On David Andersen's Promulgation of Papistic Doctrines.
An open letter to the 1517 Network and to David Andersen, regarding Papistic doctrines which have recently surfaced on the Faith and Reason Exchange podcast.
If you don’t know what this is about, and you know me personally, ask me! I’m happy to explain. I have been planning this piece for a few weeks, since listening to the podcast episode on which I focus below.
In 2019, I was driving along Annandale Road, heading to Grace Lutheran Church in Falls Church, VA. I was serving as their vicar that year. And morning after morning, I was listening to the Thinking Fellows’ podcast; specifically, their loci communes series from 2016.1
Systematics had already been interesting at seminary. But through the Fellows’ conversations, it became delightful, “sweeter than honey to my mouth.”2 I learned to “hate every wrong path,”3 any theological system that steered the student away from faith in the crucified and risen Jesus Christ, who is the “Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.”
Since then, there is hardly a piece of media produced by the 1517 Network that I’ve not sampled. I believe (as of writing this letter) that I have listened to at least one episode of every podcast on the network. I continue listening to several every week. My bookshelf contains multiple works with 1517’s imprint. Just two days ago, I recommended to someone a number of John Warwick Montgomery writings, available at 1517.
Over the last two years, I have been a regular listener to The Faith and Reason Exchange. Adam Francisco’s commentary is regularly insightful and practical. I have enjoyed listening to him since those loci episodes of the Thinking Fellows. And his interest in Arabic/Islamic dialogue4 with Christianity aligns with my own.
David Andersen, likewise, has been deeply interesting to listen to. I purchased his book “What Can We Really Know?” and learned much from it. His background, coming out of Mormonism,5 shows forth in his own commentary. He is an intelligent man, and he is deeply interested in truth.6
Are my bona fides thus established? I should hope so. I do not write this letter in the spirit of those who blurt out “antinomians!” at every mention of 1517. I love the work which 1517 does, for I love the Gospel. And I write this letter spurred by that love.
In the episode of Faith and Reason Exchange which aired on June 4, 2025, there are a number of surprising remarks from David Andersen. Around 13 minutes, he discussed the nature of faith, saying the following: “I used to dismiss [the book of James]... as a Lutheran… that was a very misguided opinion of mine… What does it mean to live out faith? Can I just live out my faith and behave any way I want? Now, for decades of my Christian life, I thought that I needed to answer that yes, because faith, for me, was probably more intellectual than anything else.”
In that same episode, David shared these remarks during a discussion of the Christian life. “There’s the separating of the sheep from the goats… the individuals, such as me and you, are then judged based on whether we did those things personally. And I would suggest that me saying to Jesus at that time, ‘Well, I paid my tax dollars for that,’ that’s not gonna fly.”
Two things astounded me here. First, that a man as clearly intelligent as David Andersen could so dramatically misunderstand Lutheran teachings on the central doctrines of faith, justification, and sanctification. Second, that a man as boldly and unabashedly Lutheran as Adam Francisco - a man who helped me learn to stop worrying and love the bomb love Lutheran systematics - would allow these remarks to pass unchallenged.7
Andersen’s words align with those of the Confutation, which held that the biblical “ascription of justification to faith is not admitted.”8 What would his comment regarding the sheep and the goats mean, if not that Andersen expects to have to justify himself before Christ on the last day on the basis of his works?!
God save us! This is the very claim made by Eck: “[That] good works do not merit the remission of sins, as it has been rejected and disapproved before, is also rejected and disapproved now.”9 Such a confession stands in complete opposition to the Apology. “The blasphemy of ascribing Christ’s honor to our works is not to be endured. These theologians are now entirely without shame if they dare to bring such an opinion into the Church.”10
Surely Lutherans affirm good works as necessary! David, I cannot imagine that you would fail to have read the Apology sometime before your conversion to Rome. This is our confession: “Now, we think concerning the righteousness of reason thus, namely, that God requires it, and that, because of God’s commandment, the honorable works which the Decalog commands must necessarily be performed.”11 “We speak of such faith as is not an idle thought, but of that which liberates from death and produces a new life in hearts, and is the work of the Holy Ghost; this does not coexist with mortal sin, but as long as it is present, produces good.”12
According to 1517’s website (as of June 26, 2025), “1517 is a nonprofit organization that exists to declare and defend the Good News that you are forgiven and free on account of Christ alone.”
