Against the Church

by Douglas Wilson

In Against the Church, longtime pastor Douglas Wilson takes a hammer to some of our very favorite graven images, and (surprise, surprise) we've set up display cases for most of them in our churches: Liturgy, Tradition, Systematics, infant Baptism, and that crafty old Baal Doctrine.

Alongside a critique of philosophical assumptions about human nature, dualism, and grace, Wilson stresses the unavoidable and absolute necessity of individual hearts being born again. He concludes by laying out the case for the church. This isn't contradictory, though—the only way to be effectually for the church is to master the case against it. After all, God Himself is the ultimate iconoclast.

Genres: Theology, Ecclesiology, Christian, Church, Christianity, Nonfiction

222 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2013

About the author

I write in order to make the little voices in my head go away. Thus far it hasn't worked.

Reviews

[Jeremy]

A response to Leithart's Against Christianity. Those who troll Wilson with FV charges likely haven't read this book, as it's a robust defense of the necessity of regeneration (the new birth). Good review here.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

As not all who are Israel are of Israel, so not all who wore the label Federal Vision are of Federal Vision. This book is the good and necessary counterbalance to DW's RINE (Reformed is Not Enough). It’s too bad that it came out too late to make a serious dent in the controversy. When it did come out, it seems like political motivations didn’t help it get a decent amount of attention either.
The point of the book is simple: the evangelical doctrine of individual regeneration (new birth) is absolutely necessary for everything Christianity is about.

If you want to know why DW never fit in with the dark-ale FV crowd, and why he gave up on the label altogether this year, read this book. You will either realize that if FV is heresy, then Doug is not FV, or that FV is a spectrum with gradations, just like the descriptive adjective "sacramental."

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely phenomenal. Might be one of my favorite Wilson books. He hit the nail on the head in so many issues here. His material particularly on the necessity and beauty of the new birth was such a blessing to me. I commend this work.

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Break, blow, burn… make me new.”

[Caleb Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't get enough of Doug's style of writing. This book is a call to check ourselves. We should stay true to the true gospel and be unwavering in that task. Highly recommend!

[Jonathan Josey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those who know me are well aware of how critical I’ve been of Doug Wilson over the last decade or so.

And while I still have my issues with him personally and even disagree with some of the content of this book (naturally, as I am a Baptist), I must say this book was fantastic. I see now how effective of a writer Wilson is, and he does a superb job of clearly defining the doctrine of regeneration in a way that is pastoral and evangelical.

[Rick Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vigorous, insightful, and necessary.

[Kofi Opoku · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was excellent. I rate its significance close to Jonathan Edwards' Religious Affections. Edwards wrote to correct excesses in the revivalist movements of his day. Similarly, Doug is bringing balance to the discussions surrounding the objectivity of the covenant and the regeneration controversy. He rightly argues that one can hold to covenant objectivity while thoroughly affirming the necessity of the new birth. He does so with all the churchmanism and intellect of an Edwards and the evangelical heart of a Whitefield. Highly recommended.

[Peter Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book that argues for regeneration in the classic sense. Pastor Wilson balances the objectivity of the covenant with the necessity of faith. It will make certain people upset and that is good.

[Robert Godinho · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I’m a Doug Wilson fan. I believe he is bold and points everything back to Jesus. Honestly, we need more pastors with those qualities. In this book, Pastor Wilson expresses the importance of the new birth and explains his view on the historic evangelical confession. He even brushes lightly over his part in the controversy of The Federal Vision, which I just received and am getting ready to read. Pastor Wilson’s book, “Against The Church”, reads like it’s title suggests. His goal is to call out and charge today’s churches with being those of white washed tombs, and while looking great on the outside, they are being filled with old bones of tradition on the inside, (my words, not his). Pastor Wilson is not afraid of controversy, just as Paul wasn’t when he was correcting the first century churches on their erroneous ways. Pastor Wilson expresses the definition and importance of regeneration and the new birth and puts that over church liturgy, sacraments, tradition and doctrine. As usual, his sense of humor and writing style kept me engaged even when the topic was dry. He is extremely intelligent and sometimes loses me on what he is describing and with some of his terminology but I have found that reading slower and perhaps multiple times, is the best solution for this. He just sees things from a different perspective then most and that’s one of the things I appreciate about him and why I love to read his books. He challenges me to think differently and to read God’s word through another lens. I hope this book challenges other pastors to do some housecleaning, to be bold, to point everything back to Jesus for His glory and to stand up and not cower to this cancel culture. We need more bold men in the church now more then ever. We need bold pastors, speaking the truth of God’s word and pointing scripture back to Jesus.

[Timothy Dehne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Part 4 is really good. It is more 2.5 stars.

[Tom Brainerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

In our church’s baptismal liturgy we have the parents in an infant baptism take oaths. One of the oaths is: “Do you understand that should you abandon these duties and responsibilities by forsaking this oath, that this baptism, rather than being a blessing, may become a curse instead?” By giving an affirmative answer the baptizing parents are affirming an understanding that baptism joined with faith is a great blessing…but that baptism without faith is a great curse. It is not the act of baptism that secures the infant in the salvation Jesus Christ bought on the cross…it is the faith in Jesus Christ as Savior that affords that security. It is one of the great ‘both/ands.’

