WORLDLY CALVINISM
Dr Sim Siang Kok
The New Calvinism that is sweeping throughout Christendom is a disturbing, deceptive movement that seeks to promote worldliness in the name of Calvinism and Puritanism. The world’s largest news magazine, TIME, has ranked “New Calvinism” as one of the “10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now” in its March 2009 issue. Collin Hansen’s book, Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist’s Journey with the New Calvinists, published in 2008 describes the story of the Calvinistic resurgence among young people in the USA. Its popular reception among the evangelicals is reflected by the commendation of the editor of Christianity Today, David Neff, when he states, “Collin Hansen has uncovered a fresh movement of young Christians for whom doctrine—particularly the Calvinist kind—fuels evangelism, kindles passion, and transforms lives. Read it and rejoice.” Sounds good but is it?
Contextualisation
New Calvinism under the guise of teaching the biblical doctrines of Calvin claims to be faithful to Scripture, and to follow the essential tenets of Calvin’s theology. Yet the followers of the movement are marked by a love for the ways and things of the world, which manifests itself in a worldly spirit and conduct that is far removed from the ways and beliefs of traditional Calvinists and Puritans.
The New Calvinists seek to “contextualise” the gospel to make it relevant to the postmodern world. Tim Keller is a major protagonist of this view. He teaches that for an inner city church to be successful, it must contextualise the gospel to make it relevant to the needs of a multi-ethnic population. Peter Masters of Metropolitan Tabernacle (Spurgeon’s) however wrote a scathing critique of the movement and made the observation that most of the well-known preachers who promote and encourage this “revival” of Calvinism (so-called “New Calvinism”) have in common the characteristics that contradict a genuine Calvinistic or Puritan outlook. Masters rightly said, “You cannot have Puritan soteriology without Puritan sanctification.” Hence Masters rightly concluded that “the new Calvinism is not a resurgence but an entirely novel formula which strips the doctrine of its historical practice, and unites it with the world.”
“Christian Hedonism”
John Piper, one of the key proponents of the New Calvinism promotes a new philosophy of life which he calls “Christian Hedonism.” Succinctly put, he states that “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him,” or “The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying him forever.” On the surface, Piper’s restatement of the Westminster Shorter Catechism’s answer to Q1 seems innocuous since he replaces “and to enjoy him forever” with “by enjoying him forever”. But what does Piper and the New Calvinists mean when they talk about enjoying God? In their sermons and in their writings, it looks like they place a premium on man-centred and self-centred enjoyment—enjoyment as defined by one’s own subjective thinking and feelings instead of the objective and authoritative Word of God. This “Christian Hedonism” can be seen in the carnality and worldliness of the speech, behaviour, and activities of these New Calvinists.
Antinomianism
We see the New Calvinism promoting a careless attitude towards God’s moral law. This is contrary to the Reformed Faith. The Reformed Faith has a high view of the moral law of God. The moral law of God has three functions. The first is to convict man of sin and drive the sinner to repentance and salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. The second is to restrain lawlessness in society. The third is to operate as a rule of life for the believer. Hence, the promotion of antinomianism is contrary to the Nature of God and the Word of God.
One of New Calvinism’s key advocates—Mark Driscoll—dismisses as legalistic anyone who seeks to obey the laws of God as given in the Holy Scriptures. He admits that he hates religious people who have rules to obey, and their lists of do’s and don’ts. As such, New Calvinism promotes worldliness and seeks to conform to the pattern and pleasures of the world. For instance, New Calvinism promotes rock, rap, hip-hop music in its worship services. The love and acceptance of the trends and things of the world was condemned by the Apostle John in 1 John 2:15-16, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
Call for Discernment
The grave danger of the New Calvinism is its false front—talking Calvinism but walking in worldliness. Jesus warned against false prophets in Matthew 7:15-20, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
True Calvinists who are actually Paulinists would do well to abide by the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Recommended Reading
Peter Masters, “New Calvinism: The Merger of Calvinism with Worldliness”, http://www.metropolitantabernacle.org/ Spurgeon-Magazine-Sword-And- Trowel/Articles/Merger-of-Calvinism- and-Worldliness-New-Calvinism.
R Scott Clark, “Calvinism Old and New”, http://heidelblog.net/2009/03/calvinism- old-and-new.
E S Williams et al, “Characteristics of New Calvinism”, http://www. newcalvinist.com/characteristics-of-new- calvinism.
(Dr Sim Siang Kok is an Elder of Calvary Pandan Bible-Presbyterian Church and an MDiv student at Far Eastern Bible College.)
STUDY CALVIN’S INSTITUTES
Study Calvin’s Institutes with Pastor next semester at FEBC’s “Basic Theology for Everyone” night classes on Thursdays, 18 July -7 November 2013, 7.30-9.30 pm. We se.will study Calvin’s Institutes Books III & IV. The following practical aspects of the Christian Faith will be discussed:
- What is faith?
- What is repentance?
- What is the unpardonable sin?
- Can a Christian commit the unpardonable sin?
- What is confession?
- What is the Christian life?
- What is conviction?
- What is the difference between justification and sanctification?
- How can I be sure I am saved?
- What are the practical benefits of water baptism and the Lord’s Supper?
- What is the place of our babies and children in God’s Covenant?
- How to discern between a true church and a false church?
- How does a faithful church become an apostate church?
- What are the roles of pastors, elders and deacons in the church?
These and many more questions will be discussed in this course. Welcome one and all.
WE ARE NOT ALONE
IN OUR DEFENCE OF THE VERBAL AND PLENARY PRESERVATION OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
“Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not:” (Jer 50:2). The notice below is taken from http://standardbearers.net/About.html.
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