You could have knocked me over with a feather. Frankly, I had come to believe that the Reformed movement was really just a few mouthy types (like me) who opined on the Internet. And John Piper. I expected that if I attended the church of some of the Reformed pastors that I enjoy listening to I would see a congregation of 40-50 people.
As far as I know, myself and my family are the only Calvinistic confessional Baptists in the whole county where I live. The nearest Reformed Baptist church is an hour away on the highway. We have begun attending a Presbyterian church (PCA) and it is a fine fellowship of conservative Reformed confessional believers, but they aren't credo, and I'm not paedo, so there is always that element of strong disagreement that underlies everything.
But if Time Magazine has noticed, maybe there really is a Reformed Resurgence! Maybe it isn't all smoke and mirrors. Maybe in the near future, I will discover like minded believers in my community and we can form a new fellowship, a Reformed Baptist church, a dream come true.
I did notice a sad line in the Time story:
Indeed, some of today's enthusiasts imply that non-Calvinists may actually not be Christians.
That's the error so many make when coming to believe that their entire worldview is wrong. The tendency is to run headlong the other direction into equally or worse error than before. And that is sadly the case I've observed on the Internet among some of the Neo-Calvinists. Hyper Calvinism breaks the band of tension that the bible holds intact between God's sovereignty and man's responsibility, adopting a heretical fatalism concerning salvation and sin. The Hyper Calvinist says things that make a true Calvinist cringe. And making Calvinism the test of one's standing with God rather than repentance from sin and faith Christ alone for forgiveness of sins and entrance into the kingdom of God is one of the most distasteful teachings of this unorthodox sect.
Another fine example of breaking the tension that the bible upholds is the tendency among some who become disallusioned with their dispensational pre-trib rapture eschatology and spring all the way over to preterism, denying the second coming of Christ and the bodily resurrection of believers. And the second state has become worse than the first.
So I would encourage my Neo-Calvinist brothers and sisters to study the old paths and not use blogs and Internet sites as you're primary source for theology. There are many, many disguised wolves on the Internet. I've almost been eaten by a few. And study the Reformed creeds and confessions like the London Baptist 1689, Westminster, and the Three Forms of Unity (pdf). These old creeds serve as a buffer against the heretical tendencies of the unlearned.
And here's a couple of tips. When you run across a Hyper-Calvinist or otherwise questionable blog or Website, there won't be a neon flashing sign that says *HYPER CALVINIST* or *HERETIC*. The first thing to look for is a confession of faith. If they don't have one then use extreme caution. I've found many times people hide their beliefs for a reason. If they have any sort of other doctrinal statement such as a "statement of faith" or "beliefs" then read them carefully, and judge them against some of the clear and precise doctrinal confessions I listed above and of course scripture.
If their statement of faith is weak and ambiguous, that is cause for caution. I've seen statements of faith that were so vague that many cult groups would be comfortable with them.
Look for a curriculum vitae for those that claim a title such as "Dr." If they don't have plainly listed the schools they went to then be very suspicious. If they list the schools and they aren't immediately recognizable then Google them to see what comes up.
I pray that the resurgence of historical Reformation theology gains even more ground and strengthens God's people for tough times ahead, with a zeal for the lost and a heart that finds joy in the glory of God and the truth of his word.
Posts
Good site. What is credo and paedo you mentioned above. I am a lonely calvinist (new) who can't find a church! I've though about th3e PCA if it would be easier to find! Now i want to know what you mean by credo and paedo? I am so worried of going to a bad church! Too many exist and i don't need the disillusions no more!
ReplyDeleteCredo is simply Latin for "I believe" and refers to those who believe that baptism is an act of obedience for believers only; "Credo Baptists"
ReplyDeletePaedo means "Infant" or "Child" and refers to those who believe in baptising the infant children of believers; "Paedo Baptists"
Note that the Presbyterians do not believe baptisim is the effectual cause of regeneration or the forgiveness of sins like Roman Catholics and some other groups, but that Christians are to baptise their children as a covenant sign and seal.
The PCA is in almost full agreement with Calvinistic Baptists with the exception of baptism and church polity (church government) and they use the word "sacrament" which Baptists usually avoid, as it disagrees with historic Baptist beliefs concerning baptism and the Lord's Supper as effectual means of grace. That is somewhat complicated- but it is not that big an issue with most people.