This Week in Calvinism - February 24, 2012

• Sioux County is an economic leader in Iowa. Is it really due in large part to Calvinism?
  
  
• Justified by faith or works?
  
  
• Turns out we Calvinists have misinterpreted Romans 9. When we read "not because of works," what the text is really saying is that God's "mercy isn't based upon adherence to the works of the Mosaic law." So, we were right in that salvation isn't based on works; we were only wrong on which works Paul was referring to? I always thought works were works.
  
  
• Justin Taylor interviews Greg Forster, author of The Joy of Calvinism.
  
  
• How would you identify a God not worthy of worship?

Exodus 20:13

Contemporary "Christian" Music

Are most contemporary Christian radio stations trying to reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ? Sadly, no. They are trying to keep their average listener, the 38 year old soccer-mom with 3 kids, from changing the station. Recording artist Matt Papa writes:

Christian radio plays songs for Becky. The labels know that in order to sell music, they have to get songs on radio. Radio = Becky. So the labels coerce their artists and bands to all write and record songs for Becky….songs that will make her feel good. Songs that tell her she is good. Songs that are “safe for the whole family”. Songs that remind her of her snow-flake-ness and tell her to turn that frown upside-down. Songs that focus on love and hope. Songs that aren’t confrontational. Songs that aren’t theological because man, that stuff is up in the clouds. Songs that don’t talk about blood and crosses and depressing stuff like that. Songs that focus on Becky and her busy life. And if the artists or bands want to write songs for another demographic or another purpose, that’s fine, they can just make music somewhere else. There is money to be made.

So, here we are. Bands/Artists who want to be heard write songs for Becky. Christian radio, therefore, is for the most part an altar where chipper, inauthentic, boring, unscriptural, untruthful, gospel-absent, ear-tickling, man-centered songs are offered to an idol named Becky.

I’ve been on a couple labels in my short musical career, and I testify that this is (sadly) how things work.

I love Becky. I really do. That’s part of the reason I’m writing this. Becky needs to be ministered to just like I do and just like everyone else does. But Christian radio/industry people: please MINISTER TO HER!! Stop giving her what she WANTS….GIVE HER WHAT SHE NEEDS and that is the GOSPEL….or stop calling yourself “christian”. There is NOTHING “christian” about telling someone who has cancer that they are ok. Stop tickling her ears. Becky is a human being who needs to hear the truth of Christ, not an object to use for your financial gain. Woe to you. And here’s a novel idea: Why not target other people besides Becky?!?! The gospel has no demographics! Christ shed His blood for all people everywhere and you have mis-represented Him. I pray with all my heart that the money tables in your temple would soon be overturned.

Over the next few months, Papa will be writing a series of posts on the current state of the Christian music industry. The article featured here is part two. You can read part one here.

(via A Twisted Crown of Thorns)

This Week in Calvinism - February 17, 2012

• Beware the dangers of encroaching Calvinism!
  
  
• Maybe Southern Baptists are afraid of Calvinism because they just don't understand it.
  
  
• It seems closet Calvinists sneaking into pastoral positions in non-Calvinist churches is a huge problem. Roger Olson hears about that kind of thing happening "all the time."
  
  
• I've always been amazed how people are able to work their fiery hatred of Calvinism into completely unrelated topics. Jef Otte managed to do it in a column comparing Johnny Cash to Paul McCartney. And he does it with a little NSFW language, of course.
  
  
• Sure. I guess you could say Calvinism really is all about God.
  
  
• Tim Challies invites you to join him on his journey through The Pilgrim's Progress.

This Week in Calvinism - February 10, 2012

• A few weeks ago, Daniel Ausbun promised a biblical critique of Calvinism. This week, he delivers...well, if you consider throwing out arguments like "Four key texts in the New Testament affirm an unlimited atonement, referring to the 'world'", an actual critique.
  
  
• Sorry, Dan Corner. How exactly does that refute Calvinism?
  
  
• Peter Lumpkins worries that sneaky Calvinists are destroying local churches.
  
  
• Tim Challies on John Piper's unexpected career in hip-hop.
  
  
• Phil Johnson addresses faithfulness, fruitfulness, and the twisted notion of evangelical celebrity.

"Poster Couple" for Gay Marriage Divorce

NBC reports:

When gay couples first sought the right to legally wed in California, they argued that they were entitled to all of the benefits of marital bliss.

It was only a matter of time before that benefit extended to the right to split up.

Even as the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals found California's ban on gay marriage unconstitutional Tuesday, one of the state's first gay couples to tie the knot was calling it quits.

Robin Tyler filed for divorce from Diane Olson on January 25. The pair were among 14 same-sex couples who originally challenged the ban in 2008.

Is nothing sacred anymore?

Psalm 19:1

(via St. Eutychus)

This Week in Calvinism - February 3, 2012

• New Calvinism finds Southern Baptist fans in Owensboro, Kentucky.
  
  
• Roger Olson reflects on his discussions with Michael Horton on Calvinism and Arminianism.
  
  
• Remembering the Prince of Preachers.
  
  
• The gospel shouldn't be performance art.
  
  
• The Mugging: A Parable.
  
  
• Tim Challies is interviewed in Bible Study Magazine, and a discounted subscription is available to readers of his site.