If asked to give a short description of “Against the Church,” my response would be that it is a 212-page ‘both-and,’ a corrective against certain of the excesses and partial false-starts that some of the Reformed camps have engaged in. Just as bare baptism does not save, but ‘both baptism and faith’ save (better ‘both FAITH and baptism’ save), there is a whole series of ‘both/ands’ Wilson deals with. Doing the work of a ‘gospeller’ (as Don Carson puts it), Wilson hammers the anvil of ‘regeneration.’ As Jesus says, speaking to Nicodemus in John 3, “You must be born again.” Wilson follows, ringing the anvil: ‘both REGENERATION and liturgy…both REGENERATION and sacraments…both REGENERATION and doctrine…’ Without regeneration, without that change of nature and that change of parentage from Satan to Yahweh…all the rest is nothing worth.

Bravo, Pastor Wilson

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wilson's "Against the Church" does an excellent job of pointing us to Christ and defending his view of regeneration and the necessity of the new birth. In that, he has done us a favor and the book is a service to the Church.

His style in the book is superbly "Wilsonesque." Having made his point in the first 30-40 pages or, to state it more graphically, having shot the horse with a .50 caliber, he proceeds to reload about a dozen more times. Now, my hyperbole draws me to another matter. Because Wilson so generously uses hyperbole, he then requires himself to provide about a billion qualifications (hyperbole again), only to leave the reader wondering what he really meant anyway. In so doing, I would imagine that a lot of readers leave the book with more questions than answers, or different questions, or droopy eyes.

Wilson's overstatements and repetition hint of a far bigger disagreement over the matters discussed in the book, yet he does not engage in his opponent's arguments in any meaningful or enlightening way. In other words, there is a debate going on, but Wilson speaks as if the platform only has one microphone.

So, 4 stars for much of the content; 2 stars for style and stuff.

[Pete Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book to start the new year off with. At the heart of it, Wilson is arguing for the vital importance of regeneration, the "new birth" - not just as a theological doctrine, but as a reality in the life of the church. As always, Wilson seasons his prose with provocative turns of phrases, but provocative not in the sense of offending (necessarily), but of stimulating further reflection.

[Caleb M. Powers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I really did. But it's also probably my least favorite Doug book so far as I make my way through his bibliography. The book was scattered, which, the author admits, is partially the point. But for me, it was scattered to the point of almost losing me about halfway through. Not Doug's usual slick interconnectivity that leads from point to point in a way that gets you to your destination on time and having enjoyed yourself.

And I think I know what it is. The paedobaptism wheels really fell off for Doug in this book. The book is primarily about regeneration and the new birth, and having a robust evangelicalism, all to which I can give a hearty amen. But Doug had to spend so much time backtracking and explaining how he could still be a paedobaptist and an FV guy even though his evangelicalism is obviously trying to buck those, that it was a little painful to watch.

At the end of the day, the book would have been a lot more coherent if it was written by a reformed baptist, someone who shares his goals and aims here, but doesn't have to keep explaining why everything he's saying actually really does still allow us to baptize babies and treat every baptized Christian as if they are really, spiritually united to Christ.

Doug tries to do a balancing act, and some of his tricks while riding the unicycle really are fun to watch, but at the end of the day he can't keep juggling it all. One of the balls is going to have to be dropped. Unfortunately, I think it ends up being his evangelicalism.

[Jake Litwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Regeneration is a sovereign act of the Holy Spirit which monergistically transforms a child of the devil into a child of God, and which necessarily results in a life of repentance and faith being subsequently manifest in that individual." The thesis of this book is: the evangelical doctrine of individual regeneration (new birth) is absolutely necessary for everything Christianity is about. Regeneration is not just a theological doctrine but must be a living reality in the church.

Unfortunately Wilson has been falsely accused of teaching "baptismal regeneration" because of the overblown FV controversy that took place a number of years ago. This is the book that refutes it completely. Wilson gives a very strong case for believing in the Reformed orthodox evangelical position of regeneration and the individual new birth justified by faith and faith alone. He spends a good amount of time talking about reading the Bible for what is written, and not imposing personal systematics to it. He also gives helpful thoughts on the reality of believers and unbelievers (sweeps and goats) within the church.

Don't read the false assumptions on the internet. Read Wilson, read this book to see for yourself.

[Thomas Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good. But I think this book pushes me towards agreeing more with Leithart and the Augustinians than with Doug and "evangelicals" as defined in the book. I honestly lean more and more the Theopolis direction, as I see Doug trying to hold two ropes tugging him different directions.
(That image sounds worse than I mean, since both Augustinians and evangelicals are building the kingdom, but it helps demonstrate the problem.)

There's a lot in here that goes hand in hand with Leithart and his direction (as Doug admits, and you can see by reading Against Christianity, these are companion books). So I give a hardy amen. But where the conversation tips towards the scary FV and Theopolis direction, Doug comes out less consistent than his oatmeal stout brothers.

