“The world (which God created from nothing) contains moral and natural evils. God either knew these evils would happen if He created or He did not. To say that He did not is to depart from Christian orthodoxy, being a functional denial of omniscience. But if God knew what would follow, and He decided to create anyway, this amounts to an ordaining of what would therefore happen. It is that simple.

The openness guys try to get around this by departing from Christian orthodoxy, and they deny God’s knowledge of the future. But this just makes Him guilty of reckless endangerment instead of premeditated carnage. But as Paul would say, I am out of my mind to talk like this…”

Doug Wilson, Narratival Calvinism and Storyless Readers (Comments) www.dougwils.com

http://www.biblelighthouse.com/covenants/within_the_bounds_of_orthodoxy.htm

by Joseph Minich – April, 2006

This essay is neither a defense nor a sustained critique of either the Federal Vision or the New Perspective on Paul. The exclusive aim of this presentation is to ask the question, “Can advocates of either of these positions be considered as within the bounds of Reformation orthodoxy?” That is, whether or not one agrees with one or the other of these movements, or whether or not one agrees with how they word certain things, can they nevertheless be interpreted in such a way as to be within the broad parameters of the Reformed faith?

Endorsements:

“I have read the article, and my judgment is that it is a wonderful piece. It is by far the best thing I’ve ever read on the Federal Vision and/or New Perspective. I hope this essay gets the widest possible distribution. People concerned with these issues, whatever their persuasion, need to meditate deeply about it. And it provides a model of careful, thorough, thoughtful theological criticism. Mr. Minich . . . has a great future as a Reformed theologian.”

- Dr. John Frame, Reformed Theological Seminary

“One of the disappointing things about the ‘Federal Vision’ controversy has been the unwillingness of so many to make a serious effort to read FV writers with charity and seek to be sure they understand the position accurately before critiquing it. Joseph Minich has done both and I am indebted to him for the time and effort he has put forth in this excellent essay. He has fairly and accurately presented my position (and the position of others) and has laid the foundation for serious interaction. I pray that Joseph’s work will bear much fruit in the months ahead as we continue to discuss these positions.”

- Pastor Steve Wilkins, Auburn Avenue PCA

If this is all new, check out James Jordan’s series, How To Do Reformed Theology Nowadays, and also The Closing of the Calvinistic Mind.