Baptismal regeneration
Baptismal regeneration, the literal meaning of which is "being born again" "through baptism" , is the doctrine within some Christian denominations that holds that salvation is dependent upon the act of baptism; in other words, baptismal regenerationists believe that it is essential for one to be...
that they argue is a return to Calvin's thought and the teachings of the historically Reformed.
Obviously, for Reformed Christians, the ultimate test of any doctrine is its fidelity to the whole counsel of God, revealed in the pages of Scripture. What does the Bible actually teach about the efficacy of baptism? ... In baptism, We are united (or married) to the crucified, buried, and risen Christ (Rom. 6:1ff), though we can be cut off (or divorced) from him if we are unfaithful (Rom. 11:17ff; cf. Jn. 15:1ff), We are forgiven (Acts 2:38, 22:16; cf. the Nicene Creed), We receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38), We are cleansed (Eph. 5:26), We are regenerated and renewed (Titus 3:5), We are buried and resurrected with Christ (Col. 2:11-12), We are circumcised in heart (Col. 2:11-12), We are joined to the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13), We are clothed with Christ (Gal. 3:27), We are justified and sanctified (1 Cor. 6:11), We are saved (1 Pt. 3:20-21), We are ordained as priests with access to the heavenly sanctuary (Heb. 10:19-22).
Of course, the ultimate proof of baptism's efficacy rests in the baptism of Jesus himself. Here, we have the ultimate paradigm for understanding God's work in baptism. Jesus received the Spirit in fullness at his baptism, and was declared to be the beloved Son of the Father. With appropriate qualifications, this is what God does in our baptisms as well: He pours out his Spirit upon us and declares us to be his dearly loved children. In context, none of these passages teach baptism automatically guarantees salvation. But they do teach that God does a great work in baptism, a work that may be considered the beginnings of salvation for those God has elected to persevere to the end.
This point has generated much controversy and confusion, because the advocates of the Federal Vision do not mean regeneration
Regeneration (theology)
Regeneration, while sometimes perceived to be a step in the Ordo salutis , is generally understood in Christian theology to be the objective work of God in a believer's life. Spiritually, it means that God brings Christians to new life from a previous state of subjection to the decay of death...
as the term is used today. Rather, they claim to employ the original sense of the word as used by the reformers. Louis Berkhof writes, "Calvin also used the term [regeneration] in a very comprehensive sense as a designation of the whole process by which man is renewed." Critics point out, however, that all the benefits of saving union with Christ are associated with baptism by Federal Vision writers. Critics complain that this teaching more closely aligns them with Lutheran views of baptism.
Using this definition of regeneration
Regeneration (theology)
Regeneration, while sometimes perceived to be a step in the Ordo salutis , is generally understood in Christian theology to be the objective work of God in a believer's life. Spiritually, it means that God brings Christians to new life from a previous state of subjection to the decay of death...
, the Federal Vision position is that physical and spiritual baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
should be seen as a unity normally. Rich Lusk
Rich Lusk
Rich Lusk is an author and speaker and his book Paedofaith: A Primer on the Mystery of Infant Salvation and a Handbook for Covenant Parents is a book-length discussion of Christian infant faith. He is currently the pastor of in Birmingham, Alabama as well as a contributing author to The Federal...
writes,
In Calvin's Strasbourg catechism, he asks the student "How do you know yourself to be a son of God in fact as well as in name?" The answer is "Because I am baptized in the name of God the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." In his Geneva catechism, he asks, "Is baptism nothing more than a mere symbol [i.e., picture] of cleansing?" The answer: "I think it to be such a symbol that the reality is attached to it. For God does not disappoint us when he promises us his gifts. Hence, both pardon of sins and newness of life are certainly offered and received by us in baptism." Early on in his discussion of baptism in the Institutes, Calvin claims, "We must realize that at whatever time we are baptized, we are once for all washed and purged for our whole life. Therefore, as often as we fall away, we ought to recall the memory of our baptism and fortify our mind with it, that we may always be sure and confident of the forgiveness of sins." Essentially, Calvin could say, "You know you are renewed and forgiven because you have been baptized." Elsewhere, Calvin wrote, "It is a thing out of all controversy true, that we put on Christ in baptism, and were baptized on this very ground, that we should be one with him."
