New Calvinism
Encyclopedia
The New Calvinism is a growing perspective within conservative Evangelicalism
that embraces the fundamentals of 16th century Calvinism
while also trying to be relevant in the present day world. In March 2009, TIME magazine ranked it as one of the "10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now." Some of the major movers in this area are John Piper
, Mark Driscoll
, Al Mohler, Mark Dever
, C.J. Mahaney, Joshua Harris
and Tim Keller.
article, Collin Hansen describes the speakers of a Christian conference:
While Calvinism holds firmly to a belief in the monergistic sovereignty of God, the New Calvinists look to Puritans like Jonathan Edwards who taught that sanctification
requires a vigorous and vigilant pursuit of holy living, not a passive attitude of mechanical progress.
Mark Driscoll
lists four main differences between Old and New Calvinism:
This fourth distinctive is what Driscoll considers a vital component in being able to engage with the present day society.
, professor of church history and historical theology
from Westminster Seminary California
, argues that New Calvinists like Driscoll should not be called Calvinists merely because they believe in the five points of Calvinism, but rather he suggests that adherence to the Three Forms of Unity
and other Reformed confessions of faith is what qualifies one a Calvinist. Specifically, he suggests that many of the New Calvinists' positions on infant baptism
, covenant theology
, and continuation
of the gifts of the Spirit are out of step with the Reformed tradition.
J. Todd Billings, professor of Reformed Theology at Western Theological Seminary
argues that the New Calvinists "tend to obscure the fact that the Reformed tradition has a deeply catholic heritage, a Christ-centered sacramental practice and a wide-lens, kingdom vision for the Christian's vocation in the world."
In 2011, John MacArthur
expressed concerns over the 'Young, Restless, and Reformed,' for their self-identification with beer, "tobacco, tattoos, gambling, mixed martial arts, profane language, and lots of explicit talk about sex."
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
that embraces the fundamentals of 16th century Calvinism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
while also trying to be relevant in the present day world. In March 2009, TIME magazine ranked it as one of the "10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now." Some of the major movers in this area are John Piper
John Piper (theologian)
John Stephen Piper is a Christian preacher and author, currently serving as Pastor for Preaching and Vision of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota...
, Mark Driscoll
Mark Driscoll
Mark A. Driscoll is an American pastor and author. He is the founder and preaching pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington, he co-founded the Acts 29 Network and Churches Helping Churches, and has contributed to the "Faith and Values" section of the Seattle Times and the "On Faith"...
, Al Mohler, Mark Dever
Mark Dever
Mark E. Dever has been the senior pastor of the Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. since 1994, and is the president of 9Marks , a Christian ministry he co-founded "in an effort to build biblically faithful churches in America."...
, C.J. Mahaney, Joshua Harris
Joshua Harris
Joshua Eugene Harris is an American pastor and author, perhaps most widely known as the author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye , in which he explains what he believes to be the biblical approach to dating and relationships.He is currently senior pastor of Covenant Life Church, the founding church of...
and Tim Keller.
Old and New Calvinism
Following the heritage of Reformed, or Calvinist, theology, New Calvinism strives to be deeply interested in the correct doctrine. In a Christianity TodayChristianity Today
Christianity Today is an Evangelical Christian periodical based in Carol Stream, Illinois. It is the flagship publication of its parent company Christianity Today International, claiming circulation figures of 140,000 and readership of 290,000...
article, Collin Hansen describes the speakers of a Christian conference:
- Each of the seven speakers holds to the five points of [Calvinism]. Yet none of them spoke of Calvinism unless I asked about it. They did express worry about perceived evangelical accommodation to postmodernism and criticized churches for applying business models to ministry. They mostly joked about their many differences on such historically difficult issues as baptism, church government, eschatologyEschatologyEschatology is a part of theology, philosophy, and futurology concerned with what are believed to be the final events in history, or the ultimate destiny of humanity, commonly referred to as the end of the world or the World to Come...
, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. They drew unity as Calvinist evangelicals from their concerns: with seeker churches, church-growth marketing, and manipulative revival techniques.
While Calvinism holds firmly to a belief in the monergistic sovereignty of God, the New Calvinists look to Puritans like Jonathan Edwards who taught that sanctification
Sanctification
Sanctity is an ancient concept widespread among religions, a property of a thing or person sacred or set apart within the religion, from totem poles through temple vessels to days of the week, to a human believer who achieves this state. Sanctification is the act or process of acquiring sanctity,...
requires a vigorous and vigilant pursuit of holy living, not a passive attitude of mechanical progress.
