Pastor Doug Wilson of Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, holds one article of faith more dearly than any other — “all warfare is based on deception” (Sun Tzu). Deception is the sine qua non of Mr. Wilson’s religion. No one can know with certainty whatever else he may believe — but he does appreciate a well-calculated lie. Consider, for example, his debate with Dr. Paul Brians in September 1999.

Every fall in Moscow, after students arrive to attend New Saint Andrews College, Christ Church hosts a debate between Douglas Wilson and whomever they can lure. They usually host it at the University of Idaho; they encourage kirkers and NSA students to attend; and they’ll get ink in the Daily News.

On Thursday, September 23, 1999, Douglas Wilson debated a professor from Washington State University named Dr. Paul Brians. Mr. Wilson and Dr. Brians agreed on the rules of the debate as well as the subject in advance, which is customary. They decided to debate the age-old question “Does God Exist,” and a week before the debate the News ran this brief:

“Does God Exist” is the subject of a debate between Paul Brians and Douglas Wilson. The debate is scheduled for Thursday at 8 p.m. in the University of Idaho’s Student Union Building.

Brians teaches the Bible as Literature in the Washington State University English Department and Wilson is the pastor of Community Evangelical Fellowship and is a Fellow of Theology at New St. Andrews College. Admittance is free. (Moscow-Pullman Daily News, September 17, 1999)

They had a full house that night — probably 800 to 1,000 people. Dr. Roy Atwood, now former president of NSA, introduced the two men as they took the stage. Dr. Atwood gave the rules of the debate that both had agreed upon and he announced the subject — “Belief in God Is Necessary for a Valid Ethics.” NB: Douglas Wilson and Roy Atwood blindsided Dr. Brians by changing the subject of the debate without notice. Dr. Brians stood at his podium and immediately interrupted Dr. Atwood, saying, “Excuse me — that’s not the subject of tonight’s debate. We agreed to debate the existence of God.” The mood in the auditorium went from excited anticipation to an awkward hush. I do not recall if Dr. Atwood replied or even if he had time, because Douglas Wilson broke the silence — “That just goes to show that you shouldn’t put your trust in man.” Right on cue kirkers cracked up, like well-trained monkeys at the circus.

Doug Wilson’s quip admitted that he deceived Dr. Brians: “you shouldn’t put your trust in man” meant “you shouldn’t have trusted Doug Wilson to keep his word.” Though I doubt the psalmist had a bait & switch in mind when he wrote Psalm 118:8. To his credit, Dr. Brians conducted himself professionally: He didn’t walk off stage; he treated Mr. Wilson with respect; and he debated the new subject without showing any sign that he’d been snake bit. But the asp did bite him. And snickered afterward.

I suspect that Dr. Brians did not know Douglas Wilson believes in the honor of “lying to the enemies of God who have forfeited their right to the truth.” I also suspect that Doug Wilson could care less about the relationship between belief in God and ethics. He didn’t that night. Methinks he was bent on not just winning the debate but humiliating his opponent, though he did neither. He did demonstrate, however, that he has mastered the devil’s tongue. And I’m pretty sure he does not believe that God exists.