On Reconstructing Antinomianism

An Accusation and a Response

Over at the "gospel" coalition, Tullian Tchividjian has written an article called "Deconstructing Moralism." It is the latest salvo in a series of attacks that basically communicate that those who preach the law just don't get grace. This is an astounding accusation, and you can read my comment on that blog post to see my response to it.

Confusing Rhetoric, with Real-Life Consequences

Having responded there to that accusation, I hope to borrow your eyes and mind for a few moments to consider the danger of the theology behind the accusation. I know of at least two truly converted believers who came under such preaching and learned to call themselves "legalists" and tried to "repent" of loving God's law, thinking much about it, or trying hard to keep it. One of them has escaped. The other continues under that preaching and is sadly confused. This is one of the reasons why the Bible pronounces woe upon them who say that what is good is really evil.

A Question of Trusting God

May the Lord grant to us to trust that His law is good, just as is His gospel, and that He uses both.

The law cannot save, and it cannot power sanctification. But it is a false pragmatism to say that since it can do neither of these things, we should be careful not to give it much place in our preaching. God certainly gives it much place in His Word!

Demonstrating that Trusting Our Own Wisdom Doesn't Work

A little reflection will demonstrate that it is pragmatically suicidal to try to preach only gospel and not law:

One of the main problems with the new antinomianism is that genuinely converted Christians don't to know what to do with themselves under such preaching. They hear from the pulpit that thinking upon the law is useless or even dangerous, and that we should just trust that thinking upon the gospel will accomplish everything by itself.

But they find that it is true that it is no longer they who live but Christ who lives in them, and that this Christ, who now lives in them, loves the law--loves to keep it. He loves to exert Himself (and to exert ourselves as His own body) in keeping it. He loves to meditate upon it. He wrote Psalm 119, and He meant it. And now He has written it on believers' hearts.

And of course, the truly unconverted person cannot repent and believe for salvation, if he knows not from what he is repenting, or from what to be saved by believing.

The Conclusion: May God Grant to His Servants to Trust Him and to Preach His Whole Word

So, neither the truly unconverted person nor the truly converted person is really served well by law-less preaching. God's law is marvelously designed to address both. Without the gospel, it can serve neither very well.

But without the law, neither can the gospel.

Let us trust God, when He says that the law is good (night just right, but good).

O for grace to trust Him more!

Beware Of What You Think, Do, and Say

WLC 113 on the sins forbidden in the third commandment, "The sins forbidden in the third commandment are, the not using of God’s name as is required; and the abuse of it in an ignorant, vain, irreverent, profane, superstitious or wicked mentioning or otherwise using his titles, attributes, ordinances, or works, by blasphemy, perjury; all sinful cursings, oaths, vows, and lots; violating of our oaths and vows, if lawful; and fulfilling them, if of things unlawful; murmuring and quarrelling at, curious prying into, and misapplying of God’s decrees and providences; misinterpreting, misapplying, or any way perverting the Word, or any part of it; to profane jests, curious or unprofitable questions, vain janglings, or the maintaining of false doctrines; abusing it, the creatures, or anything contained under the name of God, to charms, or sinful lusts and practices; the maligning, scorning, reviling, or any wise opposing of God’s truth, grace, and ways; making profession of religion in hypocrisy, or for sinister ends; being ashamed of it, or a shame to it, by unconformable, unwise, unfruitful, and offensive walking, or backsliding from it."

Beware, why?  Because the Lord is a Warrior (Exodus 15:3).  He the God Almighty!  Let us seek Him at the cross and His mercy.

The Church in Ephesus

Revelation 2:1-7 states, "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: 'I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place--unless you repent. Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.'"

I remember when I first became a Calvinist.  I knew I had struck the goldmine!  God is completely sovereign in salvation and everything!  He preserves and governs all His creatures and all their actions. It changed my whole way of thinking, but looking back I wonder if I left my first love: the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Seems contradictory given the theology of Calvinism, yet it seems so common amongst those who come to the realization of Scripture's teaching.  Perhaps it is pride or idolatry of self that leads to this sin.  This is the danger of many in the Church, especially Presbyterians.  Every single one of us can become so passionate about details that we can't see the forest for the trees.  Examples in the Church, we could say would be something like Postmillennialism specifically in Theonomy (e.g. Bahnsen, Rushdoony), which focuses so much on political overhaul, ethics, and so on, and overlooks the Gospel.  There are those whose great passion is ecumenicalism (Manhattan Declaration, Evangelicals/Catholics Together, and the 'can't we all just get along and not be so narrow' crowd) and thereby redefine and forsake the Gospel.

But above all, as individuals who make up the body of Christ, the Church, we can't leave our first love.  We cannot turn our backs on the Gospel, it is the only reason we have life.  Jesus died on the tree, judged and cursed on our behalf.  He who knew no sin became sin on our behalf, He is our propitiation.  That is God's love for us in Christ, that He did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all.  How could we ever turn from this, how could we ever not have the Gospel in the forefront of our minds and hearts?

"Clasp that cross! Backsliding Christian, go at once to the cross! There, and there only, can you get your spirit quickened. No matter how hard, how insensible, how dead you may have become, go again in all your rags and poverty. Clasp that cross! Look into those languid eyes! Bathe in that fountain filled with blood! This will bring back your first love. This will restore the simplicity of your faith, and the tenderness of your heart." said Charles Spurgeon.

Let not our lampstand be snuffed out, leave not your first love.  Turn away from your sins and turn to Him who gave up all to give you life!