[Vision2020] Response to Hall

[Nick Gier]

Dear Mr. Hall,

When I studied the Reformation in graduate school I focused on Luther and 
not Calvin, so that is why I defer to Robbins and Gerety (R&G) and 
summarize their book against Wilson.  In their discussion about what it is 
to be a Christian, R&G did not mention Wilson's "second sense" of being a 
Christian because they presumably did not find fault with it.  They do, 
however, disagree with you and Wilson that baptism alone, and presumably 
because it is public and objective, means that one has joined the Covenant 
and is somehow a "believing Christian."  You will have to engage R&G in a 
direct debate about the biblical passages they say that Wilson cannot use 
to support such a broad and liberal first condition for being a Christian.

         With regard to the creeds, I commend you and your church for 
embracing previous traditions, but the issue here is whether your 
eclecticism is consistent with what most other Reformed evangelicals 
believe.  R&G object to the fact that Wilson gives these creeds authority 
that only the Bible can have. Affirming them may make you an orthodox 
Christian, but it does not make you a Reformed Christian.

Again you will have to engage R&G in their specific criticisms.

Thanks for the dialogue,

Nick Gier


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