If DW is a "good man," then why not embrace the Moscow Mood?
It's a tinge he's cultivated and encouraged: pugnacious, assertive, vile-in-language, self confident to the point of arrogance, resistant to correction, unaccountable.
Besides being self-ordained, DW has shown himself to be at odds with the Reformed confession on crucial doctrine. How is he competent to lead in matters theological? If he's a leader for the American church, and he's going to wear the name "Reformed" (even when he says such an identity is "not enough,") he ought minimally to be in subjection to what Reformed and Presbyterian churches confess, and be in subjection to his brethren--starting with waiting to be prepared for ministry, called to ministry by the church, then ordained by the church. If he is not reliable in basic theology, how is he judged a safe guide for "applied theology" as that is pronounced (allegedly) to befit the culture?
And why should any leader for the church in America be in consequence a leader for general society? This whole concept assumes a certain deeper mission for the church: namely that it's task on earth is to set or try to set the trend or the plan of action (agenda?) for the wider culture in which it is set. Is that what the church is to do, according to Christ and his apostles? The church and its principal leadership are as a rule set on a contrary course to that of the world; not only in its direction and morals, but also in its methods and its manners. DW displays what of the meekness and gentleness of Christ? Has DW ever countenanced "suffering for doing good," or even "going the extra mile" as a way of witness? He's advised open defiance of earthly authority, for the publicity it brings. What happened to St.Paul's admonition: to aspire to live quietly and godly?
DW is guilty of major pastoral malpractice. In addition to covering up illegal gambling operations, he came to the defense of rapist and ped0phile. He is known to blame victims for the sins against them. Rather than advocating for the strict justice standard allegedly drawn from the Bible--one he loudly promotes--that it should be applied to parties within his zone of power, as much as to those outside his sphere of influence; instead, he pleads for mercies, for reduced sentences, for leniency from the courts. Or he aims at avoiding secular courts altogether when yet actual crimes are committed by members of his church or staff at his school. He united in marriage an impressionable young lady with a man who has a lifetime probation for being a fixated child-predator. Double standards abound with DW.
What's not to like?
In a moment of major confusion for the USA and the "western world," with instability affecting the whole earth, men like DW are using bullhorns to get attention and build momentum. These are not men of principle, but pragmatists, opportunists. In other words: they are completely worldly, not otherworldly. They are ends-justifies-the-means sorts. They are not scrupulous to the scriptural injunction, particularly when it defies the "logic" of the age. The meek will inherit the earth; but in the age to come, not this present one. Lose your life now, in order to save it. Accept the plundering of your goods, for the future possession of heaven. Resist not torture, for the promise of a better resurrection.
