I “know” the gospel. I know it factually. And while that may be good (we need to know the gospel) I realize I often do not live in the good of the gospel. I regularly do not “own” it. Whenever, I find myself seeking to self-atone (seeking to earn God’s favor and salvation), I have lost my way from the truths of the gospel. Don’t misunderstand. I believe in “effort”! Paul said to the Ephesians that we were saved “for good works.”
The other day, while I was reading, I ran into this outstanding quote.
Full disclosure: I am a Calvinist. Yep, all 5 points…. Offended?
Stick around, it will be ok!
Now that we got that out-of-the-way, the point of this post is NOT to make a case or argue for Calvinism. Have you noticed? It has kinda already been done! There are many better places to make a humble argument for or against Calvinism.
So, Let’s dive in!
It is a great day we live in where there has been a resurgence of reading, studying, and learning of theology. 10 years ago you could not pay a guy to read a theology book. So, I begin with gratitude!
I am grateful for those who have taken up big, thick, theology books written by dead guys and living guys. LOVE IT!
I also enjoy the conversations that the reading has stirred.
And, I love, most of all, OUR great God! He is God, the focus, and the reason for all this great theology!
BUT
I have this growing concern for my friends in the reformed theology camp. (Oh, Oh… perhaps this post will offend BOTH Arminians and Calvinists? I hope not.)
It is with the reformed brothers that I have the most agreement….. and well, disagreement.
You see, amidst this surge in theology, there seems to be an accompanying surge of pride. Yikes! Not the pride word! How dare I mention it while so MUCH pride is still hanging on to my heart and life? Dare I attempt to write about “Proud Calvinism”?
“Tim, what are you thinking!?!”
Well, I press on and pray for a work of humility in me. Besides, if you think about it, today’s topic falls under the scope of this blog. “Gospel Connections.”
There seems to be a gospel disconnect when it comes to proud Calvinism.
How does one subscribe to reformed theology and do so with a pronounced arrogance??
At the core of Reformed theology is the Sovereign God.
I don’t like to use the term “Calvinist”. Not that I don’t like John Calvin, or have gained from John Calvin. Rather, it’s because I don’t think John Calvin would like the term “Calvinist”! The term immediately takes the glories of Christ off of….. well, Christ. And, it places an emphasis on….. a man. Ugh!
A right understanding of Reformed theology specifically points the attention away from man and seeks to center the attention where it belongs…. God!
Reformed theology is not about Calvin!
Reformed theology is not about you or me!!
Reformed theology is about GOD!!!
Here is what I am getting at…. How is it that there seems to be in this surge of theology an accompanying surge of pride?
It’s in the coffee shop in Anywhere, USA. Two brothers sitting down, sipping their Americano, debating theology. (By the way, I have NO problem with brothers debating theology! Quite the contrary! May there be an increase of humble theological discussions over coffee!)
The Reformed brother believes he is saved by the grace of God, the Arminian brother does too. And, it is in that moment 
that my Reformed friend kicks into high gear. Feeling the need to unpack everything he learned the night before. Like Barney Fife he has a bullet. This brother knows enough….. to be dangerous.
Arminians…. don’t get overly excited about the above paragraph. The temptations are the same in both camps.
Like the clanging gong Paul references in I Corinthians towards the “we are so proud of our spiritual gifting” Corinthians. I don’t think your friend can hear you over the noisy cymbals and gongs. We must ask, Where is the love for my brother?
I know my Arminian friends are saying…. “yep, I have met the proud Calvinist” Please be kind in the comments section below and don’t try to add to the noisy gongs we Reformed guys are creating.
Isn’t proud Calvinism an oxymoron? You know…..
Jumbo Shrimp
Pretty Ugly
Proud Calvinist
Consider our salvation: we believe we were “dead in our transgressions and sins….” Ephesians 2. And dead means….. dead. Not almost dead, just….. dead. We believe that in our spiritually dead place, God by His Spirit called / chose / elected us to salvation. And because He did – we then responded to His gospel call.
Praise be to God! We were once dead in our sins and now we are alive in Christ Jesus! (I know the above paragraph is overly simplified! Did I mention, the intent of the post is not an attempt to unpack the reformed view of salvation….)
My point is to simply say – isn’t the above paragraph inconsistent with the accompanying pride we see in the coffee shop?
To my reformed brothers of whom I AGREE…..
Do we really have it ALL figured out? AND, even if we did……(which we don’t!) But, for the sake of the argument, let’s assume we have it all figured out. Does it then become our right to blast our brothers and sisters with the sum total of all our reformed wisdom over a 60 minute coffee? The damage we do in the name of Reformed theology – in the name of Christ!
I believe God is sovereign over my salvation! That said – God is sovereign over my salvation does not equal…..pride. When we rightly understand that God is sovereign over my salvation the accompanying heart response is humility and worship.
God chose me and did so in spite of me… How does my wicked heart bring pride into that equation?
Reformed theology is not a gonging cymbal. God forbid! It is brokeness and humble gratitude. Thanks be to God – I am saved! Praise Him!
We might do well to leave that bullet in our shirt pocket and instead worship and glory in OUR Savior.
Stay tuned:
Next post: “Signs of Proud Calvinism”
Comments?
To the Arminian followers of this blog – give us your perspective! How do we Calvinists need to grow? Be honest, humble, and gracious in your thoughts.
To the Calvinist followers of this blog – give us your perspective! How have you been proud? How are you seeking to repent and change?
Deadly Gospel Disconnect #2: Knowing the Gospel Factually. Before reading today’s post, please take a minute and please read: “What’s A Gospel Disconnect”. This will help you better understand today’s post.
So, as you read in the last post, I am no electrician! But what if I was an electrician and what if I had electrical knowledge? What if I was a Master Electrician (Allen L, Tony L, Chad S, and Justin B….stop laughing!) and yet, I did not practice safety? Odd right? More than odd! Try…..STUPID! Continue reading What’s A Gospel Disconnect? (Part 2)
Before we dive into making Gospel Connections we need to look at two deadly gospel “disconnections”! My hope is that by first looking at the disconnections we will then be able to make good connections.