Here’s the conclusion:
As I mentioned at the beginning, this critique could have been book length. Waters’ will win many, I am sure, by his innuendo, extensive quotes, and seemingly damning critiques and appearances. But the fact is, that while he may win a battle here and there, he loses the war. He has not justly critiqued these men. He has sought to defame good ministers of the gospel with charges they constantly deny. He has assumed the position that he understands their arguments better than they do by not recognizing their qualifications and nuances. As I said at the beginning of this review, even if these men are guilty of being outside the pale of the confessional Standards, they may still be in God’s favor. Those who defame, slander, and libel brothers in Christ-–especially after having denied the invitation to discuss these matters–-will face God’s harshest judgment. This will happen despite the fact that they think they have all of their doctrinal “i’s” dotted and their “t’s” crossed [READ THE WHOLE REVIEW].
Hat tip: Barb
I have a question about this statement:
“Those who defame, slander, and libel brothers in Christ-–especially after having denied the invitation to discuss these matters–-will face God’s harshest judgment.”
In what sense will people like Waters (assuming this critique is accurate) face God’s harshest judgment?
Since it is true that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus is it not playing into the hands of those like Waters to say he will be facing God’s harshest judgment for his critiques of the FV?
What exactly is God’s harshest judgment if not hell? Maybe I simply do not understand what this reviewer meant by this statement, but I don’t see how Guy Waters will ever face God’s harshest judgment (even if he is wrong).
Can someone help me here?
Ben
Actually, I wondered that too.
But at the same time, Ben, we see the same sorts of warnings in the Bible (yea, even the NT Epistles–eg 1 Cor 10). I’m just not sure it should be said this starkly in this case. But then, we’ll see how I feel after I read Waters book (though everything in the review sounds verbatim like the audio lectures he gave awhile back….
So, whether or not this was the appropriate thing to say in this instance, in principle I would ask who would be playing into whose hands. Do we warn believers of perdition or not?
I guess since Waters is a professing Christian I think the warning should be slightly less stark. Along the lines of “Let us not… as some of them did… lest we… as they did…”
Maybe I should have inserted an ellipses. But that seemed sort of artificial and I liked the conclusion as a whole.
1 Cor 3:10-15, directed toward believers, sounds pretty harsh:
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw– each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
theheirs, I think you’ve described the harshest judgment that one of Christ’s elect can receive. It’s pretty harsh indeed, and also abundantly merciful. Thanks for the reminder.
Well, I’m glad I had a chance to read that before it disappeared . . . I hope it is only missing temporarily and will be back up soon.