Tuna or Tulip - What’s the big idea?
If you were to compile a list of the ten ideas that are changing the world right now what would you include? Would you identify ‘Biobanks’ or ‘Recycling the Suburbs’ or would your suggestions be more down the line of technological advances such as John West's 'No Drain Tuna'?
One thing I imagine would not make your list is ‘The New Calvinism’ and yet, according to a recent Time Magazine article it ranks at a whopping number three!
Calvinism, named after one of its major influences, John Calvin, is a theological system that strongly emphasises the sovereign rule of God over all things. Although it was largely developed and formalised in the 16th century, as part of the second phase of the Protestant Reformation, it has continued to shape those who would call themselves ‘reformed theologians’ to this day.
‘Ted Olsen, a managing editor at Christianity Today [notes] “everyone knows where the energy and the passion are in the Evangelical world” - with the pioneering new-Calvinist John Piper of Minneapolis, Seattle's pugnacious Mark Driscoll and Albert Mohler, head of the Southern Seminary of the huge Southern Baptist Convention. The Calvinist-flavored ESV Study Bible sold out its first printing, and Reformed blogs […] are among cyber-Christendom's hottest links.’ (Time, 10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now.)
This year sees landmark birthday celebrations for a number of key world-changing personalities such as John Calvin (500), Charles Darwin (150) and Jamie Cullum (30). In stumbling upon this entry from Time, I must admit it is refreshingly rare to come across an article that isn’t about the effects of Darwinian theory this year!
Even reading through the other nine contenders, you can see the Darwinian fingerprints leaving little smudges here and there; biobanks for genetic research into eradicating illness, or the survival instincts of those who wish to evade extinction through playing down their age and investing in cryogenic freezing.
In the midst of people celebrating random chance and evolution, the doctrines of the sovereignty of God, the depravity of man and salvation through Jesus’ atoning death are a stark and powerful wake up call.
So in this lead up to Calvin’s 500th birthday, why not spend some time learning more about the man and his theology?
To help you on your way, check out John Piper’s biography of John Calvin from the Bethlehem Conference for Pastors, 1997 or three biographical talks on the person and theology of Calvin from Mike Reeves of UCCF.
To read the Time article, click here. Click here to read various posts from Mark Driscoll’s on the differences between Old and New Calvinism, and here to buy Jamie Cullum a 30th birthday card.
Liam Thatcher