In his concluding analysis of the Federal Vision baptismal theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, Joseph Minich (who claims not to be an FV advocate) writes, "Baptism is not a 'work' performed, after which one can have full assurance. It is not another 'instrument' of justification alongside faith. Rather, it is a visible act of God (especially apparent in the case of infants) that is to be seen as the locus of Christian certainty. It is the place where God promises to meet His own. To look to baptism for assurance is not to look for salvation in 'water,' but to cling to the place where God promises to meet His people and bless them."
Those associated with the Federal Vision often include under the name "Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
" all who have been baptized in the name of the Triune God.
Communion
The Federal Vision emphasizes the blessings that come from partaking in communionEucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
as the nourishing feast of the covenant. While denying both mere symbolism and the presence of Christ in the elements themselves, they believe that Christ's presence with the church in the sacrament has sanctifying effects.
Most advocates of the Federal Vision are proponents of paedocommunion, the participation of small children in communion
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
. They argue that accepting small children to the Table was the classic Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
position until the 14th century, and that all covenant members, including children should be admitted to the table unless they are under formal church discipline.
Although many Federal Vision proponents are also advocates of paedocommunion (e.g., John Barach, Tim Gallant, James B. Jordan
James B. Jordan
James B. Jordan is a Protestant theologian and author. He is director of Biblical Horizons ministries, a think tank in Niceville, Florida that publishes books, essays and other media dealing with Bible commentary, Biblical Theology, and liturgy.-Education:Jordan attended the University of Georgia,...
, Peter Leithart
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is an American author, minister, theologian and Senior Fellow of Theology and Literature as well as Dean of Graduate Studies at New Saint Andrews College and holds a doctorate from Cambridge University. He was selected by the Association of Reformed Institutions of Higher...
, Rich Lusk, Gregg Strawbridge, Steve Wilkins, and Douglas Wilson
Douglas Wilson (theologian)
Douglas James Wilson is a conservative Reformed and evangelical theologian, pastor at Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, faculty member at New Saint Andrews College, and prolific author and speaker...
), it is not an exclusively Federal Vision position. Other Reformed advocates of paedocommunion include C. John Collins, Curtis Crenshaw, G.I. Williamson, Gary North, R. J. Rushdoony and Andrew Sandlin
Andrew Sandlin
P. Andrew Sandlin is a Christian minister, theologian and author. He is the founder and president of the Center for Cultural Leadership; one of several pastors of Church of the King in California; theological consultant for ACT 3 Ministries; and De Yong Distinguished Visiting Professor of Culture...
. Other non-Reformed Evangelical supporters are William Willimon and N. T. Wright.
Biblical theology and typology
One of the foundational distinctives of the Federal Vision movement is the method which they use to interpret the Bible. Rather than treating Bible interpretation as a science or a method, they consider it much more of an intuitive art. Rich Lusk says,Biblical Theology is really an art. Like other skills of this sort, it is not a matter of following rules (though there are certainly guidelines and techniques). Rather, it’s matter of “practice makes perfect.” Peter Enns describes it well in a thought-provoking question: “What if biblical interpretation is not guided so much by method but by an intuitive, Spirit-led engagement of Scripture with the anchor being not what the author intended but by how Christ gives the OT its final coherence?” The coming of Christ led the apostles to practice new patterns of exegesis, centered on their conviction that the eschatological age had been inauguratedInaugurated eschatologyInaugurated eschatology is the belief in Christian theology that the end times were inaugurated in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and thus there are both "already" and "not yet" aspects to the Kingdom of God....
. It is foolish to think we can get our doctrine from the apostles without also employing their hermeneutic.
Biblical theology
Biblical Theology
Biblical theology is a discipline within Christian theology which studies the Bible from the perspective of understanding the progressive history of God revealing Himself to humanity following the Fall and throughout the Old Testament and New Testament...
methods of interpretation do not treat the Bible as a collection of facts and doctrines as systematic theology
Systematic theology
In the context of Christianity, systematic theology is a discipline of Christian theology that attempts to formulate an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the Christian faith and beliefs...
does. Rather, it treats the Bible as a great story of God's redemptive and transformative purposes in the world for the world. Thus, interpreting the Bible through the typological
Typology (theology)
Typology in Christian theology and Biblical exegesis is a doctrine or theory concerning the relationship between the Old and New Testaments...
system means emphasizing literary analysis and the flow of the overarching Story through each of the smaller, individual stories.
