Friday, February 22, 2008

This Week in Calvinism - February 22, 2008

  • TBNN reports that anti-Calvinist posters have been popping up all over campus at Pensacola Christian College.

  • Dmitry Chernikov, one of my favorite columnists at LewRockwell.com, is finding himself sympathetic to the Calvinism of A. A. Hodge.

  • Pastor Jerry Beaver preaches a sermon entitled "Debunking Calvinism." Of course, he can't debunk it, so he takes a page out of the Ergun Caner playbook and equates Calvinism with hyper-Calvinism. He then tries to tear down Calvinist heroes. He implies that Charles Spurgeon wasn't really all that Calvinistic because he was criticized by other Calvinists for instituting the altar call (which isn't true). He belittles Augustine's doctrinal teachings because Augustine believed in infant baptism. He leaves his congregation with the wrong impression that John Piper also supports infant baptism. He even dredges up the old "Calvin killed Servetus" argument, and if Calvin thought it was OK to execute someone for not believing in the Trinity, then how can we trust what Calvin taught in other areas? Well, if Pastor Beaver thinks it's OK to preach on subjects about which he knows nothing, then how can he be trusted to faithfully preach the Word?

  • Gordan Runyan of the Reformed Mafia rolls out Part 2 of his review of Frank Page's book, Trouble With the TULIP.

  • To his credit, Ken Schenck only hates Calvinism, not the Calvinist.

  • Michael Horton of the White Horse Inn addresses the issue of moralistic preaching, which often involves ignoring the main point of Old Testament stories: "Given the moralistic expectations often assumed, it is no wonder that people find the Old Testament boring and much of the New Testament incomprehensible." He adds that "instead of drawing a straight line of application from the narrative to us, which typically moralizes or allegorizes these stories, we are taught by Jesus himself to understand these passages in light of their place in the unfolding drama of redemption that leads to Christ. Moralistic preaching, the bane of conservatives and liberals alike, assumes that we're not really helpless sinners that need to be rescued, but decent folks who just need a few good examples, exhortations, and instructions."
  • 6 comments:

    Stan said...

    Pssst! Just a quick note ... the report that anti-Calvinist posters are going up is a satirical report. It isn't actually true.

    Just in case anyone didn't notice.

    Lee Shelton said...

    I know. TBNN is one of my favorite sites.

    Anonymous said...

    related video

    Christians Debate : Calvinists V. Anglicans on Atonement (versus the Islam-Jewish montheism critique)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ4fOZ9w0qw

    Lee Shelton said...

    Sorry, but that video was so poorly edited that I couldn't even make it through the entire thing. Was there a point to it?

    John Lofton, Recovering Republican said...

    Calvinist site; please stop by and bash us -- in unconditional love, of course -- but not too hard since whatever doesn't make us stronger WILL kill us -- though we do not fear that which can kill only our flesh. God bless you all – and He does bless us when we OBEY Him.

    John Lofton, Editor
    Recovering Republican
    JLof@aol.com


    Mission Statement

    “For the nation and kingdom that shall not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.” — Isaiah 60:12.

    As Christians, we are commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ to teach all nations — including ours — to observe all things He has commanded (Matthew 28:18-20). This means bringing into captivity to Christ all areas of life and thought. This means destroying arguments that are against the knowledge of God (II Corinthians 10:5). In obedience to these commands of our Lord, this Web site is established. We covet your prayers for our success in obeying Him.

    We are seriously concerned about, deeply grieved by and lament the fact that far too many of today’s so-called “Christian leaders” are a sinful embarrassment and are responsible for the cause of Christ being mocked and ridiculed. By being, first, cheerleaders for the Republican Party, they have dishonored their Lord and sold their Christian birthright for a mess of partisan political pottage. These individuals and organizations are Christian in name only, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” From such, it is added, we must turn away.

    Secular, Christless conservatism — even when it is supposedly “compassionate” — will not defeat secular, Christless liberalism because to God they are two atheistic peas-in-a-pod and, thus, predestined to failure.