[Rusten · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book written by a pastor, if you don't understand that from the get go, I think you'll miss the pastoral heart behind it. In this book, Wilson demonstrates his commitment to Sola Scriptura and takes seriously the biblical statements regarding apostasy as well a the biblical statements regarding covenant membership and Grace. The motivation behind this book seems to originate from a pastor who desires that all the members in his Church come to a true saving faith in Christ, knowing full well that there are many in every flock who are unregenerate.

[Jesus Salgado · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I love about Doug Wilson is that he takes important conversations within the church and makes them simple to understand and fun to read. Douglas Wilson stresses the need to return to the roots that the churches thrived under for millenniums and makes strong and important points that the body of Christ should embrace. You won’t be disappointed here.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is certainly not Uncle Doug's best work, but it is clear and can be helpful. I listened to this last year, it was very helpful. I read it this year, not so much. The more I jump into the Federal Vision stuff, I find Uncle Doug to be FV kindergarten, as R. C. Sproul is Reformed kindergarten. They both have their time and place, but if we never move on, we'll never mature.

[Jon Sheets · Rating 4 out of 5]

It walked the line of mystery and non mystery on genuine vs inauthentic. An enjoyable and convicting read. The New Birth and being born again are the prerequisites for all else that flows from it, is the simplified blurb. Solid reading for Christians.

[Kevin Godinho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook. I purchased a copy and will be reading it soon. I need the information in this book, particularly in regards to regeneration, in front of my face to help me think. I'll write a follow up review at a later date, once the physical copy is completed.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this on the Canon App, and I guess I forgot about adding this book to my “read”
Stuff since I listened instead.. Fun book and timely for the church.

[Sean Kewley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A first time into the theology of Church, and how (much of) the Bible pertains to the Church. Will read again after tackling other titles on the Church.

[Nate Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not Pastor Doug’s best – by his own admission, this is a JV version of Against Christianity, and as such it contains little you can’t get elsewhere.

[Jerome Bushnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

As is the case with most of Wilson's work, Against the Church is worth reading.

[Gelu Timoficiuc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminded me of an amber ale I once had.

[Matthew Rawlings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wilson's cogent indictment of the modern church. Worth the time.

[Emma R. Pilcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I survived the baptist bashing.

[Exodus Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the back of Doug Wilson's Against the Church, Gregory Thornbury compares the book to Kierkegaard's seminal Attack Upon "Christendom". It's a fair comparison in that both Wilson and Kierkegaard strike at the same basic problem—that the Church is full of piety, but is in many quarters as dead as the surrounding world.

Wilson would say this dead Christianity is due to a lack of regeneration. (Kierkegaard pinned it more specifically on institutionalization, but the concerns were basically the same.) More than in any of Wilson's many books, we see him taking especial pride in his identity as an evangelical, as one concerned above all else with the new birth through faith in Jesus Christ.

This new birth comes only through the work of the Spirit, and when it comes it smashes our idols, even the idols that we think make us acceptable to God, or the idols we've made out of good things God has given us. These include liturgy, the sacraments, tradition, systematic theology, and more.

As always, Wilson is polemical, with a tendency toward strident and biting wit. He says "damn" and "hell" a lot, which we don't find offensive but which may undercut his message in some quarters. He makes a lot of direct in-joke references to a certain breed of Presbyterian which he obviously has little fondness for ("Machen's warrior children", we know who we are). He has no problem taking potshots and saying some pretty eyebrow raising things.

But critics and fans of Wilson have largely learned to take these things in stride. They may be off-putting or endearing, but underneath it all Wilson makes some excellent points, particularly that anything can become an idol, and if we use the elements of our faith and religion as ladders to heaven rather than gifts from the God who saves, we've missed the whole point.

To this, we utter a hearty Amen! Yet if Wilson can air his grievances against the church, surely members of that church who have been regenerated may respond with a couple complaints of their own. First of all, the book reads more like a series of journal entries or blog posts (which they may have been) than a coherent book. This makes the overall gist hard to follow at times, and detracts from the unified theme.

The second concern is more important. Wilson is a known lover of paradox, and those who've read any of his books will be ready for that pattern here. Yet the way he employs paradox in Against the Church, while not necessarily different, is more dangerous because of the subject matter.

Over and over again we're told that God "trashes Scripture," that God is the great iconoclast who smashes the images he makes, and much more in like vein. While we agree that sometimes things must be killed before they can rise to new life, Wilson often leaves his paradoxes fuzzy, with not enough clear explanation. He has a point, but he isn't Scripture and shouldn't try to imitate it by creating his own paradoxes and leaving them for us to interpret.

That said, this is a needed book, one that reminds us what the Church is for in the first place. Wilson would do well in the future to take a more humble stance, one in which he admits his own shortcomings as well as pointing out those of others, but sometimes the church just needs to be dressed down in order to be brought to its senses.
Read more of this review (and more like it) on our website.