Book Review: Young, Restless, Reformed

In August of 2006 Christianity Today ran a cover story on the rising influence of Calvinism among young evangelicals. Collin Hansen, the author of the article, has now expanded his treatment of this trend into a 150-page book: Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist’s Journey with the New Calvinists. Think Blue Like Jazz, but about Calvinism. Hansen travels around the country interviewing people who are influencing the “New Calvinists,” from John Piper to Mark Driscoll to leaders and students at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville.

This book is interesting if you take it for what it is: not a high-level sociological study, but more a collection of anecdotal evidence for and explanation of the recent surge in Reformed theology. Hansen is right in the middle of the movement, with a story similar to many of us who identify with the New Calvinists: he grew up in a broadly evangelical context, was confronted by a more robust version of Christianity in college, and that led him eventually to embrace Calvinism (after initially rejecting it). So this is a sympathetic presentation of the movement with some good analysis from several of its leaders.

Hansen doesn’t shy away from discussing some of the weaknesses of the New Calvinists, including the tendency toward hero-worship (anybody ever hear of a guy named Piper?) and the arrogance that frequently appears especially in young Calvinists. He quotes Michael Horton distinguishing between five-point Calvinism and the broader contours of Reformed theology, and gives attention to some prominent critics of Calvinism. In other words, this book is sympathetic but not a blind endorsement of everything that goes on under the name of Calvinism.

If there’s a flaw to Young, Restless, Reformed, I would call it a lack of depth. But as I said before, the book doesn’t claim to be a historical or sociological masterpiece. It’s a series of stories chronicling a movement that’s still growing in maturity and influence, and as such it’s excellent. If you’re sympathetic to Calvinism it will encourage you. If you’re not a fan, or have no idea what a “New Calvinist” is, this is a quick and interesting read.

A (basically) Presbyterian’s Dream

Brixx has one of the best beer lists in town. And on Mondays, all domestic microbrews are $1.50. Let’s elaborate:

• Sierra Nevada Pale Ale: $1.50.
• Brooklyn Brown: $1.50.
• Rogue Dead Guy: $1.50.
• Highland Gaelic: $1.50.
• Cottonwood Low Down Brown: $1.50.
• About a dozen more good choices: $1.50.

Last night I had two meetings.

(Disclaimer: only in moderation, meaning I would never have all the above on the same Monday.)

You don’t want just anybody picking out music for you.

But if it’s Adam, you’re good. I helped him build his new deck and got a prize:

New Audio

The final week of my Christ in the OT class is now available on the Audio page.

Jesus and the Favor of God

We don’t know much about Jesus’ childhood. Almost everything we know comes from Luke 2:

• He was circumcised at 8 days old (2:21).
• After 33 days, when Mary’s time of impurity was over, he was presented in the Temple and his parents offered a sacrifice (2:22-24). Simeon and Anna prophesied over him, and “when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord,” the young family returned home to Nazareth (2:39).
• He went to Jerusalem every year for Passover (2:41).

Twice in this chapter there’s a summary verse about Jesus growing up, and they’re similar:

• “And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him” (2:40).
• “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (2:52).

What is it about Jesus, at this early age, that brings his Father’s favor on him? Of course, he’s the eternal Son of God, in whom the Father has always delighted. But verse 52 says he grew in favor with God. How so? I think one answer is found in his complete obedience to the ceremonial law. Everything Luke tells us about his childhood shows Jesus going through exactly what the Law required of an Israelite: circumcision on the eighth day, an offering at the end of 33 days, observing the feasts.

This is what’s known as the active obedience of Christ. He didn’t just abstain from sin his entire life; he positively performed all the requirements of the Law, from loving God with all his heart to not coveting to observing all the required feasts. That’s the perfect record that’s imputed to us when we’re born again, the righteousness that God sees us clothed in. So when we read that the favor of God was upon his Son Jesus, it means that, by virtue of our union with him, that same favor of God is on us too.

Friendly Atheist

I’ve started reading a blog called Friendly Atheist by Hemant Mehta. Sometimes I’m frustrated by the posts and/or comments, but there are several reasons I’m keeping it in the reader.