    More than 100 years ago, speaking of the secular, Christless conservatism of his time, the great Southern Presbyterian theologian, Robert L. Dabney, observed:

    “[Its] history has been that it demurs to each aggression of the progressive party, and aims to save its credit by a respectable amount of growling, but always acquiesces at last in the innovation. What was the resisted novelty of yesterday is today one of the accepted principles of conservatism; it is now conservative only in affecting to resist the next innovation, which will tomorrow be forced upon its timidity and will be succeeded by some third revolution, to be denounced and then adopted in its turn. American conservatism is merely the shadow that follows Radicalism as it moves forward to perdition. It remains behind it, but never retards it, and always advances near its leader. This pretended salt hath utterly lost its savor: wherewith shall it be salted? Its impotency is not hard to explain. It is worthless because it is the conservatism of expediency only, and not of sturdy principle. It tends to risk nothing serious for the sake of truth.”

    Amen! And what Dabney says has been proven with a vengeance in modern times, under recent Republican Administrations and Congresses who were supported enthusiastically by individuals and organizations who called themselves “Christian” but who, alas, when judged by their fruits, were not.

    To those who will accuse of us of desiring and trying to bring about “a Christian America,” we unashamedly plead guilty though the accusation is far too modest and somewhat muddled. To be sure, we desire a Christian America, and a Christian world, a Christian galaxy and a Christian universe. And, over time, by His grace, we hope to demonstrate that all these things already belong to the Lord Jesus Christ because He created them all and they are His property. This is why all knees must bow to the Lord and all tongues confess that He is the Lord — because He is!

    Jude 1:3 3

    “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (KJV)


    JOHN LOFTON / RECOVERING REPUBLICAN

    For more than 35 years John Lofton has covered national politics and cultural/religious issues as a journalist, nationally-syndicated columnist, TV-radio commentator/analyst and political advisor.
    • Editor, "Monday," the weekly, national publication of the Republican National Committee, 1970-73.
    • Nationally-syndicated columnist for "United Features" Syndicate in more than 100 papers nationwide, 1973-80.
    • Editor, "Battleline," monthly newsletter of The American Conservative Union, 1977-80.
    • Editor, "Conservative Digest" magazine, 1980-82.
    • Columnist, "The Washington Times" newspaper, 1982-89.
    • Program-host/commentator, "America's Voice," a national cable TV network in all 50 states, 1998-99.
    • A commentator on the "Mutual Radio Network;"
    • An advisor to the Presidential campaign of Pat Buchanan;
    • Author of a monthly column on the Federal bureaucracy for Howard Phillips' "Conservative Caucus."
    • Has written articles for the NRA magazine “America’s First Freedom”; Gun Owners Of America.
    • Communications Director for Constitution Party Presidential candidate Michael Anthony Peroutka in 2004.
    • Co–host with Michael Peroutka of “The American View” radio program nationally-syndicated by “Radio America.”
    John Lofton has given numerous speeches before various groups, Liberal and Conservative, including Liberty University/Bob Jones University. He has appeared on every major TV/radio talk show (including the Comedy Channel’s “Daily Show”/“Politically Incorrect”) to debate every imaginable kind of anti-Christian goofball --- and some who are unimaginable but who do, alas, exist. And he never went to college which is why he is so smart. He can be reached at: Phone: (301) 410-760-8885; cell phone: 301-873-4612; email: JLof@aol.com
    5:07 PM

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    Revivalfire said...

    Ok, that last comment was rather long!

    Just a note to say I love the blog!

    The last few years have saw my spiritual journey arrive at a firm conviction of the reformed faith, I see this a the logical conclusion of my understanding of scripture and spiritual experience. Anyway, I am keen to connect with other reformed believers. My blog is http://revivalfire-johnsblog.blogspot.com/ and three streams is the blog that I have dedicated to theological reflection. Feel free to drop by and leave a comment. I'll be popping by here reguarly though! Cheers again...

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