Come Down, Lord!

  Some have found it hard to understand why I would write a critical piece about Doug Wilson and the New Saint Andrews (NSA) ad.  They don’t understand what all the fuss is about, particularly when there are so many other battles being waged.  They genuinely appreciate Wilson’s ministry, and if they weren’t necessarily thrilled with the middle finger they also don’t mind overlooking the occasional glitch.  And besides, none of us are perfect.  Haven’t we all been sinfully angry at times?  Haven’t we all said things we shouldn’t?  And don’t we all - or at least most of us - watch movies (and television programs) where coarse language is used?  So why get so worked up about one ad?   Here I want to clarify something.  And I think its important.  But first, a little background. In this season I have found myself often saying, “ O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?   I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 7:24)!" Like John Newton

  Three years ago I decided - along with my elders - to use this blog to make a public statement about Sye Ten Bruggencate.  That post (a response to an article published by The Roys Report ) was followed up by two subsequent posts.  At the time I  believed this was the right course of action.  I had sought the counsel of my own elders as well as some other men I trusted, and it was our view that public statements needed to be made.  Three years have passed, and for me, at least, a great deal has changed.  I can't speak for the other men involved, but if I were to do it again I certainly wouldn't bring matters like these before the public.  I sincerely regret that decision.   I have also come to reconsider what I concluded in that third (and last) post.   Writing on behalf of myself and another minister I said, " It is our considered opinion that Sye has permanently disqualified himself from public ministry." That was, indeed, our opinion at the time. Other minister

When I was examined (in October 2011) by the Canadian Presbytery of the ARP I was asked about Federal Vision.  I told the court it was heresy.  I said I believed Doug Wilson and company were espousing heresy. Following the meeting I was taken aside by men who knew Doug Wilson and urged to consider the possibility that I had misunderstood them.  In the years that followed I encountered many reformed men who thought very highly of Doug Wilson, and the general consensus was that he had been misunderstood.   Over and over again I was told he didn't believe what I thought he believed.  I didn't have the time to pursue it myself, so I chose to believe these men.  I took a charitable view of Wilson and Moscow and eventually began recommending some of their resources, though with some misgivings.   Then, in 2020, Doug Wilson (and the church in Moscow) took a stand against covid regulations.  I was thrilled.  I was still more grateful when (in 2021) Gabe Rench publicly stood up for Cana