The outrage at Piper for inviting Warren by some New Calvinists is astonishing considering the fact that part of the Reformed resurgence is built on the fact that it is the plain preaching of Scripture that creates disciples, not fancy eloquence that rest on the personality or even the wisdom of the speaker. No matter how inadequate a preacher may be, the Spirit is what makes the message hearable to the hearers. Yet, looking over some of the comments on New Calvinist blogs there is much appeal to their leaders to publicly rebuke Piper or expose Warren or to call for some sort purification through separation. Each personality becomes a rallying point for their hopes of some kind of censure against Warren or Piper. The jealousy for these men’s reputations cannot be missed.Read the rest.
All this serves as evidence to show that the New Calvinism is infected with the some of the same problems that beleaguered the church of Corinth where reverence for human leaders lead to a factious spirit that utterly missed the person and work of Christ and his intentions for his body. Paul plainly rebukes this mentality as idolatrous. The growth we experience comes from God and the instruments he uses to accomplish this are “nothing.” One whose faith rests on the wisdom of a human teacher is as pathetic as the one who builds his house on the sand. Worldly and immature are those who are jealous for the reputation of their teachers and see their spiritual identities formed by their ministry, says Paul. It is of course not wrong to hold certain teachers in high regard. It is a good thing. But as one of the New Calvinist pastors has said, “When a good thing becomes a God thing, it’s a bad thing.”
There is a lesson to be learned here for the larger body of Christ. When we build the church on personalities and leaders we are not building on Christ. Just like how Emergent Village taught us (among many other things) not to despise and reject hierarchy within our ecclesiology the New Calvinists can teach us that it is Christ and his gospel that truly builds the church—not the fancies and prowess of talented leaders. However, unlike Emergent, the New Calvinism has the self-correcting resources to right the ship and we should all pray that it does.
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
The New Calvinism’s Personality-Driven Life
Adam Omelianchuk:
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1 comment:
Wow. Lots of assumptions here. I seriously don't think that it's the "New Calvinists? up in arms, as much as the older Calvinists who've been around a while and can see what's happening.
I also don't see the supposed "jealousy" that the author is claiming. (I love that one - you are critical because you're jealous of me. Talk about letting oneself off the hook.)
Also, attributing the outrage to personality-driven ministry is another assumption that misses the mark. Most of the critics are not saying "I follow John Piper" therefore, I should not follow "Rick Warren." To make that assumption is inaccurate for most of the critics I've read.
Yes, some of the criticisms are too harsh. But the author fails to understand the problem as the critics see it.
The two most important criticisms of Rick Warren have nothing to do with 1 Corinthians:
1- that he does not preach the Gospel.
2- that his model for ministry is divisive and takes advantage of the flock.
Neither of these apply to the issues at Corinth. Now, I don't necessarily believe that these 2 serious charges are 100% accurate all of the time.
But they don't have anything to do with New Calvinism.
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