GREENVILLE CONFERENCE ON SONSHIP AND SANCTIFICATION

Hundreds of people attended the annual theology conference at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Taylors, South Carolina from March 6-8. In contrast to more theoretical topics, such as creation and the sufficiency of Scripture, this year's event focused on the practical theological subject of sanctification.

Highlighting the event was preaching by Al Martin, the well-known Reformed Baptist pastor from New Jersey. Pastor Martin's sermons on the importance and necessity of the mortification of sin attracted the largest crowds of the three day conference; with almost 600 people in attendance on Wednesday evening.

When Englishman, Professor John Carrick, introduced Scotsman Ian Hamilton of the Cambridge, England Presbyterian Church, (who spoke on the doctrine of sanctification) Carrick said, "It's a little risky to have an Englishman introduce a Scotsman ... On Saturday, we played the 'old enemy' at rugby at Twickenham. The score was 43 to 3. I won't tell you who won, but I will tell you that I watched the game with great pleasure. Now I will await the Scottish backlash." Ian Hamilton responded, "The Scriptures tell me to 'repay no man evil for evil. I will repay says the Lord...' John is really suffering from a deep-seated psychological neurosis. he really has wanted to be born north of the border. We Scotsmen look on our English brothers with a great deal of pity!"

An anticipated attraction was a debate on Thursday morning between the Rev. Dr. Joseph Pipa, President of the Greenville Seminary, and Dr. Neal Williams, who represented the Sonship program. Founded by the late Dr. John Miller, the Sonship program is influencing many in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). The program has also had its critics, and this conference was one of the first opportunities for a public, face-to-face discussion between a proponent of the program and those who have problems with its theology and/or methodology

A SONSHIP ADVOCATE

In his presentation, Dr. Neal Williams set forth the central concerns of Sonship. He stated that the program applies faith regarding justification and adoption, by asking the questions, What are the practical applications of my justification and adoption? And, what are the implications of believing that I am justified and adopted? He stated that "we can have a grace-oriented theology and still be self-righteous," a la Jonah With regard to justification, we have desires to be self-righteous. Because the fruit of self-righteousness so often looks good on the outside, Sonship asks the nature of true obedience. The prophet Micah, in chapter 6 proclaimed that people were willing to do many things outwardly, but they weren't willing to repent.

With regard to adoption, the speaker rhetorically asked, Who does not struggle with loving the praise of man more than the praise of God'? Believing that God does love us is a great struggle.

Applying this doctrine to the problem of anxieties, the gentleman suggested that such struggles are related to a lack of trust in our heavenly Father. "They reveal our self-centeredness. Anxieties are great indicators of where we're not trusting in our Father."

Dr. Williams interacted with the two most noteworthy critiques of Sonship, an article in the Westminster Theological Journal by Chad van Dixhoorn, and a book by Jay Adams. Those critiques center around two basic issues: the notion of "sanctification by faith" and the suggestion that Sonship downplays the Law and obedience thereto.

With regard to Sonship's doctrine of sanctification by faith, Dr. Williams rebutted van Dixhoorn's critique of Sonship that it was something from the Keswick and Higher Life movements and created a spiritual roller coaster ride. In contrast to van Dixhoorn's assertion that Sonship undermines the means of grace, the speaker stated that there should be no disjuncture between sanctification by faith and the means of grace.

With regard to the Law and obedience, the Sonship advocate argued that Sonship upholds the Law because it emphasizes the only way by which we can keep the Law. Further Sonship emphasizes Law by drawing attention to abuses of the Law.

He concluded his presentation by stating that Sonship is only a tool. It may not be for everyone."

DR. PIPA'S CRITIQUE

President Pipa's critique of Sonship followed. He asserted that Sonship is a theology, because it departs at points from Reformed soteriology (doctrine of salvation).

Dr. Pipa admitted that Sonship has helped many people; and he attributed the popularity of the program to three factors: 1. people have been helped;

2. you can't help but be attracted to the emphasis on grace and faith; and 3. the program has been an overreaction to the lack of preaching Christ.

Further, Dr Pipa stated that he could agree with some ninety percent of the theology which Dr. Williams set forth in his talk - but only five percent of his application.

But, Dr. Pipa said, "Sonship's approach to justification, sanctification, and adoption skews the Biblical message ... Ultimately, Sonship is wrong because it starts wrongly."

The seminary president noted that, although he welcomed Dr.Williams' remarks, what we heard this morning is not explicitly or methodologically in the [Sonship] manual."

METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS

He then laid out some methodological problems. Sonship uses ambiguous terms e.g., 'miracle' is confused with providence); is uncareful in its use of language; utilizes anecdotal stories; and redefines terms (such as the "gospel"). Dr. Pipa referred to the Rev. Steve Smallman, until recently the Executive Director of World Harvest Mission (WHM), which sponsors Sonship. He took issue with Mr. Smallman's redefinition of "gospel," which, first, conflates gospel and grace; secondly, makes the gospel synonymous with the whole counsel of God; and third, seems to ignore the context of Romans 1:16-17.

Ill-defined expressions are also problematic for Dr. Pipa. Examples include the term "preach the gospel to yourself"; and the notion purportedly expressed at a Mission to North America seminar using Sonship material, viz., "say to a professing Christian who's a practicing homosexual, just believe the gospel - you're as righteous as Christ is.

THEOLOGICAL ERRORS

There are also theological errors, centering around the doctrines of union with Christ, adoption, justification, sanctification, and the third use of the Law.

With regard to union with Christ, the Sonship material, contra Westminster Larger Catechism 66 and 69, fails to place proper emphasis on that doctrine as the ground from which all blessings flow. Rather, the material grounds sanctification in justification and adoption; this then downplays the centrality of Christ as prophet, priest, and king.

Regarding justification, early Sonship material didn't emphasize the doctrine of imputation, but instead focused on adoption. WHM missionary to Ireland Josiah Bancroft, according to Dr. Pipa, "confuses forgiveness with imputed righteousness."

Regarding adoption, Sonship teaches that there can no longer be Fatherly displeasure. However, this then fails to distinguish between juridical and filial displeasure.

But the most serious problem theologically has to do with sanctification.

Here Dr Pipa set forth at least eight areas of concern.

First, Sonship declares sanctification to adoption, rather than to union with Christ. Secondly Sonship teaches that "the flesh cannot be diminished; and that the Christian can be aware of no growth in grace, for that leads to pride. Third, there is a failure to emphasize the practice of mortification; this is because of a defective view of the "flesh." Fourth, Sonship entails a simplistic, one-string approach; contra to Sonship teaching, bad relationships are only one manifestation of indwelling sin. Fifth, Sonship redefined the Judaizing problem: Sonship says that that first century heresy was not with regard to the securing of forgiveness, but rather assurance. Sixth, with regard to "sanctification by faith," the question is, What is faith? Properly speaking, faith functions in a variety of ways: it not only reaches out to Christ as the only way of salvation, but it also obeys the law; and it acts differently with respect to each of the different parts of the Bible. Therefore, justification and sanctification don't come by the same method. Seventh, Sonship defines all righteousness apart from imputed righteousness as legalism. Eight, there are several other problems, including the fact that normal means are bypassed for extraordinary means.

With regard to the third use of the Law, Dr. Pipa asserted that there is no place for the positive use of the Law. In essence, Sonship teaches Antinomianism.

A CANDID ADMISSION

Dr. Williams began his response to Dr. Pipa's presentation by admitting:

"There is a discrepancy between what I presented and what may be gotten from the Sonship manual"; and adding that the manual's ambiguous language needs to be corrected. Referring to one of the prime authors of the Sonship materials, Dr. Williams said: "Paul Miller wasn't theologically trained, and I cringe at some of what he said."

The speaker noted that Sonship developed out of the needs of a local church trying to deal with missionaries bickering with each other.

Dr. Williams averred that Sonship is not trying to establish justification as the foundation of sanctification. He also stated that Sonship was trying to be supplemental rather than comprehensive.

FOCUS ON THE CHURCH

But Dr. Pipa countered that the Sonship material is supplemental for renewal, and that we can have no meaningful discussion of renewal apart from things such as public means of grace, a proper appreciation for the role of the church, and the mortification of sin, He noted the problem of having church renewal divorced from the organized church; and stated: "We don't need para-church organizations. We don't need Sonship seminars." He added: "I think that having raised the issues, Sonship needs to step off the stage"; and then rhetorically asked: "If [the Sonship program is] supplemental, then why is it the training manual for missions organizations?"

OTHER PRESENTATATIONS

Others making presentations during the three-day conference were Dr. Morton H. Smith, current Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America; and the Rev. C. N. Willborn, professor at Greenville Seminary. Dr. Smith on the Higher Life movement; and Mr. Willborn gave an historical survey of the doctrine of adoption.

Tapes of the conference are available for $40.00 (post paid). A book featuring the various presentations is slated to be in print by the summer, with a pre-pub price of $ 10.00 (post paid). Orders maybe sent to Southern Presbyterian Press, P0 Box 610, Taylors, South Carolina 29687; email:

bookstore@gpts.edu.

PRESBYTERIAN AND REFORMED NEWS March-April 2001 Web Site

www.presbyteriannews.org