This method of interpretation has been around since the Catholic Church Fathers
Church Fathers
The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, Christian Fathers, or Fathers of the Church were early and influential theologians, eminent Christian teachers and great bishops. Their scholarly works were used as a precedent for centuries to come...
, and writers such as Geerhardus Vos
Geerhardus Vos
Geerhardus Johannes Vos was an American Calvinist theologian and one of the most distinguished representatives of the Princeton Theology. He is sometimes called the father of Reformed Biblical Theology.-Biography:...
and other 19th century Presbyterian theologians have contributed to the present Presbyterian understanding. In the 20th century, it was fleshed out by David Chilton
David Chilton
David Harold Chilton was a Reformed pastor, Christian Reconstructionist, speaker, and author of several books on economics, eschatology and Christian Worldview from Placerville, California...
and Meredith G. Kline
Meredith G. Kline
Meredith G. Kline was an American theologian and Old Testament scholar advance in Archeology, both Assyriology and Egyptology.-Academic career:...
, but especially by theologian James B. Jordan
James B. Jordan
James B. Jordan is a Protestant theologian and author. He is director of Biblical Horizons ministries, a think tank in Niceville, Florida that publishes books, essays and other media dealing with Bible commentary, Biblical Theology, and liturgy.-Education:Jordan attended the University of Georgia,...
, whose books on typology (such as Through New Eyes), and the commentaries of Peter Leithart
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is an American author, minister, theologian and Senior Fellow of Theology and Literature as well as Dean of Graduate Studies at New Saint Andrews College and holds a doctorate from Cambridge University. He was selected by the Association of Reformed Institutions of Higher...
serve as the interpretive foundations for the Federal Vision theology.
Adherents of the Federal Vision often make use of and recommend the general interpretive works of Sidney Greidanus, Christopher J. H. Wright
Christopher J. H. Wright
Christopher J. H. Wright, is an Anglican clergyman and an Old Testament scholar. He is currently the director of Langham Partnership International. He was the principal of All Nations Christian College. He is an honorary member of the All Souls Church, Langham Place in London, UK.-Childhood and...
, Richard Gaffin
Richard Gaffin
Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. is a Calvinist theologian, Presbyterian minister, and Charles Krahe Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-Biography:...
, N. T. Wright, Stanley Hauerwas
Stanley Hauerwas
Stanley Hauerwas is a Christian theologian and ethicist. He has taught at the University of Notre Dame and is currently the Gilbert T...
, George Stroup, Richard Hays
Richard B. Hays
Richard B. Hays is Dean and George Washington Ivey Professor of New Testament at Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina. His service as dean is for an intentional interim period while a national search is conducted. Hays received his B.A in English literature from Yale College and Master...
, Rikk Watts, Willard Swartley, Sylvia Keesmaat, Ben Witherington, J. Ross Wagner, Don Garlington, Craig Evans, Steve Moyise, and David Pao.
Imputation
Another controversial aspect of the Federal Vision theology is the denial of the imputationImputed righteousness
Imputed righteousness is a concept in Christian theology that proposes that the "righteousness of Christ ... is imputed to [believers] — that is, treated as if it were theirs through faith." It is on the basis of this "alien"...
of Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
's active obedience
Active obedience of Christ
The active obedience of Jesus Christ comprises the totality of his actions, which Christians believe was in perfect obedience to the Law of God...
in His earthly life. Theologians involved with the Federal Vision are not agreed on the denial of imputation. James Jordan has denied that any part of Christ's earthly works are imparted to believers. Norman Shepherd is in agreement with him. Peter Leithart has publicly said in a letter to PCA Pacific Northwest Presbytery that,
This is an issue I am still thinking about, and on which I don't have a settled position. I affirm that Christ's obedience was necessary for our salvation, and affirm too that Christ's history of obedience becomes the life story of those who are in Christ. I'm not sure that "imputation" is the best way to express this. It's not clear to me that the Westminster Standards require belief in the imputation of Christ's active obedience.
