Why the Calvinism Discussion Matters

Last week Dave Miller posted a great article with the hopes of outlining what a productive discussion of Calvinism would require. For the most part I’m in agreement with David Rogers who said in a comment, “Calvinism schmalvinism. I never have understood why we get so hung on this one…I like your suggestions, Dave, but I will probably check out of any new round of Calvinism debate marathons.”

Entering into another season of Calvinism discussions is about as appealing as repeatedly whacking myself in the head with a hammer.

I’m fatigued by unhelpful debates about all things Calvinism/Traditionalism etc. I’m not clear of guilt myself. Though I hit “cancel reply” far more than I actually post a comment, even still I’m not immune to leaving a comment I wish I hadn’t. I’d say that my fatigue has even shown in some posts that I’ve written.

A good part of me wants to only write an article that shows why this Calvinism discussion doesn’t matter and we all ought to just move on. (That article will be posted later today). Yet I do believe that Calvinism matters. I don’t think it’s just some tertiary issue that has no bearing on the Christian life.

I don’t want to surrender the truth of Calvinism. I say that not for the sake of some “ism” but because I believe that it best describes how God saves sinners. You can call it Billy-Bobism for all I care. The name means little. What matters to me is a theology that unblushingly proclaims that God saves sinners. At its core I believe that God revealing how He has saved us is for our joy and comfort and His glory.

If God has revealed Himself to us in this fashion for our comfort far be it from me to say that it doesn’t matter. So in one sense Calvinism does matter. I believe it leads to greater joy and comfort for us and greater glory for the Lord. I believe it is the truth of Scripture and as such it needs to be embraced.

But at the end of the day you can’t make someone swallow it. God can change affections, I cannot. God can mold us to truth, I cannot. Therefore, I want to pursue this balance that John Newton spoke of:

I allow that every branch of gospel truth is precious, that errors are abounding, and that it is our duty to bear an honest testimony to what the Lord has enabled us to find comfort in, and to instruct with meekness such as are willing to be instructed; but I cannot set it my duty, nay, I believe it would be my sin, to attempt to beat notions into other people’s heads.

Later today I’ll show in what way this discussion doesn’t matter…

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If you dig this article you may also like this one: What Should a Newtonian Calvinist Say in a Pastoral Interview?

How Preaching is Like Mario Kart

Most pastors spend hours studying over a text before they preach it on Sunday morning. On many occasions the message will rock the pastors soul before he even brings it before the people.

There have been many times that I have been very excited to preach a particular sermon. I have felt the weight of the text and see the beauty of the gospel in it. This stirs up a passion in my heart and drives me to open up Christ before others. I want them to share the joy in Christ.

But if I’m not careful I’ll come across like this guy:

You don’t have to watch the whole thing to get the picture.  Often times I think we preachers can come across this way.  We are so amped up about the text that has sparked our hearts that we do not give time for our hearers to feel the weight of the text.

If you start out like this you’ll lose them. 

Preaching is like Mario Kart. Every one that has played this game knows that you can’t floor it out of the gate. If you try to, you end up burning rubber, creating a lot of smoke, and finding yourself distanced from the people that you are trying to lead. But if you pace yourself and time it just right something beautiful happens.

So, pace yourself.  Allow your hearers to really feel the weight of the text themselves.  Be patient.  Heed these words by Zack Eswine:

…the problem is that the people have not had the preparation time given the preacher.  They do not yet see the truth that has ignited the preacher’s grand style, so they wonder what has the preacher so worked up.  but if the preacher will somewhat restrain while instructing so that all may see the light of the truth clearly, then when illustrating, the mixture of affection and explanation builds…Prophetic emotion describes what springs from a biblical truth rather than from the preacher’s energy, nervousness, or preferences.  Truth unfelt and truth overfelt betrays its meaning.  (Eswine, Preaching to a Post-Everything World, 129 emphasis mine)

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Originally posted here.

Suggested Resources On Preaching

There is nothing quite like delivering your first sermon. Really there is nothing quite like delivering any sermon. It is a unique event. And with this many young men launching into the ministry (or even those that have been going at it for awhile) often look to books for help in preaching.

If that describes you here are a few books that I would recommend.

On Preparing a Sermon

Christ-Centered Preaching by Bryan Chapell. This is the best book that I have ever read on preparing a sermon.

Preaching to a Post-Everything World by Zack Eswine. Eswine is a wonderful addition to Chapell’s work. He adapts Chapell to a post-modern context.

