Speaking of the Calvinism - Arminianism debate, Mark Dever offers this important reminder: The real front line is not between Calvinist evangelicals and Arminian evangelicals. It is between those who are lost in their sins and those who have been saved by God's sheer grace in Christ. Read the whole post, in which Dever discusses his church background and involvement in Together For the Gospel. BTW, why is Dever the only one blogging over at the T4G blog? … [Read more...] about Mark Dever on Calvinism and Arminianism
Theology
Interracial Marriage and Emergent Truth
While guest-hosting the Albert Mohler radio program a few weeks ago, Russ Moore interacted with Tony Jones over Jones' view that "all hermeneutics is local." In support of his view (which originates in postmodern epistemologies being exposed by various religious and non-religious writers), Jones (rightly) observed that Moore's great-grandfather would not have performed an interracial marriage while Moore would. Was "local hermeneutics" what led to a more redemptive view of racial matters? Moore recounts: What changed all of this was not the evolution of the community toward something else. … [Read more...] about Interracial Marriage and Emergent Truth
Calvinism vs. Arminianism – II
Following up on my previous post, here is the executive summary of my response to Jerry Walls and Joe Dongell: Walls and Dongell believe that Calvinism portrays a tyrannical God who arbitrarily selects some for salvation and others for damnation, even though the latter are powerless to repent and believe in Christ. They maintain that the biblical passages expressing God’s general love for all mankind (John 3:16) and His desire that all be saved (I Tim. 2:4) suggest the Calvinist exegesis regarding effectual grace (for some) and definite atonement (for some) is severely misguided. In response, … [Read more...] about Calvinism vs. Arminianism – II
A Piety Above The Common Standard
Jim Hamilton reviews A Piety above the Common Standard: Jesse Mercer and Evangelistic Calvinism by Anthony L. Chute. This book sounds like an outstanding volume on baptist church history. Dr. Chute is on the faculty of California Baptist University (which yours truly will be joining on August 1, 2007). From the publisher: Jesse Mercer (1769–1841) was a Baptist pastor, editor, and denominational statesman who figured prominently in the debates over Calvinism among Southern clergymen. Most studies of Calvinism in America have focused on Jonathan Edwards, the New Divinity Movement, and the … [Read more...] about A Piety Above The Common Standard
Calvinism vs. Arminianism
This is perhaps the all-time classic debate among Christians. Who does what in salvation? Are Christians elect because God foresaw that they would put their faith in Christ, are did we put our faith in Christ because we are elect? Well, I completed another paper in my Practical Theology course. This one had to do with the TULIP acrostic. We attended a seminar from Pastor John Piper on the topic (available on CD) and then read the following works (all by Piper): T.U.L.I.P-- What We Believe About the Five Points of Calvinism Chapters 2 and 5 of The Pleasures of God. Chapters 3, 10, 11 of The … [Read more...] about Calvinism vs. Arminianism
A Blog Dedicated to The Great Commission
My friend Bob Hayton has organized a blog that is totally focused on issues related to facilitating and finishing the Great Commission. The authors of Kingdom Surge "share an independent fundamental Baptist past, a conversion to Reformed theology, and an appreciation for the writings of John Piper. We also share a burden for world missions, specifically the unreached people groups of Central Asia." Three of the authors are employing pseudonyms for security reasons, as they are advancing the gospel in sensitive parts of the world. They have already written a series of posts explaining the … [Read more...] about A Blog Dedicated to The Great Commission