This Week in Calvinism - December 28, 2018

• According to a recent study, "Christians who hold Calvinist beliefs are more likely to believe certain myths about domestic violence against women and oppose social justice advocacy." Does that mean we need to change our acronym to TULIPS, with the "S" standing for "spousal abuse"? Look for this to be used against Calvinist beliefs.
  
  
• How does a mom pray as a Calvinist?
  
  
• Anti-Calvinist crusader Dr. Leighton Flowers responds.
  
  
• Is Calvinism unlivable?
  
  
• "Pastor" Steven Anderson lashes out at Jeff Durbin.
  
  
• The folks at Worldview Weekend speak out against "extreme Calvinism and their Lordship salvation error."
  
  
• Dr. James White's latest edition of Radio Free Geneva features an updated them song.

This Week in Calvinism - December 7, 2018

• Is "Calminianism" really a thing?
  
  
• Greg Laurie believes Calvinism and predestination don't matter.
  
  
• Four views of free will.
  
  
• Can I tell everyone that God loves them?
  
  
• Save up to 50% on Reformation Study Bibles from Ligonier.
  
  
• How will you decide to read through the Bible in 2019?

This Week in Calvinism - November 2, 2018

• Roger Olson has long believed that "the God of TULIP Calvinism cannot be good." Well, he's still at it:

  So, when I argue that God predestining to eternal torment those he could save would be not good but evil I am not imposing an alien, philosophical concept of "good" on God. I am simply following Edwards in believing that "good" is self-evidently benevolence to being—even in God.

  Shouldn't the "good" in anything be judged in light of bringing glory to God? If the punishment of sin glorifies God, then the God of TULIP Calvinism cannot help but be good.
  
  
• Pastor Brian Mann sums up Calvinism in a sermon: "Calvinism is largely telling us how God loved us."
  
  
• Davis Carlton addresses the charge by Leighton Flowers that Calvinism feeds the victim mentality underlying the social justice movement.
  
  
• James White responds to a Catholic Answers article against Calvinism.
  
  
• The anti-Calvinist SBC Today blog is shutting down "for the foreseeable future."
  
  
• In the mood for some "Reformation rap"? Check out The Five Points of Calvinism, the latest album from hip-hop artist Aaron Ventura.
  
  
• Enter to win free stuff from Ligonier Ministries and Reformation Trust.

Happy Reformation Day!

This Week in Calvinism - October 19, 2018

• Does Calvinism promote victimhood?
  
  
• John Piper offers us a prayer for every hour.
  
  
• On the latest episode of The Dividing Line, Dr. James White responds to Dr. Eric Mason's book, Woke Church: An Urgent Call for Christians in America to Confront Racism and Injustice.
  
  
• The guys at Cross Politic interview hip-hop artist Aaron Ventura about his new album dealing with the five points of Calvinism.
  
  
• Tim Challies is giving away the latest book from Kevin DeYoung.

This Week in Calvinism - September 14, 2018

• The "Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel" continues to spark debate.
  
  
• Dr. James White responds to Dr. Raymond Chang's criticism of the Statement.
  
  
• Pastor Mike Leake believes that all of us—whether we be Republican or Democrat, Calvinist or Arminian—should just admit we hate each other.
  
  
• Sinclair Ferguson's new book, In the Year of Our Lord, charts 2,000 of church history.
  
  
• John Piper discusses five ways Jesus changes our relationship to the Old Testament.
  
  
• It's a G3 Conference giveaway!

This Week in Calvinism - August 17, 2018

Yes, I know it has been a while, so let's get to it...

• Robert Morris, in his first sermon since his brush with death, takes on Calvinism: "I really believe you determine where you spend eternity and that God is a just and merciful God and gives every person a chance to accept Jesus Christ."
  
  
• In contrast, Shane Kastler preaches a sermon titled "Learning to Love the Sovereignty of God."
  
  
• Who are God's covenant people?
  
  
• It's about time we got another installment of Radio Free Geneva!
  
  
• "Non-religious" Captain Cassidy writes, "If [Southern Baptists] figure out a way to make Christianity even more cruel and evil than Calvinism made it, I want to know about it and have its debunk in hand before encountering some chirpy would-be soulwinner using it as a paradigm."
  
  
• What would you to say to someone who is still on the fence about Calvinism?

This Week in Calvinism - July 27, 2018

• Former Calvinist Austin Fischer discusses faith, doubt, and Calvinism.
  
  
• It has been a while since I've run across this straw man argument: "[I]f God predestined people to end up in hell, then dying for us on the cross was a waste of time."
  
  
• Panelist discuss Calvinism, race, and the state of the SBC.
  
  
• "Calvinism's divine determinism," writes Roger Olson, "ultimately makes petitionary prayer impotent; many Christians do not want to wrestle with the problem of unanswered prayer."
  
  
• Enter to win selected resources from The Gospel Project for Adults

This Week in Calvinism - July 6, 2018

• Check out The Joy Project: An Introduction to Calvinism, a new book from Desiring God.
  
  
• Speaking of joy, does John Piper add that to the gospel? Piper answers.
  