I ask the 1517 board: Is this still the mission which 1517 intends to pursue? Then what shall you do, when Papistic doctrines are being preached through your work? (This episode was not the only occasion on which Andersen, post-conversion, has made such comments.)
Now, I write to David Andersen specifically. (Will you see this letter? I have no idea. But I have to ask these questions.)
How can you not see that crossing the Tiber has simply taken you back to Deseret? Your preachers once again expound to you myths and meaningless talk, in place of love. “They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.”13 “Such teachings come through hypocritical liars14, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry1516 and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.”17
Am I speaking boldly enough? I intend to! The doctrine you espouse, with the platform 1517 is providing, has been rejected18 for five centuries by the churches of the Reformation as completely, inherently destructive of saving faith. God be praised that the Gospel yet manages to glimmer ever so faintly in the Roman Church, for otherwise I would despair of seeing you at the Lord’s Table one day. And I fervently wish to do exactly that.
The title of this article is meant to be clear, but not to be an attack on you as a man, David. I enjoy listening to you, despite various disagreements. But your confession stands at odds with the Scriptures.19
“Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. Grace be with you all.”20
The first episode in the series: https://www.1517.org/podcast-overview/sin-2
Psalm 119:103-104
Ibid
Don't misunderstand that word. Muslims are unbelievers. I say "dialogue" not in the sense of mutually beneficial exchanges, but in a more neutral, "conversation" sense.
If you, reader, are unfamiliar with David Andersen, let me quickly explain. Mr. Andersen was raised as a Mormon, rejected that false religion, and by God’s grace encountered the pure teaching of Scripture as epitomized in the Lutheran Confessions through the ministry of a Missouri Synod congregation. At some point in 2025, however (he has yet to publicly specify when this took place), he converted to Roman Catholicism.
Would that he and Adam thereby remained committed to the truth of God's Word regarding the creation of all things. Their rejection of Genesis 1-3 as historic (evidenced in the episode published on April 30) could be the subject of another post.
To give Adam due credit, he does, about 16:40, describe salvation as a "done deal" accomplished by Christ.
Confutation, VI
Confutation, XX
Apology, XX (81)
Apology, IV (22)
Apology, IV (64)
1 Timothy 1:17
Can enough be said about the wickedness of the false prophet of Nauvoo? Or about the manifold abuses perpetrated by the white devils and glittering Satans (Luther, "On the Councils and the Church") who have appropriated Peter's name as cover for their greed?
Confutation, XXIII: “The violation of celibacy and the illicit transition to marriage, deserves to be called the worst abuse in priests'.”
Mormonism's 1890 "Manifesto," their official prohibition of polygamy, should be included as an instance of "forbidding people to marry." Is it right to condemn polygamy? Of course! Yet issuing changeable dogmas on the validity of this or that marriage very well fits Paul's warning.
1 Timothy 4:2-4
Notwithstanding such abominations as the “Joint Declaration,” the authors of which I know you do not yourself align with. (Lutherans-In-Name-Only, who, knowing that they will not have honor from the Lord, desire in its place the approval of the very Antichrist!)
I do have another question for you, David. Were you in the process of RCIA as you recorded the Faith and Reason Exchange? Or are you now in that process? If you were in RCIA while recording the show, did you misrepresent yourself as committed to Lutheranism during that process? That question comes off accusatorily, I know, but I’m troubled by the prospect.
1 Timothy 6:20-21