Rich Lusk's position seems to be the closest to a representative position for the Federal Vision theologians as a whole. First, he does not deny Christ's active obedience:
There is no question the perfect obedience of Jesus played a vital role in his salvific work on our behalf. If he had sinned, he would have fallen under God's wrath and curse just like us, and wouldn't have been be [sic] able to rescue us. ... So his active obedience is necessary to guarantee the efficacy and worth of his death and to guarantee his resurrection on the other side.
Similarly, James Jordan writes "that there is a double imputation of our sins to Jesus and His glory to us is certainly beyond question, and I am not disagreeing with the general doctrine of imputation, or of double imputation
Double imputation
In Christian theology, the understanding of justification as double imputation refers to the imputation of believers' sin to Christ and the imputation of Christ's righteousness to believers. It is closely related to the Reformed doctrine of justification by grace through faith alone....
."
What the Federal Vision proponents do question is whether Christ's earthly works do us any good. Jordan says:
Merit theology often assumes that Jesus' earthly works and merits are somehow given to us, and there is no foundation for this notion. It is, in fact, hard to comprehend what is meant by it. What does it have to do with my life that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and this good deed is given to me? The miracles that Jesus did were not required of me to satisfy God's justice. ... There seems to be nothing in the Bible to imply that we receive Jesus' earthly life and then also his death. His earthly life was "for us" in the sense that it was the precondition for his death, but it is not given "to us."
Lusk agrees:
Surely God does not require everyone to work as a carpenter or to turn water into wine or raise a twelve year old girl from the dead. These works were not accumulating points that would be credited to Jesus' people; rather, they were vocation fulfilling acts that prepared the way for the "one Man's righteous act" namely his death on the cross.
Rather, the Federal Vision theologians see believers as being in "union with Christ
Union with Christ
In its widest sense, the phrase union with Christ refers to the relationship between the believer and Jesus Christ. In this sense, John Murray says, union with Christ is "the central truth of the whole doctrine of salvation." The expression "in Christ" occurs 216 times in the Pauline letters and...
," as partaking of Christ's resurrection
Resurrection
Resurrection refers to the literal coming back to life of the biologically dead. It is used both with respect to particular individuals or the belief in a General Resurrection of the dead at the end of the world. The General Resurrection is featured prominently in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim...
and glorified Life, rather than believers getting righteousness
Righteousness
Righteousness is an important theological concept in Zoroastrianism, Hinduism , Judaism, Christianity and Islam...
credit given to them. Lusk again:
The resurrection is the real centerpiece of the gospel since it is the new thing God has done. ... It is not Christ's life-long obedience per se that is credited to us. Rather, it is his right standing before the Father, manifested in his resurrection. His resurrection justified us because it justified him. Again, it is not that his law-keeping or miracle-working are imputed to our account; rather, Christ shares his legal status in God's court with us as the One who propitiated God's wrath on the cross and was resurrected into a vindicated, glorified form of life.
Both Andrew Sandlin
Andrew Sandlin
P. Andrew Sandlin is a Christian minister, theologian and author. He is the founder and president of the Center for Cultural Leadership; one of several pastors of Church of the King in California; theological consultant for ACT 3 Ministries; and De Yong Distinguished Visiting Professor of Culture...
and Norman Shepherd agree that union with Christ's resurrection life, rather than the imputation of Christ's earthly obedient works, is how sinners are justified before God.
Criticism
While Federal Vision proponents consider themselves Reformed, their critics believe them to have departed significantly from classical Reformed teaching. While some opponents might still consider adherents to the Federal Vision to be Reformed, others would consider them outside the Reformed pale, and some would even deem them heretical.Paedocommunion
Opponents of paedocommunion argue that the practice is not in keeping with classical Calvinist theology, noting that traditional Reformed teaching and practice requires a communicant to be capable of self-examination, according to St. Paul's teaching in 1 CorinthiansFirst Epistle to the Corinthians
The first epistle of Paul the apostle to the Corinthians, often referred to as First Corinthians , is the seventh book of the New Testament of the Bible...
11.