1. The guy’s a good writer and he has interesting things to say.
2. It’s good to challenge my own thinking and see how I would respond to what non-Christians might say.
3. It’s good for me to see how Christians are perceived by people who (generally) don’t like us. Some of the negative things they say about us will be true, and I can try to work on those in my life. Some won’t be true, but knowing they perceive us that way can help me know what to work on too.
4. It’s a chance to interact with people (although not as good as face to face), and hopefully I can have a shot at being a friendly, thinking, generally winsome Christian.
5. Some of the things he posts I totally agree with. The kitsch evangelicals can come up with is unbelievable.
6. When the author or a commenter says something that really ticks me off, it’s a good chance to take a deep breath and not respond sinfully-and remind myself that it’s not my job to always get the last word.

As I write this I’m thinking some of it sounds arrogant. (And I’m realizing Hemant might find this link and read this. So if you do, Hemant, hi, and I don’t mean to be arrogant.) But deliberately reading stuff from a non-sympathetic source is, I think, a good exercise, both as a reality check and as an opportunity to confront and fight your own weak spots.

Video from Worship Night

Nothing fancy, but you’ll get the feel.

John Adams

A couple of years ago we found out that our apartment complex was requiring us to have cable, at a cool $45 a month. We weren’t pleased. (Well, I was a little pleased not to have to go to sports bars during football season.) As a result, we have HBO. Which normally we’re not thrilled about, and on the rare occasion we channel-surf, we’ve always got the thumb on the button when we hit channel 7.

A couple of weeks ago, though, we got a nice surprise. I had been hearing about the miniseries John Adams, based on David McCullough’s bestselling biography of one of the least-known Founding Fathers. It occurred to me on one of those rare channel-surfing occasions that this was on HBO, and we have HBO. For a history dork like me, this was very good news. We began watching the miniseries (I think we picked up in the middle of episode 3), and I got the book from the library.

I can’t say enough good things about the book, which I haven’t finished yet, or the miniseries, which ended last night. McCullough’s writing is great, and the movie does a great job of getting you into the world of the American Revolution. It’s very cool to see George Washington and Thomas Jefferson come alive, and Paul Giamatti (as Adams) and Laura Linney (as Abigail) are fantastic.

I think one of the reasons I’m really liking learning about Adams is that I identify with him– in good ways and bad. He was fiercely opinionated, which can make you passionate and convicted (Adams’ resolve was probably the only reason the Declaration of Independence happened when it did), but also vain and controlling. He talked and thought and wrote a lot, and he always envied men like Washington who had more self-control.

But one of my biggest takeaways from the series was just to be thankful for men like Adams. It sounds very cliché to talk about the sacrifices they made, but seriously, Adams was away from Abigail and their children for months at a time during the Revolution. He took assignments he didn’t want, like brokering a treaty with the French. As president, he threw away his popularity (and chances for reelection) by steering a neutral course in the conflict between France and Great Britain, knowing the young republic couldn’t survive another war. He did all this because he was convinced of the rightness of the American cause, and because he loved his country. And of course, all American citizens (and many others) are reaping the benefits of his resolve today.

So if you have HBO, by choice or otherwise, check out these reruns (you know how HBO is). The DVD’s are preselling on Amazon too, and the book is definitely worth the time.

New Audio

Just posted yesterday’s Behold the Lamb of God Sunday School class, on Christ in the book of Proverbs, on the Audio page. And if you didn’t notice, the set list from my show with Jessica at the Czech Inn now has a couple of songs you can download.

(Yes, I’m using show in the absolute most generous sense of the word.)

Worship Night

Monday night Jessica Forbes and I led a night of worship for Faith Community Church. We were joined by Ondra Riegl on fiddle, which was awesome. It was a great, extended time of worship, for us and for the crowd. Set list:

• I Exalt Thee –> Let us Love and Sing and Wonder

• Come Fall On Us

• Forever

• Praise Awaits You

• Wonderful Maker

• I Will Bow

• How Great is Our God

• O the Deep Deep Love of Jesus

• God Be Merciful to Me

• Poor Sinner, Dejected with Fear

• Here is Love

• The Love of God is Greater Far

• When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

• Hungry (Falling On My Knees)

• It Is Well With My Soul

• Before the Throne of God Above

• When I Think About the Lord –> I Exalt Thee