  
• Calvinism 4.0: Election by the Father.
  
  
• Amy Whitfield and Jonathan Howe discusses Calvinism on SBC This Week.
  
  
• Ben Fischer explains why he is neither a Calvinist nor an Arminian.
  
  
• Enter to win a Gospel Foundations Starter Pack.

This Week in Calvinism - June 15, 2018

• Was the Dutch Golden Age ushered in because of Calvinism, or in spite of it?
  
  
• Dr. Adam Harwood of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary has this to say about LifeWay's new Christian Standard Bible:
  

  My point isn't to argue for or against Calvinistic theology; it's simply to identify a theological leaning in this particular resource. So those who affirm Calvinism will be pleased with the study notes – [and] those who don't affirm Calvinistic interpretations will probably want to find a different resource.

  
  
• Sleep under God's sovereignty.
  
  
• Rick Young doesn't believe Romans 9 proves Calvinism.
  
  
• Former pastor Bruce Gerencser presents part three of a series titled "Why I Became a Calvinist." It should prove to be an interesting series, given that he left Christianity a decade ago and is now a professing atheist.
  
  
• Dr. Andrew Vuksic offers his explanation on what Calvinism is. He sums it up in three words: sovereignty of God.
  
  
• More free stuff from Tim Challies, courtesy of Ligonier Ministries and Reformation Trust.

This Week in Calvinism - June 1, 2018

• Pastor Rick Patrick has resigned from his leadership role with the anti-Calvinist Connect 316 ministry.
  
  
• "The Calvinist god is purely and completely evil," writes "non-religious" Patheos blogger Captain Cassidy. "In their mythology, this god figured out who was going to Heaven and Hell before the universe even existed. Nobody can change his mind, either. This means that the majority of humans who have ever existed are Hell-bound. And Calvinists think that's just fine." This is what passes for intelligent discourse today.
  
  
• Do Calvinists need to be more loving?
  
  
• Don't look for much Calvinism in the new film First Reformed.
  
  
• Download a free copy of David Mathis's book Habits of Grace.
  
  
• Want more free stuff? Tim Challies has you covered. This week's giveaway is sponsored by The Gospel Project.

This Week in Calvinism - May 11, 2018

• Does 2 Peter 3:9 refute Calvinism? No.
  
  
• Dr. Jerry Vines, former president of the SBC, warns listeners of Janet Mefferd's show about "hostile, militant, and aggressive" New Calvinism. According to Vines, this brand of Calvinism is "causing difficulties in our churches," and that "it's the death knell of evangelism."
  
  
• The "Rev." Christy Thomas believes that Paige Patterson's "justification" of spousal abuse is "totally consistent with the core theology underlying the entire strain of Baptist/Calvinistic thinking."
  
  
• Doug Wilson on "Chestertonian Calvinism."
  
  
• How does God's sovereignty not violate our decision-making? John Piper answers.

This Week in Calvinism - April 27, 2018

• I am not at all familiar with "Feeneyism," but apparently it's seen by some as the Catholic version of Calvinism. As Steven Speray writes:

  ...Calvinism and Feeneyism share the same diabolical character that God desires only a select few to be saved and positively wills the others to damnation. For them, the implication must be that Jesus claims to love and have died for all men but in reality, he taunts and mocks the helpless knowing full well that He created them for nothing but eternal suffering in the lake of fire.

  Straw man much?
  
  
• Gary DeMar explains why Christians should no longer believe in rapture.
  
  
• James White responds to an Arminian attempt to spin the discussion of John 3:16.
  
  
• John Piper's new book, Expository Exultation: Christian Preaching as Worship, is available for download or purchase.
  
  
• Christian blogs aren't what they used to be. Tim Challies explains.
  
  
• Worship, sanctification, and the Holy Spirit are among the topics covered in Ligonier's $5 Friday.

This Week in Calvinism - April 13, 2018

• Eric Hankins doesn't believe that Romans 9 teaches the doctrine of reprobation.
  
  
• Jon Bloom of Desiring God explains why we have that "thorn in the flesh."
  
  
• James White gives his full response to Thabiti Anyabwile's racially charged comments.
  
  
• One blogger wants to see Calvinist and non-Calvinist Southern Baptists unite against the "Neo-Marxist racial identity division" promoted by SBC presidential nominee J. D. Greear.
  
  
• Lots of deals available on $5 Friday at Ligonier.
  
  
• Challies.com is giving away five free subscriptions to K. Scott Oliphint's new online course, Know Why You Believe.

This Week in Calvinism - April 6, 2018

• Who causes your suffering?
  
  
• Scott R. Harrington of Erie, PA, writes:

  I believe the cultural-religious right is governed by capitalism, Calvinism and an avaricious, narcissistic racist culture that touts that greed is good, right and "will save America," as Michael Douglas quipped in the movie Wall Street. ... I believe that the gods of the religious right are the Republican Party, the National Rifle Association and Donald Trump. That is their right-wing political trinity.

  Come on, Scott, tell us what you really think.
  
