I have a deep and abiding respect for Jeff Durbin, he is someone I have had the pleasure to hear, meet and even eat with. I firmly believe that he is a brother in Christ who has done much good for the Kingdom of God.

It was his videos and podcast even back in the early days of the post Apologia period that taught me how to engage with Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses. This all is amazing work and to try and write down all of the many great things that he has done would be a task I could not at all do. From saving the lives of countless children, I admire and envy the passion and abilities that he has.

One thing I enjoyed about the content that he and the rest of the Apologia gang produced was that it was fantastic stuff. It showed and taught believers how to engage and disarm the cults that would try to decieve people. The Gospel would be proclaimed, defended and victorious as so many of the audio and online videos show.

It has been confusing to see then, Pastor Durbin and Apologia strick up such a friendship with Doug Wilson of Moscow Idaho. Wilson for those who may not have heard of him was a punchy go getter who unlike many other pastors who called themselves reformed was one who jumped into the ring and gave those arrogant secularists a punch on the nose. I lapped up and listened slavishly to Wilson vs Hitchens and Barker. Being a fan of both Hitchens and at that time Wilson I was very impressed with how Wilson gave all these atheists a thrashing. He was cool and an intellectual heavyweight who was defending the faith and knocking his opponents on their back.

However their are no perfect people and Wilson is no different. Especially when it come to clarification of beliefs that have often caused many people concern.

While their are case histories that revolve around handlings of certain issues, it has been Wilson’s active and open promotion of Federal Vision that has been the thing than has stood out to me the most. In a nutshell it is a concept that claims to be reformed but is anything but a far better account than anything I could do can be found here https://heidelblog.net/2013/11/for-those-just-tuning-in-what-is-the-federal-vision/

For years Wilson endorsed, promoted and in many ways resurrected the false doctrine more than anyone else. It was widely criticised but Wilson always would act with an arrogance that would sadly become all too common. His sophistry made him slippery and when responding he would say much but clarify little. As well as make his opponents sound as if they were dumbos.

Wilson has dropped the term Federal Vision and thats about it. The term has been ‘problamatic’ but he still belives in the doctrine. Nothing has changed in regards to that. He still believes it and has not repented of it. https://heidelblog.net/2019/07/has-doug-wilson-really-changed-his-mind-about-the-federal-vision/

It is for these reasons that it is very confusing to see the Apologia crowd endorse, promote, swap hi fives and give air time to someone who has been routinely condemned by many godly reformed men as someone who has for years and years openly promoted and spread doctrines harmful to the gospel. https://heidelblog.net/2018/08/resources-on-the-federal-vision-theology/

This is compacted even further now that James White is taking a teaching role within Apologia Church. Could White not give the Apologia crowd a wise word of counsel? When all the social justice ills of the day are being lambasted, when sessions are being dedicated to the evils of socialism should there not be even more ample time devoted to the doctrine of federal vision? Especially since many young and old viewers of the show will know want to learn more about Doug Wilson? Especially such a divisive figure.

I for one say this “Apologia brothers and sisters I love you. I am no elder, no pastor, no deacon or debator. All I would like is clarity as someone who has listened all the way back in Redemption Radio. What is happening and why Mr Wilson?”