Over at the Church Matters blog, Mark Dever wonders why Calvinism is experiencing a revival among young Christians. It’s the first in a planned series of posts about the topic. Dever suggests that Charles Spurgeon’s immense popularity among Christian teachers and ministers (even those who disagreed with much of his theology) is partly responsible for Calvinism’s resurgence. Looks like a promising blog series. (Via the Reformation 21 blog.)
Calvinism makes a comeback
Thanks for your comments! Comments must be approved by a moderator before
they appear on the site, so be patient if it doesn't show up right away.
To learn how our comment system works and what types of comment are
appropriate, read our discussion
rules and the guidelines at GoodComment.com before commenting.
7 Comments
Sorry, comments for this entry are closed at this time.
Loading ...
June 27, 2007 at 17:01
I saw that, too, and it looks really good so far. I’m one of “them” – I’m a Calvinist who was born in 1986.
So I’m interested to see the other reasons he discusses. I can’t say that Spurgeon was a big firsthand influence in my realization that my beliefs make me a Calvinist, but he has definitely influenced me as I’ve continued to grow and develop.
June 27, 2007 at 21:46
Thanks for the link. Like Anna I am a Calvinist who was born in ‘86. I would say that John Piper has probably played a big part in the increasing prevalence of Calvinism among young people as well.
June 28, 2007 at 14:37
I believe most Evangelical and Christians in general have no idea what Calvin taught or is about. The people who are against Calvinism just do not know what it entails, because it has been so badly misrepresented.
I wholeheartedly though it was a cult at worst or nonsense at best. I was challenged to read Calvin’s Institutes I was amazed on the depth of prayer and his focus on responsibility and intimacy with Christ. And the more I read the Bible especially Romans I can’t escape Calvin, he was right. All he did was draw logically what the Bible says. What we like to do today is read in what we want the Bible to say and throw our dung at each other like moneys… whole we ignore the growth of our faith and the practice of His Word and Fruit!
So what does Scripture say? If you are really willing to see for yourself you will see Calvinism is not about Calvin it is about the Bible God’s Word living for us.
This is a good article on it from one of the Gospel come sites:
Into Thy Word
Calvinism From the Critics
http://sites.silaspartners.com/CC_Content_Page/0,,PTID34418%7CCHID270024,00.html
Ron
June 29, 2007 at 02:00
I was never one for Calvinism. A good friend of mine swore by it until recently. I realize it goes deeper than just the belief in predestination, but it’s ironic that I came across this post and have written my self about Calvinism…. or Baptist Calvinists that play basketball…
Makes you want to read it doesn’t it:
Calvinist Basketball Players
June 29, 2007 at 14:01
First, I greatly appreciate Dever, Piper, and, of course, Charles Spurgeon. I have devoted a lot of time listening to MacArthur’s tapes and a lot of money buying his books. I was present at the T4G conference in Louisville, and Lord willing I’ll be there in ‘08 as well.
But I an not a Calvinist.
I think it is a false assumption that all who have benefited from and enjoy the above authors/preachers are themselves Calvinists.
June 29, 2007 at 18:01
It was meant to be.
July 3, 2007 at 10:58
I was raised in a Presbyterian church (formally, founded by Calvinists). My mother considers herself a Calvinist, in terms of work ethic and not indulging in too much extravagance. But when I question predestination, or burning Michael Servitius at the stake, she doesn’t believe in either one. Neither do I. C.S. Lewis shot predestination full of holes in The Screwtape Letters, when he pointed out that God is not bound by time at all, so God does not “look into the future” to see what is “going to happen.” God sees it all as/when it happens, “and to watch a man do a thing is not the same as making him do it.” Linking our individual faith to any mortal human, however learned, is dangerous. Calvin made some valuable contributions to the Reformation, and made some abominable mistakes. Take what is good and leave the rest in the dustbin of history. He was only a mortal man.