Mar 24 2009
The Calvinist Comeback
I’m always interested in knowing how we (”we” being conservative, evangelical Christians of a Calvinistic bent) look to the wider community. Time magazine, in a series of short pieces named “10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now” has given idea number 3 to The New Calvinism.
I have previously commented on the new calvinistic resurgence fueled by men like John Piper, Mark Dever, Al Mohler, R.C. Sproul and John MacArthur - there are many others, but these are among my favorites. Christianity Today’s Colin Hansen has written about it in Young, Restless, and Reformed: A Journalist’s Journey with the New Calvinists (Crossway Books, 2008).
The wildly popular ESV Study Bible (the first-run print of 100,000 was sold before it hit the shelves) may do for 21st century reformed evangelicals what the enormously influential Scofield Reference Bible did for 20th century dispensational evangelicals.
Having personally come to a reformed understanding of Christianity some years ago, before the advent of this cool-to-be-a-Calvinist era, I welcome the resurgence. The fact that Time gives the nod to Calvinism as one of the top ten can only mean that the reformed influence is growing.
I do not believe the Time writer, David Van Biema gets everything right, but I do believe he provides a perspective that we reformed Christians ought to consider as we seek to give God the glory due his name. Rather than give you my personal take on his piece, I encourage you to take the time (no pun intended!) to read and reflect on his observations.