Was John Murray motivated to find a via media between Calvinism and Arminianism? At one time, to engage in such an argumentative strategy was self-marginalizing in mainstream Evangelical and Reformed circles. Now that he’s being called our “drunken uncle” perhaps this form of insinuation is fair game.

The so-called “federal vision” is motivated by a desire to be true to Scripture and a confidence that Reformed covenant theology provides accurate tools for understanding Scripture. Since, Scripture does call for unity in the Church, many “FV men,” just like many other Bible believers, seek to find ways to follow that call to the extent possible.

But “FV formulations” are attempts to do justice to Scripture, not assume that some sort of tertium quid is available if one simply does a synthesis-antithesis process with “Rome” and Protestantism.

In fact, FV’s real “crime” is to simply not care about “Rome.” What is “Rome” after all? A pastiche of stuff and theologies spreading all over the world and ages that is supposedly a unified entity? I don’t believe in “Rome.” No Protestant should believe in “Rome.” Let Roman Catholics think they represent some sort of everlasting empire, but we should know better.

The Roman Catholic Church is a gargantuan organization that contains people who vary as widely in belief as any Puritan ever differed from a Jesuit in the 17th century. The idea that it even makes sense in terms of theological formulation to “oppose” such an amorphous blob defies the limits of language.

There have been times when discussions between some who name themselves as Roman Catholics and some Protestant Calvinists might have been helped by some better exegesis or deeper understanding or Protestant Scholastic theology (which quite plainly allowed that good works were necessary for salvaiton, to name one sticking point). If something from “FV” provides such an aid, that is a bonus, but it is not the motive or the identity of this conversation.

I’ve been accused of “wanting” to be Roman Catholic. God will deal with people who make up accusations of this sort. But, for the record, my only point has been to account for the theology that we actually have in the Westminster Standards (from which, unlike most people I know, I actually learned theology rather than having it summarized for me by an authoritative interpreter). The Westminster Standards plainly say things about baptism, the church (both visible and invisible) and the necessity of obedience, that modern claimants of the Westminster Standards wish they didn’t say.

In fact, these doctrinal standards sound virtually “Romish” compared to the ethos and practical theology of a great many Presbyterians and Presbyterian churches. The FV has exposed this discontinuity and now it must be killed for doing so. It is perhaps the last point of unity in “Presbyterianism” (which is in danger of becoming as illusory as “Rome” in a smaller way), that “FV” = evil and death. The irony is that, within this hysterical situation, “FV” itself becomes just a phantom for scaring people rather than anything that comports with any real phenomenon.

There is no via media. There is Scripture as our authoritative word from God. There is the heritage of the whole Church to help us understand Scripture, including the Reformed heritage which fits quite naturally within that larger scope without any need for an artifical via media.

I remember in the early nineties in Florida hearing about Norman Shepherd and being scandalized. But my source thought he was confessional so I decided to check. Reading through the Confessions and Catechisms, I realized I had a choice. Reject those standards as unbiblical or embrace what they said about baptism and obedience.

I made my choice. It has been central to my identity ever since, as anyone who has ever known me will attest. It was central to my call to ministry, my move to seminary, to everything. Yes, I have been frustrated with Reformed chauvinism as I perceived it. But my commitments have always been and continue to be, distinctly Reformed.

When we sang, “My hope is buil on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness” last Wednesday at the Assembly, I was quite encouraged. Nothing else matters.

Least of all false accusations.