Biblical Preaching by Haddon Robinson. This is a classic. Robinson will help you craft sermons of a little different style than those suggested by Chapell.

On Delivering a Sermon

Preaching with Bold Assurance by Hershel York. Dr. York teaches preaching at SBTS. That should tell you something.

Preaching with Passion by Alex Montoya. This is one of those preaching texts that gets to the heart of the preacher. His chapter on brokenness is phenomenal.

Spirit-Empowered Preaching by Arturo Azurdia. Azurdia makes a great case that Spirit-empowered preaching only comes through Christ-centered sermons.

Lectures to My Students by Charles Spurgeon. This will help with far more than just delivering sermons. But there is so much material in this book that a young minister could camp out for quite some time.

Why Johnny Can’t Preach by T. David Gordon. Gordon analyzes how the media has shaped the message. This is a great caution for every preacher to heed.

On Preaching

Feed My Sheep by Various Authors. A compilation of essays that makes the case for the necessity of faithful preaching.

The Supremacy of God in Preaching by John Piper. If you could sit with Jonathan Edwards and John Piper for about an hour and ask them about preaching this is the book that you’d get.

Between Two Worlds by John Stott. Stott believes that the preachers task is to bridge the gap between the world of the Bible and the world of today. This book shows the preacher how.

He is Not Silent by Albert Mohler. Dr. Mohler believes that most contemporary preaching is no longer confident in the power of God’s Word. This is a plea to restore that confidence even in our postmodern context.

If you can only get three…

Get Chapell, Eswine, and Piper.

If you can only get one…

This is a tough choice but I have to say get Chapell’s book.

Today in Blogworld 02.09.13

Simple Ideas That Are Borderline Genius

I may have to try a few of these. Check out these 28 pics and be inspired. (HT: David Murray)

Toward a Productive Discussion of Calvinism

Dave Miller holds out hope that Southern Baptists can have a productive discussion of Calvinism. Here is how he believes that could happen.

Should I Get Re-Baptized?

This is an example of productive discussion. A paedobaptist and a credobaptist attempt an answer to that question.

A healthy discussion on infant baptism:

Quick Review of A Mouth Full of Fire

I thought about preaching through Jeremiah once. Then I tried to outline it. I decided I would postpone that Jeremiah series for a time when it made a little more sense. After reading A Mouth Full of Fire: The Word of God in the words of Jeremiah, I might be a little closer to a Jeremiah series.

Andrew Shead attempts to unify the book of Jeremiah around the central theme of “the word of the Lord”. Shead believes that it is best described as “the story of what happened when the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah”. And as we listen to this story it helps us shape our own doctrine of the word of God. This book, then, serves as both a discussion on Jeremiah and a discussion on the doctrine of the word of God.

The book begins with an attempt to defend his thesis and outline the suitability of Jeremiah to give us a solid theology of the word of God. He then goes about structuring Jeremiah. After engaging in these introductory matters, Shead, then shows how his argument bears on our doctrine of the Word. He looks at the Word and speaker, Word and hearers, Word and power, and finally the Word and permanence. He closes the book with a “conversation” with Karl Barth.

My Take

I got a great deal out of this book. It helped me to think through Jeremiah and read it more cogently. Furthermore, Shead does a great job of defending his thesis. I’m convinced that he is correct in his theme of Jeremiah. If I ever do preach through Jeremiah I will be sure to go back to Shead and structure the book accordingly.

What is most helpful in this book, in my opinion, is the distinction that is made between “word” and “words”. His chapter on The Word and Speaker was very beneficial to me. I write and speak the Word frequently. His statement that, “a prophet is made by God into a word-shaped person” hauntingly shows that you really cannot separate the messenger from the message.

Should You Buy It?

The book will not be for everyone. It is written in the middle of a scholarly discussion on the nature of the word of God. If you aren’t already introduced into that conversation it might be a little difficult to get brought up to speed. However, the book is not so pedantic that a casual reader couldn’t pick it up and benefit.

Those most likely to benefit from this book would be someone that is studying the doctrine of the word of God. This needs to be part of that study. Furthermore, someone attempting to study or preach through Jeremiah would benefit greatly by giving this book at least a perusal. Shead helps outline Jeremiah in a way that I haven’t really seen before. It is profoundly helpful if given to the right audience.

Purchase A Mouth Full of Fire today.