Time magazine has listed “The New Calvinism” as on the “top ten ideas changing the world right now.” The New Calvinism was listed third. It is encouraging to me to see an article such as this for various reasons. Primarily, It shows that this “new” group of “young, restless, and reformed” Christians is making an impact (for better not worse) on the culture around them. Also, it points to a resurgence of Christian theology in the life of the church. Even a Time magazine author can see the lack of biblical truth in many moderns movements and point out “Evangelicalism’s loss of appetite for rigid doctrine — and the triumph of that friendly, fuzzy Jesus.” Third, Time magazine offers a warning (albeit unwittingly) to these New Calvinists, namely that they should be careful of pride, arrogance, and ”classic protestant backbiting.” It is encouraging to know that the Reformed movement is large enough within the modern evangelical church to get the attention of a largely secularized syndicate.
The following is an excerpt from the article:
If you really want to follow the development of conservative Christianity, track its musical hits. In the early 1900s you might have heard “The Old Rugged Cross,” a celebration of the atonement. By the 1980s you could have shared the Jesus-is-my-buddy intimacy of “Shine, Jesus, Shine.” And today, more and more top songs feature a God who is very big, while we are…well, hark the David Crowder Band: “I am full of earth/ You are heaven’s worth/ I am stained with dirt/ Prone to depravity.”
Calvinism is back, and not just musically. John Calvin’s 16th century reply to medieval Catholicism’s buy-your-way-out-of-purgatory excesses is Evangelicalism’s latest success story, complete with an utterly sovereign and micromanaging deity, sinful and puny humanity, and the combination’s logical consequence, predestination: the belief that before time’s dawn, God decided whom he would save (or not), unaffected by any subsequent human action or decision.
Read the rest of the article here:
God bless you Chris, I replied to your comment/question about baptism and the Scripture that was used. First time on your blog and it’s really great.
Blessings
I think Calvin’s approach is still preferable. It seems that people still should treat the lord with some respect but not as another buddy.
Total respect. To do otherwise is not Christian, and more importantly, it declares that a person is not born again. Lack of reverence and fillial fear is born within true Christians. The gospel calls upon reverence for one’s Maker (Rev.14.7), and to bring up children in fear and admonition of the Lord.
Calvin is much to be preferred than the sacriligious
Hey Chris, waiting on your reply in regards to “Christian Baptism” http://pastorleoacosta.wordpress.com/