Doug Wilson Says ‘I Have Decided’ to ‘Discontinue Identifying Myself’ with ‘Federal Vision,’ but I Still ‘Affirm Everything I Signed Off on in the Federal Vision Statement’

“I have decided, after mulling over it for some years now, to discontinue identifying myself with what has come to be called the federal vision…This statement represents a change in what I will call what I believe. It does not represent any substantial shift or sea change in the content of what I believe…I would still want [sic] affirm everything I signed off on in the Federal Vision statement.”¹ — Doug Wilson

OPINION: Over the years, Doug has received significant backlash regarding his involvement in founding the theology of Federal Vision. Five presbyteries and one seminary have issued serious warnings and even directly called the teaching heresy.² In 2017 (about fifteen years after the controversy broke out), Doug decided he no longer wanted to call himself a Federal Visionist. From the title of his blog post, “Federal Vision No Mas,”³ it sounds like he is renouncing the theology completely. But if you actually read the post, you’ll discover that the change is in name only, as Doug clearly states that he has not changed the “content” of what he believes and that he still affirms “everything” that he “signed off on in the Federal Vision statement.”⁴ Such a change is as empty and meaningless as a flat-earther saying, “I don’t identify as a flat-earther anymore, but I still believe the earth is flat.” It comes off as dishonest. Why not rather “let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’” (Matthew 5:37a, NKJV)? It seems that Doug is trying to control the narrative. Those who aren’t paying close attention might actually think that Doug no longer adheres to Federal Vision theology.⁵ But the truth is that Doug is still a full-blown Federal Visionalist because, in his own words, he still affirms “everything” that he “signed off on in the Federal Vision statement.”⁶ There are those in the Federal Visionalist camp who hold more extreme beliefs than the statement–but affirming the statement means you believe Federal Vision to be true. And Doug still does, proclaiming it to be “a theological breakthrough.”⁷

When I spoke to Doug about this, he felt that by distancing himself from the name “Federal Vision” he was sending a clear message to those who hold even more radical beliefs in the Federal Visionalist camp. And I commend him for that. But the fact remains that he still holds on to his Federal Visionalist beliefs; beliefs that I believe have led him to preach a distorted gospel. The dangers of this theology have been outlined by many, including the Presbyterian Church in America: “Our concern is that some of those who are baptized will simply presume on God’s grace, ‘continuing in the covenant’ without ‘apostatizing’ but also without justifying faith (cf. Matthew 22:1-14).”⁸ Even Doug himself admitted that the theology “caused some to stumble,” because of redefinitions and unclarity regarding key theological terms like, “justification, Christian, election, salvation, and regeneration.”⁹ Causing others to stumble is serious, as Jesus said: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea” (Mark 9:42, NASB95). Why is Doug holding on so tightly to this abhorrent theology? This controversy has been going on for over twenty years. The gospel is at stake! Why not rather humble himself and admit he was wrong, not just in name, but in substance?

My prayer is that Doug would truly repent from teaching Federal Vision theology, both by pulling his books that teach the theology from publication, and publicly denouncing its teaching, fully and completely. And that he would turn to preaching a pure gospel that does not blur the lines of the role of works in justification, and clearly preach we are saved by grace through faith alone.

Want More Context?

Here are some links to other blogs and podcasts dealing with this and other issues in more depth:

https://theocast.org/is-doug-wilson-a-false-teacher/

https://heidelblog.net/2017/10/resources-on-the-controversy-over-final-salvation-through-works/

https://heidelblog.net/2013/11/for-those-just-tuning-in-what-is-the-federal-vision/

https://heidelblog.net/fv/

https://www.youtube.com/live/ppE8UzGfALc?si=4Cp01QjUuj6tbfON

https://bredenhof.ca/2023/07/03/doug-wilson-the-bad/

https://bredenhof.ca/2023/07/10/doug-wilson-the-ugly/

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/course/justification-faith-biblical-theological-perspective/#a-summary-of-justification-by-faith-from-a-biblical-theological-perspective

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/course/study-james-moo/

https://www.biblicaltraining.org/learn/institute/nt622-galatians

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