Christ’s Command & the New Calvinism

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Recently, Time’s David Van Biema wrote an article highlighting the things we should be watching for in 2009. Many have already noted that it is quite interesting that the third item on this list is The New Calvinism. I am not sure why the author decided to dub this resurgence as “the new Calvinism.” I do not believe it to be anything different than has been taught before. Rather than critique the article’s portrayal of this resurgence, it would be of greater importance to highlight one sentence:

It will be interesting to see whether Calvin's latest legacy will be classic Protestant backbiting or whether, during these hard times, more Christians searching for security will submit their wills to the austerely demanding God of their country's infancy.

It is astonishing that there are some in the secular world watching us. What will they see? It is of paramount importance to heed the words of Christ:

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-25 ESV)

For this reason, we should:

  1. Stand for our biblical convictions on sovereign grace.
  2. Love all of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
  3. Work to share an accurate vision of our Holy God and the saving work of Christ.

It should not escape our attention that in one of Christ’s last petitions for the Church we see him say

The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (John 13:34-25 ESV)

I thank God for those who are displaying this love.

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