Sometimes I am rather amazed at the lack of complete information others in blogdom offer. However, this one piece launched by Sean Gerety, directed at me, is one such example of utter nonsense that I simply had to respond to it.

First, some background. Mr. Gerety is one of those anti-FV men who think that "defending the faith" means "speaking vile and venom". A simple visit to his blog will confirm this statement. A number of years ago he attended the Christian Worldview Student Conference hosted by my church and created a great distraction. He visibly protested the speakers of the conference because they were "FV advocates". Many months ago he came to my blog and called some PCA ministers that are in good standing within the PCA names without any respect or regard for their position. I asked him to stop acting in this manner. He persisted. I contacted him privately, where he then turned his attacks on me. I worked to resolve the matter. He persisted. I then contacted his Session (since we are, after all, Presbyterians) to alert them to his apparent lack of control on the internet. They advised me that they would take action as necessary. (note: personally, I don't think much was done since I was a member of this church many years ago and was marginalized, I suspect, because of my theonomic views however the moderator did indicate to me that he was offered counsel).

Anyhow, recently Mr. Gerety posted this article on his blog (which is amusingly called "God's Hammer"). This article calls into question my church of which I am a member. Here is the germane part:

This is nothing new, in my own Presbytery the pastors over at Calvary Reformed in Hampton, VA lead the fight in the James River Presbytery against the PCA’s theological dive into philosophic relativism concerning the doctrine of creation. As one who attended one of the pivotal Presbytery meetings when this issue was being hotly debated, pastor Byron Snapp delivered an impressive defense from the floor against permitting contrary views on creation beyond the biblical doctrine so clearly expressed in the Westminster Standards. As I recall, the crux of his argument, and the real danger in the debate, was the introduction of a “new hermeneutic” that threatens to undermine other central biblical doctrines. Snapp could’t have been more correct. Yet, ironically, it seems he has failed to see the present danger of the novel hermeneutic advanced by his friends in the Federal Vision.

For example, Snapp’s church is the same one that holds an annual Christian Worldview Student Conference that has featured the some of the shining stars of the Federal Vision like Steve Wilkins, Andrew Sandlin, Steve Schlissel, Peter Leithart, Doug Wilson and others. I had the opportunity while briefly attending the conference in ‘04 to hear Steve Wilkins explain to a packed room of young minds how forced baptisms, while not his preferred method of evangelism, is just one way Christians are made. The following year another false teacher, Steve Schlissel, told a similar group young people that God lies. Concerning this outrage John Robbins asked:

What heresies, what blasphemies, what lies have to be told in PCA churches before the members rise up and throw out the liars? The Elders of Calvary Reformed Presbyterian Church, who invited Schlissel to speak to the students, stand by his remarks. They have issued no statement contradicting him, and do not intend to do so. What heresies, what blasphemies, what lies do PCA pastors and Elders have to endorse before Presbyteries remove them from office?

Calvary Reformed Presbyterian Church is a member of the James River Presbytery in the PCA. Will the Presbytery take any action against Schlissel and the Session of Calvary? Don’t hold your breath.

While still not holding my breath, the significance of the SJC decision against the Louisiana Presbytery is that the GA has now sent a strong warning to other Presbyteries in the PCA, including James River, that they had better do their duty which is to “condemn erroneous opinions which injure the purity or peace of he Church; to visit churches for the purpose of inquiring into and redressing the evils that may have arisen in them . . . .”

Calvary Reformed Church in Hampton is one church that I think needs a visit, at the very least a visit to their website to download and listen to what is being taught at their Christian Worldview Student Conferences and that just for starters.

Certainly there is nothing wrong with disagreement over various aspects of theology but what concerns me is that Mr. Gerety seems to be circumventing the very process and system that he seems so bent on protecting. Mr. Gerety ought to know better than to think that a Presbytery needs to start a process against a local church. He can, indeed, file a complaint with the court of jurisdiction if he believes something is amiss. Better yet, he could pick up a phone and give the TE's at CRPC a call and discuss the matter like a man. That is not something that is within the scope of his normal game plan. Instead he takes a swipe at a sister church in the James River Presbytery and when called on it deletes comment after comment from his own blog. In those comments I called him a coward for bullying people from behind his keyboard and also indicated that I would, once again, contact his session for further action. This went on for about a week when he then sent me an email basically accusing me of being mentally ill.

Another one of the FV attack dogs, a man who is all over the Internet defending everything FV, has even filed a complaint with my own Session trying to silence me and keep me from exposing — or even mentioning — the FV promoters and sympathizers within my own Presbytery. This particular chihuahua has even attempted to post here and when I deleted his post he spent the last week daily harassing me. After showing no signs of letting up I finally wrote him:

While I am kind of enjoying watching you spin out of control as I repeatedly delete your posts (which at this point amount to harassment), I thought I should at least let you know that my Session had instructed me to have nothing to do with you. But if it makes you feel better believing I’m a “coward” or somehow afraid of you, knock yourself out. Besides, don’t you have enough bandwidth on your blog to vent your spleen while you provide a forum for your fellow FV heretics?

In short, leave me alone. I don’t think you are well.

Instead of getting the message, this confused soul has now threatened to harass my Session yet again if I won’t shut up. Admittedly, pretty much what I expected. Intimidation is the only recourse for impotent bullies.

How sad! Really, it is quite interesting to see how badly one can take his eyes off the target and assert that I am "harassing his own Session". Yes, I did contact them to advise them of the cheap swipe Mr. Gerety took at my church. It was a simple call for them to take a look at this behavior (again) and to act as necessary.

It is even more amusing that he would call me an "FV attack dog". What exactly is an "FV attack dog"? Doesn't this kind of name calling only fuel the discussion causing more "heat than light" so to speak? What possible good does it bring to call anyone names in the first place? Mr. Gerety, I suggest you stick to the theological discussion at hand and move far away from the name calling. If your elders won't offer you this simple counsel (and maybe they have but you missed it) then I will, for the good of the Church of which you and I are a small speck.

His blog is currently "moderated" but I left the following comment knowing full well that it will get deleted:

Outright lie, Sean. There has been no harassment to your elders. One email cannot be construed as "harassment". Furthermore, I don't care if you want to argue the so-called errors of the FV position here or wherever they got a keyboard. That is certainly your choice. However, name calling; cheap shots; hitting below the belt and all these things are out of bounds for a Christian. It is not mature and displays a gross lack of self-control. This is what concerns me and this is the reason your elders were contacted. They were not contacted because you are arguing against the FV positon.

So, you see, my argument with anyone on this issue is that they argue the matter from the theological foundation and not lose control and start calling names; hitting below the belt; offering cheap shots or any other such distasteful junk.

Well so much more could be said about this but I really don't want to waste anymore time dealing with it. It does sadden me, to be quite honest, that men cannot work to resolve their differences like men. Instead, what usually happens, far to often, is that keyboards start clacking out more venom and garbage which only make things worse, not better. Maybe my own blog entry is playing into the hands of the types like Mr. Gerety. I don't know. Sure, I am visible on the internet with all kinds of ventures going on. I read the blogs and emails and post from time to time so I guess I should be prepared for these kinds of things and I guess this is why I responded. However, what I do know is that this kind of "name calling" and "cheap shot" behavior (and he is not alone in this) is inexcusable and needs to be called for what it is. It is hateful, nasty, and does not seek to promote any kind of peace, purity, or truth. Argue the theological issues and steer clear of personal attacks on people (yes, I think the book of James says something about that).