No, not THAT Calvin — although maybe he has a birthday coming up, too. Posted on 06/27/2009 8:20:23 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
No, not THAT Calvin — although maybe he has a birthday coming up, too.
The rock star of the moment is John Calvin, the stereotypically dour theological chaperone of Geneva (his 500th birthday is July 10). A balanced, nicely-done story by Religion News Service writer Daniel Burke maps the lawyer’s influence on American evangelicals, particularly Southern Baptists. But why is Calvin becoming so, er, trendy? Well, it isn’t because of his clothes, his beard, or even the way he wanted to govern Geneva. It is, as Burke astutely notes in his lede, Calvin’s doctrine that is undergoing, excuse the expression, a renaissance among conservative Christians:
Like most 24-year-old men, Stephen Jones is keenly interested in sin. But while many of his peers enjoy their youthful indiscretions, Jones takes a more, shall we say, Puritanical stand.Absolute depravity? Double predestination? Full-scale refutation of the doctrine of free will? Who knew these would make such a comeback? Not only do Neo-Calvinist churches like Mars Hill, Seattle and Redeemer Presbyterian in New York City have large populations of young worshippers, but they are pastored by clergy, like Mark Driscoll and Tim Keller, who have become authors and media figures in their own rights.Last weekend (June 12-15), Jones and 4,000 other young Christians packed into a convention center in Palm Springs, Calif., to hear preachers tell them that they are totally depraved, incapable of doing the right thing without a mighty hand from God, and — most importantly — have absolutely no control over their eternal fate…
“His theology is the hottest, most explosive thing being discussed right now,” said Justin Taylor, 32, a self-described Calvinist, and an editorial director at Crossway, a Christian publisher in the evangelical heartland of Wheaton, Ill. “What he taught is extraordinarily influential right now.”
Burke notes that this surge in influence has been expressed in some innovative ways, like Facebook fan clubs and Twitter feeds. But, as he also does a good job of clearly articulating why and how this shower of Calvin-related worship, books, and church plants has brought controversy with it — even among conservative Christians.
…former Southern Baptist Convention President Jerry Vines said Calvinism inhibits evangelism and missionary work, which is the lifeblood of the SBC, the nation’s largest Protestant denomination. If Jesus died only for the elect, then what’s the point of trying to reach others, said Vines, who co-organized a conference dedicated to debunking Calvinism last year.Vine’s question is a very good one, and there are plenty of other ones that journalists could be asking the Neo-Calvinists. What the connection between the neo’s and the so-called “emerging churches?” What about Calvin’s strong anti-Catholic bias? Ann Rodgers of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette quoted Orthodox Church in America Metropolitan Jonah today as saying that Calvinism among some Anglican evangelicals was a “condemned heresy” posing a problem that needed to be resolved before full communion between the new Anglican Church in North America and OCA was possible.“I do believe it is possible to be a five-point Calvinist and be evangelistic and missionary-minded,” Vines said. “But their evangelism and missionary work is in spite of their Calvinism, and not because of it. That’s going to make some of them mad, but I do believe it.”
Yes, indeed, he’s very hot at the moment.
As the media begins to dig deeper (hopefully), the controversy over what Calvin really believed and how these new Calvinists are expressing it needs to get more attention. Burke’s article is a great beginning. If you want a more secular perspective, with some interesting history thrown in, read the Associated Press story by Hanns Neurbourg here. In a story about one of the towering figures of the Reformation, there’s remarkably little analysis of Calvin’s theology. But there is a lot of data on his influence on the arts, democracy, and economics — much of it in revolt against the sage of Geneva, an apparently humble man who would probably not have guessed that 500 years after his birth, he would be making square so hip.
Thank you! I didn’t recognize who was in the picture.
So the writer of the article thought if he said “Calvin: he’s hot, hot, hot” people would automatically think of Coolidge? Odd, odd, odd.
Romans 8:28-33Reformed theology doesn't teach that anyone can come to the faith unelected by God. Nor does it teach that election and calling doesn't require a response. Nor does it teach that evangelism is pointless. Cronos is spouting against a theology he knows little about. Try reading the Canons of Dordt, they'll help in understanding at least the five Doctrines of Grace.
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies;
:) no.
That’s what I thought post 18 meant. And when before the Almighty feeling totally wretched, ...
I don't know why Adam's sin needed to spread to all of us. But it did. And it needed to be appeased through another man.
If every man and woman were not guilty of Adam's sin, then why did Jesus have to die?
God was appeased through the torment and bloodshed of His only beloved Son. Not a pretty sight. It was His Son who willingly gave all. I can love Him (because He first loved me and was willing to send His Son), but I certainly can't appease Him by myself. His righteous judgment has been appeased through the sacrifice of His only Son.
You see, God is holy and righteous. It's His nature. He is fearsome and terrifying. No one can look on Him and live (even Moses found it impossible and terrifying). But we can clothe ourselves with Jesus and live.
Joyeux anniversaire, Jean Cauvin...
Merci beaucoup..
Ma famile etait Huguenots
Le Protestantes Francophone...
“but do you think he puts the sins of the father&mother on to the children?”
No, Scripture is clear on that. However, Adam’s sin damned us all.
“Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.” (Roman’s 5:18)
The free gift is the gospel. Through one man we fell (In Adam’s fall, we sinned all) and through one Man we can be saved (Jesus, the only one without sin, original or otherwise).
God discusses his election, even of children yet unborn, who can’t sin in and of themselves, in Romans 9:10-13 -
“And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, ‘The older shall serve the younger.’ As it is written, ‘Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.’”
So here God states that the unborn children had done no good nor evil. Yet His election stands.
The important thing, I think, is to realize that both Jacob and Esau deserved hell, because they were both sinners.
God’s mercy is shown on Jacob, but it is no disservice to Esau. It is just mercy on Jacob.
So often we react, in our sinful nature, as though God has done something wrong or unfair in saving Jacob.
“Alleluia Calvin!”
Praise God, not Calvin.
“Does God know all things?”
To say that God knows what you will do is quite different from saying God caused you to do it.
Conflation of foreknowledge and fore-ordination seems to be the core error of Calvinism.
Here's a meditation for Arminians...
1 Samuel 2:6-7: The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
I asked for a simple “yes, it’s true” or “no, it’s false” answer from you. I didn’t get it yet.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=47&chapter=5&version=31&verse=37
Okay...that makes it a little simpler. I then know that I am saved because I HAVE asked Jesus into my heart. Someone who didn’t want Jesus wouldn’t do that.
I just get concerned sometimes because when I sin (and we all do), the question comes up “Would some who is saved do that?”...and it makes me question my salvation. Then I usually have to be reminded of God’s grace and mercy and go back to 1 John 1:9.
I am reminded of something I once heard a pastor say...”You will never have a day where you get everything right. However, there will come a day when you do: the day you stand before Jesus.”
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