6 Responses to Strange Quote of the Day: Douglas Wilson

1. 

   Will S.

   September 20, 2012 at 1:23 AM

   Douglas Wilson’s churches (CREC) refuse to take a united position on baptism; some practice and defend paedobaptism, while others defend and practise credobaptism only; his churches depart from Reformed practice in allowing paedocommunion; and he’s always ready to blame men for their wives’ failings:

   When a couple comes for marriage counseling, my operating assumption is always that the man is completely responsible for the all the problems. Some may be inclined to react to this, but it is important to note that responsibility is not the same thing as guilt. If a woman has been unfaithful to her husband, of course she bears the guilt of her adultery. But at the same time, he is responsible for it.

   … Husbands are responsible for their wives. They are the head of their wives as Christ is the head of the church. Taking a covenant oath to become a husband involves assuming responsibility for that home. This means that men, whether through tyranny or abdication, are responsible for any problems in the home.

   I fail to comprehend that any meaningful distinction exists between guilt and responsibility; I believe Wilson is being disingenuous here.

   So yeah, like you, only in debate or arm-wrestling against the late Christopher Hitchens, would I find myself rooting for Wilson.

    
2. 

   Anthony Sacramone

   September 20, 2012 at 6:46 AM

   There’s a lot I don’t agree with Doug Wilson on, but he’s a very smart guy whom I still find an interesting and provocative read. (Also, because I have been known to go on jags about Calvinism and double predestination, I thought I would be ecumenical and throw in a Reformed writer now and again.)

   How on earth can you say that his churches depart from Reformed practice in allowing infant baptism, when John Calvin, John Knox, Jonathan Edwards, et. al., all defended and practiced it? The Puritans practiced infant baptism, for goodness’ sake! Hodges, Warfield — the Reformed confessions: http://calvinseminary.edu/forum/infant-baptism-in-our-reformed-confessions/!!

    
3. 

   Will S.

   September 20, 2012 at 9:59 AM

   No, you misunderstand me; I’m saying they depart in allowing paedocommunion.

   As for baptism, yes, indeed, in allowing some churches to practice believers-only baptism, like Baptists, he is allowing those churches to depart from historic Reformed practice and teaching. I know there is an entire group of people who self-identify as Reformed Baptist, who defend and practice believers-only baptism; while I disagree thoroughly with them, at least they’re consistent; I find denominations that allow both, like Wilson’s, or Ian Paisley’s Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster, to be wishy-washy on that score…

    
4. 

   Will S.

   September 20, 2012 at 10:07 AM

   I have read much of Wilson’s writings, and I agree there is a lot that’s admirable in them – I’ve liked his Chronicles Magazine essays, for instance, and I generally identify with his paleoconservative views, politically – but there are too many other problems I have with him, for me to find him positive overall.

   I know a church that used to be in my Reformed federation that was torn apart by people in it who became enamoured of Wilson’s teachings and doctrines, and wanted to wrest that church out of our federation, and join Wilson’s; that church ended up split into two factions, between those who wished to stay in our federation, and those who wished to join Wilson’s CREC.

   I also know of other churches where the same kind of thing happened, and said churches ended up seceding and joining the CREC.

   This is perhaps the most insidious thing about Wilson; his empire-building, and disruption of existing churches; I’d have no issue if people influenced by him simply left, but when they instead attempt to drag everyone else along with them, sometimes successfully – and Wilson doesn’t have any problem with that, not speaking out against it or condemning it, then yeah, I have a major beef with him.

   Okay, rant over.

    
5. 

   Anthony Sacramone

   September 20, 2012 at 10:13 AM

   Ah! Apologies. Misread you! (I was responding at six in the morning before heading off to work.) Yes, THAT practice is not typical for the Reformed, but it is for Eastern Orthodox!

   I don’t know enough about the workings of the CREC to comment, but it sounds a lot like what goes on with celeb preacher/teachers of many different denominations…

    
6. 

   Will S.

   September 20, 2012 at 10:23 AM

   “but it sounds a lot like what goes on with celeb preacher/teachers of many different denominations”

   Exactly. Confessional Protestantism is usually more free of these kinds of problems than our evangelical brethren are, but people like Wilson and Harold Camping mean we’re not free of these little empire-builders, alas…