  
• Meet Justin Westmoreland, a Reformed pastor helping to grow a young church in Norman, OK.
  
  
• Apparently, there is a correlation between Calvinism and domestic violence.
  
  
• Dwight Longenecker writes, "Extreme Calvinism with its emphasis on predestination is a form of fatalism as are every kinds of superstition–fortune telling, astrology, necromancy..."
  
  
• Joshua of The Baptist Reformation responds to Thabiti Anyabwile.
  
  
• James White also responds to Anyabwile on today's edition of The Dividing Line.
  
  
• Enter to win the ESV Archaeology Study Bible from Crossway.

This Week in Calvinism - March 23, 2018

• What would you consider to be the "humdinger argument" against Calvinism?
  
  
• A "revived interest in Calvinism" is affecting women's roles in the church in China.
  
  
• In regard to the assurance of salvation found in Calvinism and Arminianism, Randal Rauser notes, "Neither of these views offers any special objective advantage as regards the assurance of salvation." Rather, "We look for spiritual fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23), testing ourselves to see that we are of the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). And as we do, the Spirit testifies to our spirit that we are God's children (Romans 8:16)."
  
  
• John Piper gives a fresh call for Christian Hedonists.
  
  
• Sam Storms discusses 10 things you should know about biblical inerrancy.
  
  
• Louisiana College is facing another lawsuit linked to Calvinism.

This Week in Calvinism - March 9, 2018

• Some warnings regarding the "Young, Restless, and Reformed" movement. I hope the folks at Pulpit and Pen take this to heart as well.
  
  
• Organizers of the fifth European Conference on Neo-Calvinism are looking for proposals for short papers that address issues related to Neo-Calvinism and Europe: Religion, Nation, Culture.
  
  
• How to we avoid over-thinking (or under-thinking) the Christian life? John Piper answers.
  
  
• Three types of Calvinist.
  
  
• James White discusses the new "Assault Bible" from Grace to You.
  
  
• It's another $5 Friday at Ligonier!

This Week in Calvinism - February 16, 2018

• As Roger Olson suspects, "Many Young, Restless, Reformed Christians simply have not thought about Calvinism deeply enough to discover and have to wrestle with its problems. They are taught to focus solely on God's grace and mercy toward the elect and ignore the issue of God's role in sin and evil."
  
  
• The doctrine of total depravity "is classic fallacious Calvinist doctrine," writes Dave Armstrong. "The reasoning is that 'only God is good; therefore nothing [unregenerate] man does is good.' It's the old, tiresome 'either/or' mentality again."
  
  
• Alpha and Omega Ministries has launched its e-newsletter. Sign up today.
  
  
• John Piper answers the question: In what sense did Christ die for the non-elect?
  
  
• $5 Friday at Ligonier brings you resources dealing with justification, atonement, redemption, art, suffering, and more.
  
  
• More free stuff from Challies.com.

This Week in Calvinism - January 26, 2018

• A Calvinist and an Arminian walk into a Bible study...
  
  
• "Some have suggested our differences are nothing more than a generational divide," Rick Patrick writes of the Southern Baptist Convention, "but I find that assessment lacking. Yes, most of the Calvinists in the convention are younger, but not all of the younger people in the SBC are Calvinists."
  
  
• European Calvinism and church discipline.
  
  
• According to G. Shane Morris, C. S. Lewis did not teach a ransom view of the atonement.
  
  
• John Piper believes that if a woman should be biblically excluded from the role of pastor, then she should not be a seminary professor.
  
  
• Needless to say, Piper's position doesn't sit well with egalitarians.
  
  
• This week's Free Stuff Friday is brought to you by The Master's University.

This Week in Calvinism - January 12, 2018

• What is it like to enjoy God?
  
  
• Gossip blogs like to wonder if Calvinism is the cause of division in the Duggar family.
  
  
• Abraham Kuyper on Calvinism and the necessity of interracial societies.
  
  
• J. D. Hall wants you to know that he isn't a hyper-Calvinist and Arminianism isn't (but sort of is) heresy. Glad he cleared that up.
  
  
• James White spent the latter part of the most recent episode of The Dividing Line addressing the brouhaha surrounding his show with Arminian Michael Brown.
  
  
• Is it possible for non-Christians to please God? John Piper discusses.

This Week in Calvinism - January 5, 2018

• Pastor Ron Craig believes "that Calvinism, and other isms, have reduced the Gospel message to a set of moral rules and regulations, thereby stripping the Gospel of its miraculous power to deliver people from those evils running rampant in this fallen world system."
  
  
• John Piper stresses the importance of developing strategies for digging deep into God's Word.
  
  
• He explains more here.
  
  
• Joe Aguillard, former president of Louisiana College, is once again suing the school, this time for "discrimination based on his religious beliefs, claiming the current college president, Rick Brewer, is a Calvinist."
  
  
• Did you know that picture books were once considered dangerous for children? Apparently, we can blame John Calvin for that.
  
  
• Sinclair Ferguson on faith and repentance.
  
  
• James White and Michael Brown set the record straight.