Mr. Phillips, we have profited from your ministry at Vision Forum but in light of your recent attacks on your brothers in Christ you might find some wisdom in a quote from “The Fellowship of the Ring”. Haldir, an Elf of Lothlorien is leading the fellowship through the beautiful woods of Lothlorien blindfolded because the elves have issues with dwarves. He says, “Indeed in nothing is the power of the Dark Lord more clearly shown than in the estrangement that divides all those who still oppose him.” Much of your article in response to Wilson’s, is misunderstanding the covenant and it’s attendant blessings and curses. I admonish you to talk with Doug Wilson before taking such an adversarial stance. F.A.

Dear F.A. Thank you for expressing your concern. First, I spoke to Brother Wilson about another controversial issue and contacted him regarding this one all within the same week. The communications were very charitable and cordial. Second, I believe that Brother Wilson is a strong enough writer and communicator that his words are capable of speaking for themselves, which is why I offered very little commentary on his position when quoting his article, and then linked to his website and urged people to read the entire article for themselves. Third, I respectfully suggest and recommend that you would be far better served seeking wisdom from God’s Holy Book which condemns sodomy and urges believers to do the same publicly, than from a fantasy novel about good warlocks vs. bad warlocks. Fourth, we have an observation at Vision Forum that whenever Reformed Christians disagree with one another, or with a non-reformed brother, but have no good argument to make in response, they start tossing out statements like: “Well, you just do not understand the covenant.” Let me extend to you an invitation to demonstrate to me from Scripture (not Tolkein) that the covenant requires believers to concede that homosexuality is genetically induced, or that the covenant requires believers to grant the civil magistrate the right to establish sodomite marriages, as Brother Wilson has directed the Church through his article. Finally, if it is division to oppose preachers telling us to roll over and play dead in the wake of the sodomite explosion in our culture, then I say that such division is biblical, that it has its roots in the numerous biblical accounts of the believers fighting for the purity of the Gospel message against falsehood.