Let’s NOT Do the Time Warp!!!

Remember the movie “Rocky Horror Picture Show” movie (admit it you’ve seen it)?  That’s the movie that Meatloaf was in!  Remember the song “Time Warp”? Here is a sample–

RiffRaff:

With a bit of a mind flip

Magenta:
You’re into the time slip.
RiffRaff:
And nothing can ever be the same.
Magenta:
You’re spaced out on sensation.
RiffRaff:
Like you’re under sedation.
All:
Let’s do the time-warp again.
Let’s do the time-warp again.

Time magazine recently wrote an article called “10 Ideas that are Changing the World.” In the midst of this article coming in as number 3 is “Calvinism!“  Here is the link:

http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/0,28757,1720049,00.html

Calvinism is the theological system named after Reformer John Calvin from the 1500s. This movement grew, then waned, and now in the 21st century is red hot among conservative Christians.  I admit that bits of Calvinism have never gone away (especially in Baptist life) but now a full blown Calvinism has exploded on the scene in such a large way that a news magazine lists it as number 3!

In my archives you can read my thoughts on Calvinism (I’m not a fan) but wow is this a big change to see in our culture.

Baptists have always been divided on this issue. There is a historical Calvinist Baptist tradition and a historical non-Calvinist tradition.  The evidence is in the history books.  Many Baptists eventually took a blend.  The Southern Baptists in the 20th century believed in parts but mixed their Calvinism and took it less strictly.   Now younger Baptists coming out of seminary and beginning to pastor churches in the SBC and other evangelical denominations are loving John Calvin.  Their heroes are like rock stars to them and they buy their bobble heads of John Calvin at their seminary in Louisville.  There is the political and vocal Al Mohler (president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary), Pastor John Piper (not a young guy) and the cursing, drinking, sex talking mega-church pastor Mark Driscoll (just google the controveries over this guy who loves to preach on the Song of Solomon).  Wow.

What’s the big deal?

In the early 90s when Baptists saw this coming the moderate Baptists out there said that while we saw this small group rising up it was not yet young folks and it seemed small.  I read a book of theologians who dismissed this new movement.  They saw that fundamentalists and conservatives tended to be dispensational (rapture) and evangelistic/missionary and those two camps don’t go well with Calvinism and they just would not accept this reform movement.   Sadly we were wrong.  After the fundamentalists took over the SBC and pushed out professors the new young students accepted this Calvinism.   The statistics still show the majority of Baptists in the SBC are not five point Calvinists (90 percent) but among recent graduates the numbers are rapidily increasing and are now at 30 percent.   The studies show that the pace is increasing and while it may be awhile before the majority swings it is very possible.  And those churches tend to be smaller in size and baptism rates.   This past SBC in Louisville had flare ups over the issue and it is increasing.

What’s the big deal? The basic question is how much is controlled by God?  Does God elect only some and therefore are we saying that some people are created who can not be saved because they are the elect?  Would God create people and elect them to damnation?  Can we resist salvation or do we have a choice? Issues of free will and grace are at stake.  I believe this issue will eventually impact churches when it comes to evangelism and mission.  Future Calvinist generations may follow previous ones and be less mission minded and evangelistic.  After all in the logical thinking of that system God saves who God chooses.

Some would argue with me that I am misrepresenting this movement but classic five point Calvinism does say that God elects some and damns others.  Free will is very limited and I believe this is a divisive and dangerous obsession for new ministers.  I have a problem with the thought that some people have no hope.  I believe all can be saved if they trust in Christ and we accept or reject and this is our choice. I take this seriously.

And the fatalism and determination that comes with this thinking troubles me. Do we become pawns in God’s chess game?  Many concerns come up in my mind when I consider this.  I also predict that this is a issue that will divide congregations and possibly denominations.  I believe it will impact mission growth and evangelism at some point.  I also believe it is going back rather than forward.  We can learn from the past but I don’t want to return to the past.

Blessings,

Derik