This Week in Calvinism - January 30, 2009

• Herman Amelink quotes religion historian Mirjam van Veen, who believes the Dutch are Calvinist by coincidence.
  
  
• Molly Worthen's New York Times article on Mark Driscoll elicited some interesting letters to the editor.
  
  
• Chris de Vidal explains the difference between "perseverance of the saints" and "eternal security."
  
  
• Jeff Peterson reminds us that faith is a gift.
  
  
• John Piper's new book, Finally Alive, is due for release next week. He explains why he wrote it.

Don't Be Afraid to Offend

I have often said that if a preacher isn't offending someone, he probably isn't preaching the truth. Now, I realize that isn't a foolproof litmus test. We should always examine a message in light of scripture. But far too many men seem more concerned with making people feel comfortable than they are with preaching God's word.

Then, of course, there are men like...



(I don't really get the History Channel tie-in, but I thought it was a powerful video.)

John Piper Addresses President Obama on Abortion

Christian Sportsmanship

Anyone who wants to read the longer version of my opinion on Covenant School's 100-0 victory over Dallas Academy can pop on over to our family blog. Here's an excerpt:

I would have expected nothing less from the team that won. In fact, if I had been their coach, I probably would have wondered why they couldn't win by 200 points. ...

... The reason I'm having such a hard time sympathizing with Dallas Academy is that coach [Jeremy] Civello contradicted himself when he complained that the Covenant girls could have had just as much fun winning by 30. If the whole point is to have the girls playing "with all their hearts," who cares what the final score was, be it 100-0 or 200-0?

The fact is that he was embarrassed. And who can blame him? This kind of a loss -- not to mention the fact that Dallas Academy hasn't won a game in four years -- is hard to live down.

Still, we are left with the impression that Covenant coach Micah Grimes and his players are mean-spirited brutes because the team was still playing hard until the final buzzer. But isn't that exactly what we would expect of any team? Look at it from their perspective. Coach Grimes spends the entire season trying to get his players to give 100%. Do we expect him to go against everything he's been teaching them and suddenly try to get them not to play their best simply because the opposing team stinks?

Covenant, however, decided to apologize and forfeit their win, calling it "shameful and an embarrassment." They said it didn't "reflect a Christ-like and honorable approach to competition." Coach Grimes didn't agree with the school's formal apology, said as much, and was promptly fired.

Needless to say, the majority of opinions I have read online overwhelmingly condemn Covenant's coach and team. Why is that? What lesson in Christian sportsmanship could have been learned by encouraging those talented girls to not play their best?

I haven't read a single report that the Covenant players were sore winners, that they were taunting or insulting the losing team. They simply went out on the court and gave it their all, which is exactly what was expected of them.

The chief end of man -- and the chief end of all that we do -- is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. Is that somehow not possible in a 100-0 basketball game? Where would you draw the line between Christ-like behavior and poor sportsmanship? 80-0? 50-0? 20-0? Is there not anything parents, spectators, coaches, and players on both teams can learn from such a lopsided victory?

If there was any Christ-like compassion to be exhibited, perhaps it should have come from the Dallas Academy coach who at halftime saw his team down 59-0. Or perhaps it should have come from the ones responsible for scheduling the game in the first place. Maybe it should have come from those who originally thought that it was a good idea to have a competing girls' basketball team in a high school with only 20 students.

Just Imagine...

This Week in Calvinism - January 23, 2009

Here's what's happening this week...

• Alma College is holding a sermon contest in celebration of the 500th anniversary of John Calvin's birth.
  
  
• The American View republishes an article by Dave Kopel entitled "Faith and Freedom: The Calvinist Connection," which explores the history behind Calvinism's influence on the American Revolution.
  
  
• The Wanderer presents an outline of the life of John Calvin: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.
  
  
• Dr. James Galyon on Calvin and evangelism.
  
  
• Reformation 21 is blogging Calvin's Institutes.
  
  
• Phil Johnson has concluded his series, Clarifying Calvinism: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8.
  
  
• Dan Phillips informs us that Phil Johnson's mother has passed away: "This morning, Donna Johnson won the battle: the cancer is dead and Donna Johnson is alive forever, in the presence of the Lord whom she loved, proclaimed and served. She enjoyed gazing on Christ from afar, and now she is doing so face to face. Victory!" We cry and rejoice along with Phil and his family.

