So what is it about Calvinism that is drawing so many Christian to it like a magnet? Last March, I had the privilege of working with Chad Warren of Worldview Academy during TeenPact Iowa 2010. Chad believes that the answer to that question is reaction. Just as the Emergent church claims to be a reaction to postmodernism, New Calvinism is a response to the Emergent church.
Since before I was born, the Body of Jesus Christ, at least in the West, has been dominated by “feel good theology.” Emotion-centric praise teams lead worship. Pastors are judged by how many laughs they can accumulate from the audience. Youth ministries focus more on pizza and dodgeball than on biblical teachings. To most Christians today, God is a benevolent, loving grandpa and Jesus is no longer the King of kings, but the Buddy of buddies.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m all for an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Daddy. However, there’s so much more to God than a flippant deity who speaks softly and carries a twig. This is where Young Calvinism comes in.
You can say what you want about predestination and unconditional election, but whether they’re right or wrong, Calvinists are doctrinally-centric, Bible-focused believers. It’s not about getting a fuzzy feeling. It’s about glorifying God.
This is where Reformed theology offers something that is far too uncommon in modern Christian circles. The whole point to Calvinism is that God is God is God and He can do whatever He wants. We don’t have to like it. We don’t have to understand it. We just have to submit to it.
So, regardless of what you believe about Calvinism, there’s something that can be learned from it. When John Calvin first came on the scene, his teachings went upstream of the social status quo which was rooted in corrupted theology and dead religion. Now, our culture has stooped back to wishy-washy doctrines. It’s time for a new generation of reformers to bring our culture back to the Word of God.
You need to write more.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding us just who God is. How slack we get while in this journey.
ReplyDeleteThat is really good Josh, definitely made me think. Chad Warren is one awesome guy. :)
ReplyDeleteThat he is. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Josh. I'm looking forward to more good stuff on your blog. :)
ReplyDeleteGrandpa was amazed at your article. Keep up the good work and meditation.
ReplyDeleteCLARIFICATION: The purpose of this post is not to advocate Calvinism. In a real technical sense I am neither Calvinist or Arminian and I'm certainly not Reformed. Rather, the purpose was to point out some of the positive elements of New Calvinism which have led to its rise in recent years.
ReplyDeleteJosh, I found you on the Young Christian Bloggers site where you were posted recently. I was planning on reading and thinking more before I commented, but this one really struck a chord with me. My best friend is a Calvinist and I'm not (my category is pretty much the same as yours), but this is one thing that I've noticed and appreciated over and over when we debate reformed theology. She's not saying she likes everything about her theology; she's just saying that God makes the rules, not us. We disagree about how the rules work, but I'd much rather be in her shoes, accepting and submitting to God, than trying to redefine Him according to criteria I like better. And (in reference to your latest post on disagreeing in a Christian manner) you'll be happy to know that we fight like gentlewomen.
ReplyDeleteYaashaMoriah: Thanks for commenting. I'm glad to her that there are people out their debating like "gentlewomen" ;-). For me, my Reformed friends help challenge non-Calvinist like myself to delight in the God who is and not the God I want to exist.
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