The Contemporary Calvinist: June 2013

Friday, June 28, 2013

This Week in Calvinism - June 28, 2013

Jerry Faught writes, "For now at least, fundamentalism is the new center holding the SBC together, despite the repudiations of post-takeover SBC seminarians who continue to assert that they are either conservative evangelicals or Reformed evangelicals."
Is Al Mohler "the most important Calvinist on the planet"?
Some of the wording in the SBC committee's report on Calvinism has Roger Olson worried about disingenuous Calvinists:
I tend to think that no self-respecting Calvinist can or should ever say that "God loves everyone and desires to save everyone" without following that immediately with "but sovereignly chooses to allow some he could save to go to hell for eternity without any real opportunity to be saved." That would be totally honest and forthcoming. Less is not.
American Vision's Joel McDurmon wants to know: "Is the PCA on a similar path as the PCUSA?"
Kevin O'Brien calls Calvinists "narcissistic nihilists" who might as well support abortion because they "see rights resulting from power only. If you [have] enough power to have a solid claim to life, you have a right to keep it; if you don't, or if you prove useless to someone who has more power than you, you have no rights." Yep. It's a good thing we Calvinists all know exactly which individuals are elect and which are not.
If you can't stomach reading Paul Dohse's anti-Calvinist rants, you probably won't want to watch these videos from his anti-Calvinist 2013 Conference on Gospel Discernment and Spiritual Tyranny.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Evolution vs. God

Available for download on July 9.

Friday, June 21, 2013

This Week in Calvinism - June 21, 2013

Tim Brister offers his take on the "Baptist Battle of Calvinism."
Joe Aguillard, president of Louisiana College, in a recent interview, claims he doesn't like labels. That may explain why he has a hard time distinguishing between Calvinism and hyper-Calvinism.
At long last, Roger Olson responds to the statement from the SBC's Calvinism Advisory Committee. "When I read this statement," he writes, "I want it to be adopted, with proper modifications, by American evangelicals as a whole."
Alan Kurschner sets the record straight regarding a disturbing rumor that has been circulating about Calvinists.
"Predestination." You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

Friday, June 14, 2013

This Week in Calvinism - June 14, 2013

Kevin Gutzman of The American Conservative reviews the book Roger Sherman and the Creation of the American Republic. Author Mark David Hall says, "I am not arguing that Calvinism was the only influence on Sherman and his colleagues, simply that it was a very important influence that needs to be taken more seriously if we are to appreciate the political theory and actions of many of America's founders."
According to Greg Horton of the Kansas City Star, "One aspect of Calvinism that makes traditional Baptists deeply uncomfortable is the doctrine of 'predestination,' the idea that Jesus died on the cross only for humans whom God had elected to save, not for everyone."
"That idea," writes the Associated Press, "does not sit well with many non-Calvinist Baptists, who believe Jesus died for the whole world."
By the way, the Southern Baptist Convention held its annual meeting in Houston on June 11 and 12.
Thomas Hill shares some of the highlights from the convention.
Wade Burleson, in a post entitled "How to Kiss Calvinism Goodbye: The Gracious Way to Depart from the Doctrine of God's Distinguishing Love," writes, "To rightly believe in God's sovereignty and God's unconditional love you must either be a Calvinist or a universalist."
Roger Olson takes issue with the implication "that universal salvation is the only alternative to Calvinism."
An inspiring free will poster from Eddie Eddings.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Dealing with Spiritual Sluggishness

Jon Bloom of Desiring God discusses a problem I believe most of us suffer from more often than we like to admit:

Spiritual sluggishness is not to be tolerated; it's to be fought. It's potentially a faith-race abortifacient (Hebrews 3:19). It's a weight that needs to be laid aside (Hebrews 12:2). So how do you do that?

Identify the doubt. Sluggishness has a cause. What is sapping your faith?

Repent. Unbelief is a sin. Seek to actively turn from it.

Target that unbelief with biblical truth. Stop whatever else you may be doing for devotional reading and focus on and pray through texts that deal directly with this issue. Lay aside your other book reading and read things that address this doubt.

Don't go it alone. Humble yourself and share your struggle with trusted counselors God has given you. Our great Coach often speaks through assistant coaches (Hebrews 3:13).
Spiritual sluggishness is common to man (1 Corinthians 10:13). We all experience it. In the slog of our long faith-race and the adversity we encounter from the world, our flesh, and the devil (Ephesians 2:2–3), there are times the reward gets obscured by confusion and discouragements.
Though we may not want them, these are when we most need our Coach's exhortations. They may sting, they may humble us, but they are laced with mercy because they help clear our muddled minds, shake off the lethargy, and run again with endurance.

Read the full article here.

Friday, June 07, 2013

This Week in Calvinism - June 7, 2013

Adam Harwood lists five reasons why he's thankful for the SBC Calvinism committee's report.
It seems the report is receiving pretty good reviews all-around.
Louisiana College President Joe Aguillard believes the root of all conflict at the school is Calvinism.
There are Calvinist Baptists, so why are there no Lutheran Baptists?
No, really, why not?
Calvinism aside, fewer Americans believe that religion is influential on daily American lives.
Roger Olson has some ideas for a children's book after hearing of the recent publication of Help, Mom! There are Arminians Under My Bed!