Paul's Passing Thoughts

The following email was sent to Alistair Begg’s staff, and elders at Parkside church (Begg’s contact info is unavailable). I just want to know why respected leaders are participating in a conference that propagates a doctrine that is completely unorthodox from A to Z. Because they believe in it also? Don’t know, my 20-something email’s to Parkside were ignored. Maybe I will have more luck with the house of McDonald. Nevertheless, even though it is in regard to the Truth that these guys supposedly care so much about—it’s only my job to ask.

Greetings,

Your senior Pastor is a featured speaker at the upcoming Gospel Coalition national conference in Chicago. Since TGC promotes Gospel Sanctification / Sonship Theology / Gospel-Centered Sanctification, and as others state it: “sanctification by justification” or “sanctification by faith alone,” does this now mean that your church promotes this doctrine?

This doctrine had its fundamental beginning in the late 70’s or early 80’s and was originally known as Sonship Theology. The doctrine was devised by noted professors at Westminster Theological Seminary and promoted by others that were mentored by them; namely, Tim Keller, who has taught the doctrine on numerous occasions by that same name, and David Powlison. Both are also speaking at the 2011 TGC conference. Others at the conference such as Darrin Patrick promote the doctrine and often quote the former Westminster professor who apparently invented it, John (“Jack”) Miller.

The doctrine has been decried by several notable evangelicals such as Jason Hood and Dr. Jay E. Adams. Adams wrote a book in contention against the doctrine in 1996. Eastwood Presbyterian Church of Montgomery, Alabama issued a formal statement against the doctrine in 2008. In that document, they cite a tenet that reveals its kinship to Gospel Sanctification; specifically, presenting the book of Galatians as a Pauline treatise against effort or works in the sanctification process. Also, another tenet of this doctrine is the belief that the Bible is exclusively defined by justification only. And in fact, this is the thesis of the TGC 2011 conference theme. It is also my contention that the “Sonship” nomenclature was replaced with “gospel” because of the heavy fire that began to be directed at the Sonship label.

Since Alistair is, I believe, one of the keynote speakers at the conference, it begs the question: does he now endorse this doctrine? If not, why would he attend?

Thank you beforehand for your consideration and reply,

Paul M. Dohse Sr.