In its current issue on Ten Ideas That Are Changing The World, Time magazine lists the rising influence of Calvinist theology as idea #3.
I have to admit that my heart sank upon seeing it.
In case you don’t know, Calvinism is a stream in the larger river of Christian thought that emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the sinfulness of humanity, and the predestination of our eternity. Calvinism’s roots stem both from Scripture and from John Calvin, a 16th Century European theologican and pastor. The signature doctrine of Calvism is predestination — the notion that from eternity in the past God has elected and determined who is going to heaven . . . and who is going to hell.
Calvinism is intellectually rigorous, highly logical, and deeply faithful.
I happen to believe that in many of its most basic tenets, it is also quite wrong.
Now: this is a discussion between Christian friends. There is no “you’re not a Christian” in any of these conversations.
In fact, some of my best friends . . . Well, you know how we use that phrase in other areas, don’t you? But the very first church I ever attended as a new follower of Jesus was not just Calvinist, by its own definition it was super Calvinist!
Yet somewhere in the weekly drumbeat of predistination/election/Calvinism that I heard as a new Christian, I grew a longing to find a group of Jesus’ followers who were smart, biblical, and believed that God gave us free will. I started a journey in search of a people who did not believe that God elected some to heaven and some to hell, but believed instead that God’s heart longing is for all to come to salvation.
That journey led me to Methodism.
Methodism has always stood in a different stream in that river of Christian thought than does Calvinism. A stream with roots in Scripture, in the thinking of 16th Century Dutch theologian Jacob Arminius, and in the rhetoric of John Wesley.
You can read a reasonably good comparison of the two points of view here.
So one of the reasons I’m glad to be a Methodist is that I identify so strongly with the Wesleyan-Arminian understanding of the desire of God and the free will of people. As I Timothy 2:3-4 says it: ” . . . this is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.” How could God want all to be saved yet set up a world that by his design frustrates his own longing? Anyway.
But back to my theological jealousy.
It’s Calvinism on the cover of Time and with a highly complimentary essay on the inside.
And Arminianism is on the outside looking in.
For now.
Maybe I’m just predestined not to believe in predestination.
There are 6 comments
Talbot, thanks for this. My subscription to Time is in transition at the moment but I hope I do receive this issue. I appreciate your thoughts on this issue as well. I went to Montreat College, a Presbyterian college, and I tell people that as I learned Calvinist/Reformed Theology I became more and more Methodist/Wesleyan.
Enjoy the blog.
Talbot, I so agree with you… that’s one of the major reasons I’m Methodist too. Here’s an article about Calvinism from awhile back in the NY Times (in case you didn’t see it… I thought it was sort of fascinating, although I completely and totally disagree.) http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/magazine/11punk-t.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
Talbot, here are my thoughts on it that I told you about:
I would also add that Calvinism is on the rise due to the popularity of its proponents. John Piper has captured the hearts of a whole generation through the Passion worship movement. People experience God in a real and transcendent way during worship and then Piper and others give rousing messages on going all out for the Kingdom (both of which are good things!). Then, those who are moved and fired up by this naturally want to read everything he’s written. Young leaders, like Johsua “I kissed dating goodbye” Harris came on board as well. Even hip hop has been affected through the staunchly reformed lyrics of guys like Flame and Lecrae (both of whom I love!). Combine all this with an almost non-existent amount of serious theological reflection aimed at this generation coming from non-Calvinist perspectives and it’s no surprise that Calvinism has gained the popularity it currently enjoys among 20s-40s.
Hopefully, non-Calvinist leaders will realize what their Calvinist brothers and sisters have and make a concerted effort to spread the Gospel and a passion for missions and worship among this generation as well. Until they do, Calvin’s will remain the only game in town.
Plus, the ESV Study Bible is really cool and all the ESV cover designs appeal to “Relevent Magazine coffe house Christians. 🙂
JMS
Consider this a more general comment – glad to find your blog!
Hope you and yours are well.
Question:
If God knew before a man was born that this man (George)would not accept his Son and end up in hell, why would God allow the man to be born? Doesn’t that seem like he was predestined (before he was born) to hell?
Mike in Pa.
Thanks for your question, P-Mike. I’m not sure I understand it completely, but it sounds like the same kind of discomfort with Calvinism that I and other Wesleyans have.
Talbot