Reformed Is Not Enough: Recovering the Objectivity of the Covenant
by Wilson, Douglas
•Canon Press 2002
Overview
Suppose a husband is committing adultery. Is he still a husband? Being a husband is not just a state of mind; it’s not just a private decision. Being a husband is a public relationship made from a public exchange of vows, and objective covenant. An adulterous husband is a covenant-breaking husband but still a husband. Being a husband is what makes his infidelity so horrendous.
In the same way, when people are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, they are ushered into an objective, visible, covenant relationship. Regardless of the state of their heart, regardless of any hypocrisy, regardless of whether or not they mean it, such people are now visible saints, Christians. Membership in the Christian faith is objective—it can be photographed and fingerprinted. In baptism, God names us and imposes gracious obligations upon us. Multitudes of faithless, corrupt Christians show that they do not believe what God said at their baptism. They live like adulterous husbands. But the tragedy is that many conscientious conservative Christians also do not believe what God said at their baptism.
Product Details
- Title: Reformed Is Not Enough: Recovering the Objectivity of the Covenant
- Author: Douglas Wilson
- Publisher: Canon Press
- Publication Date: 2002
- Pages: 208
About Douglas Wilson
Douglas Wilson graduated from the University of Idaho with a B.A. in classical studies and an M.A. in philosophy. He is pastor of Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, and Senior Fellow in Theology at New Saint Andrews College. He is also the founder and editor of Credenda/Agenda magazine.
