Why is there a Resurgence of Reformed Theology?

[preacher4truth]

It isn't so much a 'resurgence' as it is a spot light being placed on it once more. It has always been around and has always had about the same foot hold it does now... though I will say it is gaining more notoriety, especially due to the web, and gaining more adherents.

This is not to distract nor detract from the fact others are believing it, nor that it is growing.. please don't misunderstand me. However it is more like a cycle of views that come and go like the tide. Believe that the reformed view came into prominence when theology began to grow more and more corrupt and one sided, just as the Arminian view came into prominence when the Reformed view became more and more corrupt and one sided. Both are extremes and neither is fully correct. I praise God that he has allowed me to share scripture with many who were like myself, moving toward a reformed view, but through researching the scriptures came to see where it was bibically incorrect (though acknowledging those place it was correct). Due to this fact, they, like myself, came to reject it as a system of belief.

What is most interesting is that very question could have also been asked back in the days of the reformers about the Arminian position.. though it I HIGHLY doubt any of the reformed members here would state it was light shining into the darkness, nor that God Himself desired His people to know and believe contrary to some of the views of the reformed position. (though I do know a few on here who will state this.. most will not).

Anyway, just my two cents.

I seriously doubt that you took a look at Scriptures and found Reformed Theology to be wrong, or as you say, biblically incorrect. You would be the only soul on the face of the earth to have ever done so. So you didn't prove it by Scripture, you merely formed an opinion that it is wrong. No one has proven Reformed Theology as being wrong by a Biblical study. It's only opinion.

In essence this is what you are saying, that via Scripture you have used it as a proof to show it to be wrong, i.e. proven it thus.

Perhaps your understanding of Reformed Theology was lacking while you were attempting to understand it and disprove it? I haven't found one thing wrong concerning Calvinism in light of Scripture, but instead and in fact have found my previous thoughts and understanding of passages used to support it as lacking in a thorough understanding of said passages.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

.

I seriously doubt that you took a look at Scriptures and found Reformed Theology to be wrong, or as you say, biblically incorrect. You would be the only soul on the face of the earth to have ever done so. So you didn't prove it by Scripture, you merely formed an opinion that it is wrong. No one has proven Reformed Theology as being wrong by a biblical study. It's only opinion.

In essence this is what you are saying, that via Scripture you have used it as a proof to show it to be wrong.

Perhaps your understanding of Reformed Theology was lacking while you were attempting to understand it and disprove it. I haven't found one thing wrong concerning Calvinism in light of Scripture, but instead and in fact have found my previous thoughts and understanding of passages used to support it as lacking in thorough understanding of said passages.

It's thus your opinion, and my opinion on the matter at hand.

Thank you Preach for taking the high road, I admit to getting upset with Pastors who make blatant statements like that some times. My apologies to Allan.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

"I am a five-point Calvinist and all of the points are sharp!" Ian Paisley

Do you know Paisley?

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

"I am a five-point Calvinist and all of the points are sharp!" Ian Paisley

There is a story behind that one folks...google Ian Paisley. :tongue3:

 

[Luke2427]

Do you know Paisley?

I love Paisely!!

He is literally my favorite living preacher. I intend to go and see him when he comes to South Carolina in a few months.


Now he is to the right of me on versions and teetotalism- but he is a great, great man of God.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Well I just cannot go without putting my two cents worth.

1. The proverbial "pendulum swing" principle is in effect.

Like many things in our world, "theological" preferences swing from side to side. Much like elections, democrat---republican etc. As to why this is, well that is a question for philosophers to tackle. But then again, philosophy is the "handmaiden of theology".

2. Most "respected" theologies are "logical", however, "reformed theology" leans much more heavily to the deductive side of logic (Moving from "complex to the simple). Whereas, other theologies may be more "inductive" in nature. (Moving from the specific to the general.

As a rule, most find deductive logic more appealing because it is more simple.

3. My guess also is the statistics related to the positions of academicians at seminaries also has an impact.

BTW, could not bring myself to vote for any of the options in the survey list.

Or maybe God is....... Well, Ha Ha, you fill in the blanks. :raying:

 

[sag38]

No one has proven Reformed Theology as being wrong by a Biblical study. It's only opinion.

And Allen could say the same thing back to you. "No one has proven it to be right either. It's only opinion." Personally, I've read the "Biblical" arguments for reformed theology and I'm not fully convinced. At best I'm a four pointer. The Biblical arguments presented so far for limited atonement don't prove it in my opinion.Ok, now you are free to go ahead with the typical reformed response and tell me, "You just don't get it because you don't understand reformed theology," or the even more mature one and call me a "universalist."

 

[Jarthur001]

This is not true. Read, "Young, Restless and Reformed" by Collin Hansen There are some stats in that book that clearly show there is a resurgence of Reformed thinking.



This is terribly unfortunate. You've fallen into and led others into error.

I disagree.

Hansen looks at Calvinism, and it is indeed rising. In the "Young, Restless and Reformed"/ by Hansen he does seem to prove this. But, you have to consider other things. One, he took most of his data from schools, and those leaving schools.

Church members tell another story.

But..beyond this is...TULIP is just part of Reformed Theology. The resurgence is in TULIP and other areas of Reformed theology have not grown that much at all.


I addressed a little bit of this a few months ago....

LINK

 

[Luke2427]

I disagree.

Hansen looks at Calvinism, and it is indeed rising. In the "Young, Restless and Reformed"/ by Hansen he does seem to prove this. But, you have to consider other things. One, he took most of his data from schools, and those leaving schools.

Church members tell another story.

