This Week in Calvinism - February 26, 2016

• An Irish priest writes, "...Calvinism, with its bleak, dour and limited outlook, is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ." Seems like an impartial assessment to me.
  
  
• I'm not sure why someone is asking, but can you answer this question: How is existentialism any different from Puritanism or Calvinism?
  
  
• "Wondering Eagle" analyzes the growth of Reformed theology within the Evangelical Free Church of America. Looks like the SBC isn't the only denomination being infiltrated by Calvinists.
  
  
• Melinda Penner at Stand to Reason reviews the movie Risen.
  
  
• Felix the (Calvinist) Cat.
  
  
• John Piper explains the source of biblical love.

This Week in Calvinism - February 19, 2916

• (Straw man) Calvinism carried out to its "logical" conclusion.
  
  
• Roger Olson writes, "Evangelicals can and do disagree about whether individuals' inclusion in God's elect people involves any level of free will, but all agree that the existence of the people of God is not dependent on human choice." "All agree"? Really?
  
  
• Pastor Ronnie Rogers attempts to "decode" Calvinism.
  
  
• Scottish politician Kenny MacAskill loves how secular his country has become, and he doesn't miss the "stultification and suffocation brought about by undiluted Calvinism."
  
  
• David A. Robertson, Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland, responds: "Perhaps we should ask: what have the Calvinists ever done for us? Apart from being catalysts for education, democracy and the Enlightenment?"
  
  
• Tim Challies on the character of the Christian.
  
  
• Jon Bloom on resting in the Prince of Peace.

This Week in Calvinism - February 12, 2016

• Roger Olson is pleased with the revised, enlarged, and re-published edition of William Klein's book about "corporate election," finding it "completely compatible with classical Arminian theology."
  
  
• David Murray on the impact of Calvinism on education.
  
  
• A poem by Calvinist Snoopy.
  
  
• Pastor Danny is a bit confused about what Calvinism teaches, but it's nice to hear a sermon against Calvinism that isn't delivered by some insulting, hot-tempered preacher.
  
  
• Get 50% off R. C. Sproul's booklet series Biblical Answers to Life's Crucial Questions. Offer ends February 16.

How to provoke your children to anger

As fathers, we don't need any help coming up with ways to make our children angry or resentful. It sort of comes naturally to us. Mark Altrogge offers a pretty inclusive list of what some of those things are. We can provoke our children to anger:

• By constantly criticizing them and not encouraging them. When they feel they can never please us enough.
  
• By having double standards – Do as I say, not as I do. Expecting them to do things we don’t do, e.g. ask forgiveness, humble themselves, etc.
  
• By anger and harshness
  
• By a lack of affection
  
• By telling them what to do or not do without giving Biblical reasons (e.g., Do it because I said to do it, or because it’s just wrong).
  
• By being offended at their sin because it bothers us, not because it offends God.

Take a moment to read the rest here. And remember that we fathers are sinners too.

This Week in Calvinism - February 5, 2016

• "Dear non-Calvinist..."
  
  
• Mitch Bogen discusses Bob Dylan's "beautiful Calvinism."
  
  
• Calvinism as an apologetic.
  
  
• Roger Olson writes, "'Reformed' is a spiritual-theological identity not tied to 'five point Calvinism' and certainly not tied to complementarianism or belief in biblical inerrancy."
  
  
• Richard Mouw reflects on Abraham Kuyper's words regarding the mingling of church and state.
  
  
• The impact of Calvinism on culture.
  
  
• From Christianity Today: "American Christians apparently aren't Calvinists when it comes to football." True. Even though I know the outcome of the game is predetermined, I still cheer like an Arminian.
  
  
• Writes Arminian William Birch:

  Calvinists evoke mental images of an impersonal and analytic God who cares primarily about rescuing numbers -- objects -- instead of caring about and loving helpless sinners in need of His grace and mercy. We are presented with a calculated God who gives people cancer, like John Piper's God (link), and who has decreed that people suffer, while they evoke their myriad passions during the suffering He has brought about, while He shows no passion whatsoever.

  When all else fails, create a straw man.