An Idea That Could Change the World

The Sovereignty of Salvation

TIME magazine's most recent cover story ("10 ideas that could change the world) http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1884779_1884782_1884760,00.html) shockingly posits the "New Calvinism" (as if anything was wrong with the old one) as the third most influential idea around the world right now. The real shock is not so much that a Christian item or controversey could make the list, but what is staggering is that a classic doctrine of reformed Christian theology is what not only made the list, but ranked so high. Why?

According to the article, "A lot of young people grew up in a culture of brokenness, divorce, drugs or sexual temptation," says Collin Hansen, author of Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist's Journey with the New Calvinists. "They have plenty of friends: what they need is a God." Baptist theologian and author Al Mohler says, "The moment someone begins to define God's [being or actions] biblically, that person is drawn to conclusions that are traditionally classified as Calvinist."

John Calvin would have turned 500 this summer and as we remember his massive ministry and influence, one may be tempted to cannonize such a man. At least until we remember, that he was quite a falible and fallen scholar, preacher and theologian in his time (i.e. his eschatology or end times doctrine). In fact, one of the reasons that we should not follow or strictly adhere to any man-made system of theology, is precisely because its founders and adherents are human, and thus falible and errant, as opposed to the Word of God.

That said, respect and honor must be given when due, and Calvin's theology (TULIP notwithstanding), according to TIME, "offers a rock-steady deity who orchestrates absolutely everything, including illness (or home foreclosure!), by a logic we may not understand but don't have to second-guess. Our satisfaction — and our purpose — is fulfilled simply by 'glorifying' him." Indeed, I can think of no greater a God-glorifying theology than that which gives Him the due credit and reverence He deserves for all good things- including even salvation. Salvation? Don't we choose or believe in Christ for salvation? Absolutely, the Bible says, "confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Ro. 10:9, ESV)."

However, who is the source or the initiator of our salvation? Who as Hebrews asks, is "the author and finisher of our faith?" Jesus put it this way when addressing His confused and questioning apostles and disciples, when explaining that He was the 'Bread of Life' in John's gospel (Jo.6:37,39,44,65), "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out... And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day...No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

This is the doctrine that Calvin loved and that we can embrace. One which says as the Bible repeats over and over again, that God is sovereign (a king who rules, reigns and is authoritative) over everything in the universe and which means he is also captain of our souls. Which is why TIME added, "Calvinism is back, and not just musically. John Calvin's 16th century reply to medieval Catholicism's buy-your-way-out-of-purgatory excesses is Evangelicalism's latest success story, complete with an utterly sovereign and micromanaging deity, sinful and puny humanity, and the combination's logical consequence, predestination: the belief that before time's dawn, God decided whom he would save (or not), unaffected by any subsequent human action or decision. " You may not like this description of your sinful condition (the Bible says it worse- Ro. 3-6; Eph 2, etc.) and God's role in salvation, but it's true.

Further, it should even make sense. The Bible tells us we're spiritually dead as unbelievers and most dead men I know don't revive themeselves or can. Isn't that why we pray that GOD would save sinners, and not that sinners save themselves? If the 'new Calvinism' will help turn man to the mirror, to see who he really is and what he needs, then it may just be an idea whose time has come- again.