The Sound of a Young, Restless, Reformed Generation

Thabiti Anyabwile on holy hip-hop:

I've never really been into rap, but I think that had more to do with its bad reputation than the style itself. Now, I have to admit that with the recent surge of gospel-oriented, Christ-centered, Reform-minded artists, I'm becoming a fan of guys like LeCrae, Shai Linne, and Voice.

Voice, a.k.a. Curtis Allen, brought his unique form of ministry to John Piper's church, Bethlehem Baptist:

Needless to say he received a lot of criticism from fundamentalists and regulative principle types, yet he remained calm and responded in humility. (By the way, Voice's latest album, The Process of the Pardon, is definitely worth a listen.)

Holy hip-hop may not be your cup of tea, but there is no denying the sincerity of these artists or the genuineness of their message. May God continue to bless their ministries.

And Now, the Prayer Everyone Has Been Talking About...

Two points jumped out at me when I first heard Rick Warren's prayer. First, he was certain that Martin Luther King Jr. was shouting for joy in Heaven. I'm no expert on Dr. King, but based on what I've read about the man, that seems like a somewhat tenuous assumption.

Secondly, Warren closed his prayer "in the name of the one who changed my life." Isn't Jesus King of kings and Lord of all regardless of our own personal experiences?

What did you think of Rick Warren's inauguration prayer?

Change? What Change?

The divorced, homosexual "Reverend" V. Gene Robinson, in his invocation at the "We Are One" concert, which kicked off the presidential inauguration ceremonies Sunday, reminds us that nothing has changed. We are still a nation that worships an unjust, unholy god of our own creation.

This Week in Calvinism - January 16, 2009

It's been quite a week!

• The New York Times has a less-than flattering article on Mark Driscoll, essentially painting him as an egomaniac: "Driscoll is still the one who gazes down upon Mars Hill's seven congregations most Sundays, his sermons broadcast from the main campus to jumbo-size projection screens around the city. At one suburban campus that I visited, a huge yellow cross dominated center stage -- until the projection screen unfurled and Driscoll’s face blocked the cross from view. Driscoll's New Calvinism underscores a curious fact: the doctrine of total human depravity has always had a funny way of emboldening, rather than humbling, its adherents."
  
  
• Daniel Ross was surprised the article didn't focus more on the fact that women aren't treated the same as men at Mars Hill Church.
  
  
• Stephen Suh, on the other hand, did focus on that. I would be surprised if Suh had even heard of Mark Driscoll before he read the Times article, but he thinks he knows enough to accuse Driscoll and Calvinists in general of being misogynists. And be sure to scroll down and read the comments comparing Driscoll to Charles Manson and Jim Jones. (What, no Hitler reference?) Pathetic.
  
  
• You can read more commentary, both positive and negative, on the article in question here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
  
  
• Anthony Sacramone used the Times article as a jumping-off point to rant about how bad Calvinist theology is, especially in regard to limited atonement. Stopping short of accusing us of spreading a false gospel, he admits he ended his "sojourn among the Calvinists because their view of justification is not so much 'by faith alone' as it is 'by luck alone.'"
  
  
• Phil Johnson clarifies Calvinism. His "advice to young Calvinists is to learn theology from the historic mainstream Calvinist authors, not from blogs and discussion forums on the Internet." Read also Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.
  
  
• A question for William Birch: What is so amazing about a grace that can be resisted?
  
  
• John Calvin persevered despite many physical ailments.
  
  
• Lex Loizides lists some differences between John Calvin and Martin Luther.
  
  
• Matt Perkins confesses, "I'm still an Arminian. But I'm realizing that I may have overlooked some problems in the Arminian system and I may have oversimplified the Calvinist point of view to make it look worse than it really is." I think we can all agree that people on both sides have been guilty of that.
  
  
• Volgens Historiek.net: "Het is dit jaar 500 jaar geleden dat de naamgever van het calvinisme, Johannes Calvijn, werd geboren. Ter gelegenheid hiervan verschijnt morgen het glossy personality-magazine Calvijn!."

Benny Hinn, Lord of the Sith

Sometimes you just have to laugh in order to keep from crying about crap like this:

This Week in Calvinism - January 9, 2009

• Monergism and Romans 3:23-28.
  
  
• Every anti-Calvinist knows about Michael Servetus, but not many know about the Libertines who tried to have John Calvin killed. Here's a little history lesson, courtesy of Dr. James Galyon.
  
  
• Martin Downes explains why he is both a Calvinist and an evangelist.
  
  
• Divine grace and libertarian free will don't mix.
  
