Here’s a book I hope to read as soon as it arrives (buy it here). John Frame, professor of systematic theology and philosophy at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, has written critically of the radical two-kingdom theology coming out of Westminster Seminary California (as have David and Tim). The Escondido Theology will be a compilation of Frame’s reviews of books written by proponents of this aberrant theology. Get a head start on the book by reading a few of those reviews here (Horton), here (Clark), and here (Van Drunen).
Description of The Escondido Theology: “This book is a critical analysis of a theological movement John Frame calls The Escondido Theology. The name is chosen because this movement developed mainly among faculty members of Westminster Seminary California which is located in the city of Escondido, California. Some members of this school of thought, such as Michael Horton, Meredith Kline, and Darryl Hart, are well-known to students of Reformed theology. But these figures have never before been discussed as composing a distinctive school of thought. More often they have been discussed as individual theologians, or simply as representatives of the orthodox Reformed theological tradition. But they are not simply Reformed; they hold views that are quite distinctive, unusual and controversial. In Dr. Frame’s view, these positions are not standard Reformed theology. None of their distinctive positions is taught in any of the Reformed confessions. These positions are an idiosyncratic kind of teaching peculiar to the Escondido school. Those who teach them are a faction, even a sect. Taken in the plain sense of the terms, their positions are all unbiblical. Dr. John Frame’s The Escondido Theology is a needed corrective to the rapidly growing advocacy and acceptance of a two-kingdom approach to theology and culture. It is not only timely, considering the popularity of Two Kingdom Theology , but also because he is the right individual to address the issues, having previously served as a Professor at both Westminster in Philadelphia and then as a founding faculty member at Escondido. Dr. Frame personally witnessed the inception and development of this doctrinal view in Escondido. Dr. Frame’s insight and analysis clearly represents the Reformed Christian World and Life View because it is historically rooted in Calvinistic theology.”
Available at Amazon, too–but they are currently listing 3-6 weeks for shipment:
The Escondido Theology: A Reformed Response to Two Kingdom Theology