Federal Vision and the New Perspectives on Paul
Some critics of Federal Vision theology have connected it with the New Perspective on PaulNew Perspective on Paul
The "New Perspective on Paul" is a significant shift in the way some scholars, especially Protestant scholars, interpret the writings of the Apostle Paul.-Description:Since the Protestant Reformation The "New Perspective on Paul" is a significant shift in the way some scholars, especially...
. Federal Vision proponents have sought to maintain a distinction between the two theologies while acknowledging that they do have some general ideas in common. Yet many critics of the Federal Vision still group the two movements together. Outspoken critic Guy Waters notes,
While there is, to be sure, some overlap between the concerns of the NPP and the concerns of the FV, it is not accurate to describe them as a single movement. They properly represent different theological traditions and different constituencies, and have separate aims and objectives. Although the label "New Perspective on Paul" appears to have gained come currency within the church, it seems wisest to reserve this to describe the academic movement formally launched by E. P. Sanders and sustained by James D. G. Dunn and N. T. Wright.
Proponent James B. Jordan says similarly,
For some reason mysterious to me, the association of the FV speakers with the NPP has stuck, even though there are no grounds for it. Those of us being called FV have been discussing these issues for 25 years, long before any of us had ever heard of Tom Wright. Almost all the issues that are being shrieked about were set out in writings published by me and my associates at Geneva Ministries during the 1980s in issues of the journal Christianity and Civilization.
Douglas Wilson has noted six foundational tenets of the NPP. He affirms the correctness of points 1-3.
- Justification by faith was present in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament.
- Faith and works are not opposed to one another in the Bible. Faith was always present, even in the Old Testament. The Jews were not trying to earn anything by works.
- Law and grace are not opposed to one another, or that the Old Testament was mostly law and the New Testament was mostly grace.
- Paul's primary focus was not individual salvation, but corporate salvation.
- Judaism was not a religion based on salvation by works or merit.
- Judaism satisfied Paul's burden of guilt; rather than what the Old Perspective thought, that Judaism could not ease Paul's conscience.
Most of the Federal Vision proponents have publicly said they appreciate much of what N. T. Wright has written. Both Mark Horne and Rich Lusk have defended Wright against his Reformed critics. Horne has said that the NPP "is not a rejection of the Reformed doctrine." Lusk has said virtually the same thing, saying that Wright "is a true sola scriptura Protestant." Douglas Wilson has called Wright a "Christian gentleman" who "has a lot to contribute," and has commended Wright's insistence that Paul is a "thorough-going covenant theologian," but has also leveled criticism at Wright:
I believe that N. T. Wright has many particular things of great value to offer the Church. But it is here, in his treatment of the unconverted Saul, that I think his entire project (taken as a whole) goes astray.
The converted Saul had a much lower estimate of his pre-Christian activities than do many advocates of the NPP. ... But after his conversion, Saul described himself as a wicked and insolent man. I have no doubt that Saul was looking forward to the vindication of God for all Torah-keepers like himself. But when God did intervene, it was to reveal that Saul was actually a Torah-breaker. On the Damascus road, Saul discovered more than who Jesus was. He discovered who Saul was—an evil man, and one who in substance and at the fundamental level, despised and hated the Torah.
Peter Leithart
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is an American author, minister, theologian and Senior Fellow of Theology and Literature as well as Dean of Graduate Studies at New Saint Andrews College and holds a doctorate from Cambridge University. He was selected by the Association of Reformed Institutions of Higher...
, Steve Wilkins and Steve Schlissel share similarities theologically with the NPP, though they have not publicly said they have consciously shaped their theology after Wright's. Leithart, however, has said that Federal Vision theology "is stimulated by Anglican New Testament scholar N. T. Wright . . ."