Mark Driscoll
Mark Driscoll
Mark A. Driscoll is an American pastor and author. He is the founder and preaching pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington, he co-founded the Acts 29 Network and Churches Helping Churches, and has contributed to the "Faith and Values" section of the Seattle Times and the "On Faith"...
lists four main differences between Old and New Calvinism:
- Old Calvinism was fundamental or liberalLiberal ChristianityLiberal Christianity, sometimes called liberal theology, is an umbrella term covering diverse, philosophically and biblically informed religious movements and ideas within Christianity from the late 18th century and onward...
and separated from or syncretized with culture. New Calvinism is missional and seeks to create and redeem culture. - Old Calvinism fled from the cities. New Calvinism is flooding into cities.
- Old Calvinism was fearful of the Holy SpiritHoly SpiritHoly Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
and generally cessationistCessationismIn Christian theology, Cessationism is the view that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as tongues, prophecy and healing, ceased being practiced early on in Church history. The opposite of Cessationism is Continuationism...
(i.e., believing the gifts of the Holy Spirit such as tonguesGlossolaliaGlossolalia or speaking in tongues is the fluid vocalizing of speech-like syllables, often as part of religious practice. The significance of glossolalia has varied with time and place, with some considering it a part of a sacred language...
and prophecyProphecyProphecy is a process in which one or more messages that have been communicated to a prophet are then communicated to others. Such messages typically involve divine inspiration, interpretation, or revelation of conditioned events to come as well as testimonies or repeated revelations that the...
had ceased). New Calvinism delights in the Holy Spirit and is generally continuationist with regard to spiritual gifts. - Old Calvinism was fearful and suspicious of other Christians and burned bridges. New Calvinism loves all Christians and builds bridges between them.
This fourth distinctive is what Driscoll considers a vital component in being able to engage with the present day society.
Criticism
R. Scott ClarkR. Scott Clark
Robert Scott Clark is an American Reformed Pastor and Seminary Professor. He is the author of several books, including his most recent work, Recovering the Reformed Confession.-Biography:...
, professor of church history and historical theology
Historical theology
Historical theology is a branch of theological studies that investigates the socio-historical and cultural mechanisms that give rise to theological ideas, systems, and statements. Research and method in this field focus on the relationship between theology and context as well as the major...
from Westminster Seminary California
Westminster Seminary California
Westminster Seminary California is a Reformed Christian graduate educational institution located 25 miles north of San Diego, California in Escondido. It was initially a branch campus of Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia until 1982 when it became fully independent...
, argues that New Calvinists like Driscoll should not be called Calvinists merely because they believe in the five points of Calvinism, but rather he suggests that adherence to the Three Forms of Unity
Three Forms of Unity
The Three Forms of Unity is a collective name for the Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dort, and the Heidelberg Catechism, which reflect the doctrinal concerns of Continental Calvinism and are accepted as official statements of doctrine by many of the Reformed churches.-History:From 1618 to 1619...
and other Reformed confessions of faith is what qualifies one a Calvinist. Specifically, he suggests that many of the New Calvinists' positions on infant baptism
Infant baptism
Infant baptism is the practice of baptising infants or young children. In theological discussions, the practice is sometimes referred to as paedobaptism or pedobaptism from the Greek pais meaning "child." The practice is sometimes contrasted with what is called "believer's baptism", or...
, covenant theology
Covenant Theology
Covenant theology is a conceptual overview and interpretive framework for understanding the overall flow of the Bible...
, and continuation
Continuationism
Continuationism is a Christian theological belief that the gifts of the Holy Spirit have continued to this present age, specifically the sign gifts such as tongues and prophecy...
of the gifts of the Spirit are out of step with the Reformed tradition.
J. Todd Billings, professor of Reformed Theology at Western Theological Seminary
Western Theological Seminary
Western Theological Seminary is a professional and graduate school in Holland, Michigan affiliated with the Reformed Church in America....
argues that the New Calvinists "tend to obscure the fact that the Reformed tradition has a deeply catholic heritage, a Christ-centered sacramental practice and a wide-lens, kingdom vision for the Christian's vocation in the world."
In 2011, John MacArthur
John F. MacArthur
John Fullerton MacArthur, Jr. is a United States evangelical writer and minister noted for his internationally known and broadcast radio program titled Grace to You...
expressed concerns over the 'Young, Restless, and Reformed,' for their self-identification with beer, "tobacco, tattoos, gambling, mixed martial arts, profane language, and lots of explicit talk about sex."