Book Review: The Auburn Avenue Theology

Author: Brian M. Schwertley; Publisher: Covenanted Reformation Press; Length: 255 pages; Available From: Reformation Heritage Books

I first became aware of the heretical teachings of the Federal Vision/Auburn Avenue Theology as a result of listening to several lectures by Brian Schwertley over two years ago. Thus it has been good to finally be able to read his published critique of the Monroe teachings. The book is basically divided into three parts; the first being an analysis of the Federal Vision’s denial of justification by faith alone, the second exposes their other Romanizing doctrines, and the third is a defence of the imputation of Christ’s active obedience.

In the first section, the author explains the Federal Visionists pathway to heresy, and how they have redefined key theological terms so that they sound orthodox, but are in fact teaching heresy while still utilizing Protestant and Reformed terminology (i.e. faith is redefined as “faithful obedience”). Moreover, he then examines how their rejection of the covenant of works leads to a major perversion of the doctrine of justification. Although not all who have questioned the language of the covenant of works (John Murray, R.J. Rushdoony et al) have gone down this road, the Auburn Avenue’s supposed denial of “merit” (i.e. Adam meriting eternal life by perfect obedience) leads them to deny the orthodox view of justification. This is because if Adam would have gained eternal life as a result of faithful obedience, rather than earning it as a reward for perfect obedience to the law, then it must follow that people can attain eternal life today without perfect obedience to the law being credited to their account (i.e. the active obedience of Christ). Hence, it follows that justification (on the Federal Vision view) is ultimately on account of one’s own imperfect works of faithful obedience. In other words, one enters into initial justification by faith, but that works of faithful obedience are essential to continuing in a state of justification and of receiving final justification on the last day. Thus, the ultimate ground of one’s justification is not the merits of Jesus Christ, but one’s own sin-polluted good works. Consequently, no matter how much Federal Visionists deny it, their view is that sinners receive eternal life on account of their own meritorious good works. This teaching is damnable heresy; anyone who knowingly embraces it is going to hell, as they are not trusting in Christ alone, but in their own filthy good works (Gal. 1:6-9).

In the second part, Rev. Schwertley considers how the Federal Vision’s rejection of the distinction between the visible and invisible church – as it has been historically understood in Reformed theology – leads to a rejection of Calvinistic views concerning the atonement and perserverance, and leads to an espousal of baptismal regeneration. Moreover, it is shown that the view that all those who are baptised receive all of the saving benefits at the moment of baptism and are truly united to Christ – and yet who may actually apostasize – overturns Calvinistic views of salvation, by denying particular redemption and the perservence of the saints. Furthermore, Auburn Avenue Theology can never offer believers assurance of salvation, because when do I know that I have done enough works of covenantal faithfulness in order to be justified at the last day? The answer to this question is that you can never be certain at all.

Finally, the author provides us with a helpful appendix on how to avoid such doctrinal subversion, through strict subscription to confessional standards, church discipline, and through sound teaching both in the church and in the home. Perhaps the main advantage of this particular anti-Federal Vision book, over the others in the genre, is its brevity, which means that more people should be able to read it.

However, I was slightly disappointed by a somewhat inaccurate footnote claiming that the Federal Vision was influenced by the “dark side” of the Christian Reconstructionist movement (Christian Reconstruction is not really a movement in the proper sense of the word). He (correctly) cites James Jordan as an influence. Yet James Jordan abandoned Christian Reconstruction by 1990 (at the very latest) and is now an outspoken opponent of Theonomy (as are other Federal Visionists), while the Federal Vision arose in 2002. Although, in fairness, he does note that while Greg Bahnsen and R.J. Rushdoony were not perfect, they would have opposed the Federal Vision. As a Christian Reconstructionist myself, I would state that the Federal Vision cannot be reconciled with Reconstructionism, as it denies sola fide and historic Calvinism. Remember Christian Reconstruction is not a group of individuals but a set of doctrines – Calvinism, Presuppositionalism, Theonomy and Postmillennialism. Moreover, we should not be surprised if a theology like Reconstructionism, which challenges human autonomy, is itself attacked by Satan (just as the apostolic church was attacked by Judaizers). Aside from this minor point, The Auburn Avenue Theology is well worth your time reading, and, like any book by Brian Schwertley, is honestly and passionately written.

Rating: 9/10

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