Pro
- Tim Gallant, Feed My Lambs: Why the Lord's Table Should Be Restored to Covenant Children (Grand Prairie, AB: Pactum Reformanda Publishing, 2002). ISBN 978-0973011906
- Peter Leithart, Against Christianity (Moscow, Idaho: Canon Press, 2003). ISBN 978-1591280064
- —, Baptized Body, The (Moscow, Idaho: Canon Press, 2007). ISBN 978-1591280484
- —, Blessed are the Hungry: Meditations on the Lord's Supper (Moscow, Idaho: Canon Press, 2000). ISBN 978-1885767738
- —, From Silence to Song: The Davidic Liturgical Revolution (Moscow, Idaho: Canon Press, 2003). ISBN 978-1591280019
- —, A House For My Name: A Survey of the Old Testament (Moscow, Idaho: Canon Press, 2000). ISBN 978-1885767691
- —, The Kingdom and the Power: Rediscovering the Centrality of the Church (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1993). ISBN 978-0875523002
- —, Daddy, Why Was I Excommunicated?: An Examination of Leonard J. Coppes (Niceville, FL: Transfiguration Press, 1998). ISBN 978-1591280019
- Rich Lusk, Paedofaith: A Primer on the Mystery of Infant Salvation and a Handbook for Covenant Parents (Monroe, LA: Athanasius Press, 2005). ISBN 978-0975391426
- Andrew SandlinAndrew SandlinP. Andrew Sandlin is a Christian minister, theologian and author. He is the founder and president of the Center for Cultural Leadership; one of several pastors of Church of the King in California; theological consultant for ACT 3 Ministries; and De Yong Distinguished Visiting Professor of Culture...
, A Faith That Is Never Alone: A Response to estminster Seminary California (Kerygma Press: 2007) ISBN 978-0615169156 - Norman Shepherd, The Call of Grace: How the Covenant Illuminates Salvation and Evangelism (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyteriand and Reformed, 2000). ISBN 978-0875524597
- Ralph A. Smith, Paradox and Truth: Rethinking Van Til on the Trinity (Moscow, Idaho: Canon Press, 2002). ISBN 978-1591280026
- —, The Eternal Covenant: How the Trinity Reshapes Covenant Theology (Moscow, Idaho: Canon Press, 2003). ISBN 978-1591280125
- —, Trinity and Reality: An Introduction to the Christian Faith (Moscow, Idaho: Canon Press, 2004). ISBN 978-1591280248
- Gregg Strawbridge, The Case for Covenantal Communion (Monroe, LA: Athanasius Press, 2006). ISBN 978-0975391433
- Steve Wilkins and Duane Garner, The Federal Vision (Monroe, LA: Athanasius Press, 2004). ISBN 978-0975391402
- Douglas Wilson, "Reformed" Is Not Enough: Recovering the Objectivity of the Covenant (Moscow, Idaho: Canon Press, 1999). ISBN 978-1591280057
- —, Mother Kirk: Essays and Forays in Practical Ecclesiology (Moscow, Idaho: Canon Press, 2001). ISBN 978-1885767721
- —, Clean Water, Red Wine, Broken Bread (Moscow, Idaho: Canon Press, 2000). ISBN 9781885767684
Con
- R. Scott Clark (ed.), Covenant, Justification, and Pastoral Ministry: Essays by the Faculty of Westminster Seminary California (P&R, 2007) ISBN 978-1596380356
- John M. Otis, Danger in the Camp: An Analysis and Refutation of the Heresies of the Federal Vision (Triumphant Publishing, 2005) ISBN 9780977280001
- Guy Prentiss Waters, The Federal Vision and Covenant Theology: A Comparative Analysis (P&R, 2006) ISBN 978-1596380332
- Gary L. W. Johnson (ed.), Guy P. Waters (ed.), By Faith Alone: Answering the Challenges to the Doctrine of Justification (Crossway Books, 2007) ISBN 978-1581348408
General information
- A Joint Federal Vision Statement — A series of affirmations and denials on key Federal Vision doctrines cosigned by leading proponents
Information related to particular church bodies
- Report on Justification Presented to the Seventy-third General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church — Includes a doctrinal response to the New Perspective
- Report of Ad Interim Study Committee on Federal Vision, New Perspective, and Auburn Avenue Theologies — Presented at the 35th General Assembly of the PCA
- Regarding the 2002 Auburn Avenue Pastors Conference — Resources on the controversy from the RPCUS
- Mississippi Valley Presbytery Report — PCA Ad Hoc Committee Report on the NPP/Auburn Avenue Theology/Federal Vision, 2005
- Submitted Written Questions for Louisiana Presbytery's Examination of Teaching Elder Steve Wilkins — Submitted on December 9, 2006