This Week in Calvinism - June 25, 2010

• Jeff Peterson points out that even Arminians believe God forces His grace upon men against their will.
  
  
• Spurgeon on evangelism.
  
  
• You can check out TurretinFan's debate with Louis Ruggiero on the hardening of Pharaoh's heart.
  
  
• Ergun Caner and presuppositionalism.
  
  
• Sure, Mark Driscoll can be a bit brusque at times, but misogynistic?

This Week in Calvinism - June 18, 2010

• Jon J. Cardwell is on part 3 in a series of posts entitled "God's Purpose in Election."
  
  
• Yet another rant against Calvinism.
  
  
• Introducing C. G. Spurgeon.
  
  
• Tim Challies reviews the book Burning Down the Shack by James De Young.
  
  
• It's nice to know that Calvinists aren't as annoying or confusing as Barthians.
  
  
• William Birch doesn't like the Calvinist claim that Arminians believe man has an inherent free will. He writes, "Arminius notes that the will is not free to choose Christ, but must be freed from its bondage to sin by God's power and grace in order for one to trust in Him for salvation." However, according to Arminian theology, the final decision whether to follow Christ or not is up to the individual. So are all men free to make that decision? If so, when exactly is the will freed to make it? If, on the other hand, all men aren't free to make that decision, then how is that any different from Calvinism?
  
  
• You can watch the live webcast of Ligonier Ministries' 2010 National Conference here.

Watch the Live Webcast of Ligonier Ministries' 2010 National Conference

Here is the conference schedule (Times Eastern):

Thursday, June 17
9:00 - 9:20 a.m.
The Brave New World of New Media - Ed Stetzer

9:25 - 9:45 a.m.
Principles for Conduct in Communication - Tim Challies

10:00 - 10:20 a.m.
Taking Captive New Media for the Church - Burk Parsons

10:25 - 10:45 a.m.
The Hypersocialized Generation - Albert Mohler

10:55 - 11:55 a.m.
Questions & Answers

3:10 - 4:10 p.m.
Why Did Jesus Have to Die? - John MacArthur

5:10 - 6:00 p.m.
Is the Doctrine of Inerrancy Defensible? - Michael Horton

8:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Does the Doctrine of Divine Decrees Eliminate Human Will? - John MacArthur

Friday, June 18
8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
What Is Evil and Where Did It Come From?, R.C. Sproul

9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Why Do Christians Still Sin? - R.C. Sproul Jr.

11:40 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
How Do We Know Which Interpretation Is Right? - Derek Thomas

2:30 - 3:25 p.m.
Is the Bible Just Another Book? - Steven Lawson

4:15 - 5:15 p.m.
Is the Exclusivity of Christ Unjust? - Alistair Begg

7:15 - 8:30 p.m.
Questions & Answers

Saturday, June 19
8:30 - 9:40 a.m.
Why Does the Universe Look So Old? - Albert Mohler

9:40 - 10:30 a.m.
Is Calvinism Good for the Church? - Burk Parsons

11:15 a.m. - 12:05 p.m.
If God Is Good, How Could He Command Holy War? - Derek Thomas

12:05 - 1:00 p.m.
Can We Enjoy Heaven Knowing of Loved Ones in Hell? - R.C. Sproul

Watch it live here.

This Week in Calvinism - June 11, 2010

• Paul Manata on how Arminianism allows Calvinism to escape the charge that it makes God the "author of evil."
  
  
• Yes, doctrine divides, but that's what it's supposed to do.
  
  
• Nathanael Taylor has posted a paper entitled "Biblical Evidence for Substitutionary Atonement and Double Imputation in 2 Corinthians 5." It's a good read, and certainly more scholarly than anything you'll find on my blog.
  
  
• Calvinists have the TULIP, but Arminians have the FACTS.

This Week in Calvinism - June 4, 2010

• Many Arminians claim that Calvinism makes God the author of evil. Paul Manata responds: "We can do the same with peace and salvation. If 'author' means what Arminians say it means, then they should become Calvinists. They should deny that God foresaw their faith apart from his decree, plan, origination. God masterminded their salvation, planned their salvation, caused their salvation, and set the initial conditions in place for their salvation to follow as a consequent."
  
  
• Is Mark Driscoll the face of contemplative Calvinism?
  
  
• Calvinists should stay away from Arminian dentists.
  
  
• Some Arminians consider it unbiblical, heinous, and shocking to hear Calvinists say, as John Piper has, that God "decides who will believe and undeservingly be saved and who will rebel and deservingly perish." (By the way, that quote can be found in context here.) Funny how they can read Romans 9:22-24 and never level that same accusation at Paul.
  
  
• Michael Horton reviews N. T. Wright's book, After You Believe: Why Christian Character Matters.
  
  
• The Irish Calvinist on learning contrition, mercy and forgiveness on the baseball field.

Quote of the Week - June 1, 2010

From R. C. Sproul Jr.:

"Unbelievers deny God precisely because they would rather live not-guilty in a world of nonsense than be guilty in a universe that makes sense."