Lane’s recent post questioning the consistency of Doug Wilson’s affirmation of sola fide evoked a number of responses. One of the more unhelpful ones came from Doug Wilson himself:
“As I put it in a recent comment elsewhere, I really don’t understand why the C students think they get to grade everybody else’s papers.”
In the comments section of this post Lane challenged this comment, noting that it was a use of ad hominem argument (ad hominem abusive). Such arguments actually do not advance discussion. They merely serve to squash it by belittling one’s opponent.
In the hope that Doug will consider retreating from such argumentation, I want to offer some biblical insights as to why even C students actually do get to grade everybody else’s papers.
- 1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- 1 Corinthians 14:29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.
- Acts 17:11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Hopefully it is relatively clear that the Bible expects Christians to grade each other’s papers. In fact, it wouldn’t be going too far to observe that such exercise of faith is a means God promises the Spirit will grace with insight unto blessing in Christ.
I admit to being at best a C student (most often D, with some gifts from the teacher). I appeal to Doug Wilson to consider changing his rhetoric and no longer resorting to such ad hominem arguments.
After all, the Bible proposes that even the D students have a biblical calling based on promise to question the A students. I pray the A students join us D’s in rejoicing in this promise.
Reed DePace
Pastor, 1st PCA Montgomery, AL
TE, SEAL Presbytery, PCA
(sorry for forgetting this)
Green Baggins 