But..beyond this is...TULIP is just part of Reformed Theology. The resurgence is in TULIP and other areas of Reformed theology have not grown that much at all.


I addressed a little bit of this a few months ago....

LINK

I understand. But the fact that youth are clinging to it by the thousands does mean it is re-surging.

I pastor in a town where Reformed thinking is in the early stages of resurgence.

I don't think the fact the the world's largest seminary has returned to its reformed roots should be lightly discounted.

re·sur·gent
   /rɪˈsɜrdʒənt/ Show Spelled[ri-sur-juhnt] Show IPA
–adjective
rising or tending to rise again; reviving; renascent.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I love Paisely!!

He is literally my favorite living preacher. I intend to go and see him when he comes to South Carolina in a few months.


Now he is to the right of me on versions and teetotalism- but he is a great, great man of God.

Hurry along....he's quite old. Have you ever spoken to him?

 

[Thinkingstuff]

Hurry along....he's quite old. Have you ever spoken to him?

I'm wondering. Do you remember the 21st night of september?

 

[Jarthur001]

I understand. But the fact that youth are clinging to it by the thousands does mean it is re-surging.

I pastor in a town where Reformed thinking is in the early stages of resurgence.

I don't think the fact the the world's largest seminary has returned to its reformed roots should be lightly discounted.

I agree...and i don't take that lightly. I do hope the younger pastors will hold on to what they have been schooled in.

As more of these younger pastors take churches, we should see that number change in church members. I pray it does. Then we will once again see the gospel grow and change this nation.

If people are unhappy with the church as they see it today, this must be laid at the feet of Arminianism. It is Arminianism that took us down this path, of seeker churches, hyper-fundies and liberalism and waterdown theology. We had stronger churches in the 1600, 1700 and 1800s when Reformed theology was held higher then it has been in the last 100 years.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

No one has proven Reformed Theology as being wrong by a Biblical study. It's only opinion.

And Allen could say the same thing back to you. "No one has proven it to be right either. It's only opinion." Personally, I've read the "Biblical" arguments for reformed theology and I'm not fully convinced. At best I'm a four pointer. The Biblical arguments presented so far for limited atonement don't prove it in my opinion.Ok, now you are free to go ahead with the typical reformed response and tell me, "You just don't get it because you don't understand reformed theology," or the even more mature one and call me a "universalist."

Im OK with that. Its difficult to understand & took me years of wrestling with it. I dont have a pat answer for you except to search it out. I just finished reading the book "The Doctrines Of Grace" by James Boice & Philip Ryken...they put the entire doctrines of Grace in a new prospective for me so I could better understand it. Now Im a Reformed guy for over 24 years & its taking me this long to put all the pieces together & I drove Pastors wild in fighting Limited Atonement so Ive been there. And Im glad I kept at it.

 

[preacher4truth]

No one has proven Reformed Theology as being wrong by a Biblical study. It's only opinion.

And Allen could say the same thing back to you. "No one has proven it to be right either. It's only opinion." Personally, I've read the "Biblical" arguments for reformed theology and I'm not fully convinced. At best I'm a four pointer. The Biblical arguments presented so far for limited atonement don't prove it in my opinion.Ok, now you are free to go ahead with the typical reformed response and tell me, "You just don't get it because you don't understand reformed theology," or the even more mature one and call me a "universalist."

How about this instead for a "response":

Thanks a lot Dr. Obvious!!!!!


:applause: :thumbsup:

 

[Luke2427]

Hurry along....he's quite old. Have you ever spoken to him?

No sir, I have not. A friend of mine, who I am going with to South Carolina, has.

I have enjoyed listening to many hours of his sermons. He's fun to youtube as well.

 

[Luke2427]

I agree...and i don't take that lightly. I do hope the younger pastors will hold on to what they have been schooled in.

As more of these younger pastors take churches, we should see that number change in church members. I pray it does. Then we will once again see the gospel grow and change this nation.

If people are unhappy with the church as they see it today, this must be laid at the feet of Arminianism. It is Arminianism that took us down this path, of seeker churches, hyper-fundies and liberalism and waterdown theology. We had stronger churches in the 1600, 1700 and 1800s when Reformed theology was held higher then it has been in the last 100 years.

You are absolutely right. I agree that Arminianism has well nigh killed evangelicalism in our nation.

 

[Thinkingstuff]

Im OK with that. Its difficult to understand & took me years of wrestling with it. I dont have a pat answer for you except to search it out. I just finished reading the book "The Doctrines Of Grace" by James Boice & Philip Ryken...they put the entire doctrines of Grace in a new prospective for me so I could better understand it. Now Im a Reformed guy for over 24 years & its taking me this long to put all the pieces together & I drove Pastors wild in fighting Limited Atonement so Ive been there. And Im glad I kept at it.

So I take it you don't remember the 21st night of september? When Love was changing the minds of Pretenders while chasing the clouds away?

No "ba de ya" for you?

 

[sag38]

Some folks think they've got it all wrapped up in a neat little theological box with all the answers given in a pretty little flower acronym. Personally, I'm perfectly comfortable living in the contradiction of the truth being somewhere in the middle of the two arguments with a little lean to one side.

 

[J.D.]

I love Paisely!!

He is literally my favorite living preacher. I intend to go and see him when he comes to South Carolina in a few months.


Now he is to the right of me on versions and teetotalism- but he is a great, great man of God.

...and there are many good things about the Free Presbyterian Churches. I was greatly desiring to join one but it didn't work out due to my situation at the time.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I'm wondering. Do you remember the 21st night of september?

TS.... frankly I dont recall where I put my keys? Why?