  
• Tim Challies on the greatest hindrance to the gospel.
  
  
• Long before the Constitution was drafted to protect civil rights, keep church and state separate, and guarantee personal freedom, there was John Calvin. That is the message of John Witte Jr., professor at Emory Law School.
  
  
• Princeton Theological Seminary is celebrating John Calvin's 500th birthday by spending "A Year with the Institutes." You can join in...
  
  
• ...which is exactly what David Porter is doing.

Ephesians 5:18

(HT: Marc Heinrich)

This Week in Calvinism - January 2, 2009

Happy New Year!

• Jeff Peterson introduces us to Arturo Azurdia, Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology and Director of Pastoral Mentoring at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Presented here is his series on the five points of Calvinism (TULIP).
  
  
• Jono Smith on the lesson we can learn from Calvinist Charles Simeon.
  
  
• "Arminianism in diapers," an interesting post by Paul Manata on the eternal state of infants.
  
  
• The Earth Times lists some notable anniversaries coming up in 2009. Among them, of course, is the 500th anniversary of John Calvin's birth.
  
  
• To mark the occasion, Steven Carr will be blogging about Calvin's life and theology throughout the year.
  
  
• And if you'd like to join in the celebration, how about making your own John Calvin mask?

The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards

As the new year dawns, perhaps we can take some tips from Jonathan Edwards:

Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ's sake.

Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God's glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad's of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.
   
   
2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the aforementioned things.
   
   
3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.
   
   
4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.
   
   
5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.
   
   
6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.
   
   
7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.
   
   
8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.
   
   
9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.
   
   
10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.
    
    
11. Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances don't hinder.
    
    
12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.
    
    
13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.
    
    
14. Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.
    
    
15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.
    
    
16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.
    
    
17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.
    
    
18. Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.
    
    
19. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.
    
    
20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.
    
    
21. Resolved, never to do anything, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him. (Resolutions 1 through 21 written in one setting in New Haven in 1722.)
    
    
22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.
    
    
23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God's glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution.
    
    
24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.
    
    
25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.
    
    
26. Resolved, to cast away such things, as I find do abate my assurance.
    
    
27. Resolved, never willfully to omit anything, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.
    
    
28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
    
    
29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.
    
    
30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.
    
    
31. Resolved, never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by the test of this Resolution.
    
    
32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that in Prov. 20:6, "A faithful man who can find?" may not be partly fulfilled in me.
    
    
33. Resolved, always to do what I can towards making, maintaining, establishing and preserving peace, when it can be without over-balancing detriment in other respects. Dec.26, 1722.
    
    
34. Resolved, in narration's never to speak anything but the pure and simple verity.
    
    
35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.
    
    
36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it. Dec. 19, 1722.
    
    
37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself: also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec.22 and 26, 1722.
    
    
38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord's day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.
    
    
39. Resolved, never to do anything that I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or no; except I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.
    
    
40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.
    
    
41. Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.
    
    
42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1722-23.
    
    
43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God's, agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12. Jan.12, 1723.
    
    
44. Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. Jan.12, 1723.
    
    
45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan.12 and 13.1723.
    
    
46. Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eve: and to be especially careful of it, with respect to any of our family.
    
    
47. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented, easy, compassionate, generous, humble, meek, modest, submissive, obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable, even, patient, moderate, forgiving, sincere temper; and to do at all times what such a temper would lead me to. Examine strictly every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning. May 5,1723.
    
    
48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or no; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.
    
    
49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it.
    
    
50. Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.
    
    
51. Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723.
    
    
52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.
    
    
53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.
    
    
54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723.
    
    
55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, 1723.
    
    
56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.
    
    
57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether ~ have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as providence orders it, I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. June 9, and July 13 1723.
    
    
58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May27, and July 13, 1723.
    
    
59. Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July ii, and July 13.
    
    
60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4, and 13, 1723.
    
    
61. Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it-that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc. May 21, and July 13, 1723.
    
    
62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Eph. 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man; "knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord." June 25 and July 13, 1723.
    
    
63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. Jan.14' and July '3' 1723.
    
    
64. Resolved, when I find those "groanings which cannot be uttered" (Rom. 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those "breakings of soul for the longing it hath," of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be wear', of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723.
    
    
65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton's 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26, and Aug.10 1723.
    
    
66. Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.
    
    
67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.
    
    
68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723.
    
    
69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.
    
    
70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak. Aug. 17, 1723.