I am very excited about this new book documenting a resurgence of Reformed theology or Calvinism in America, and especially among young people. There is hope for the Christian world after all!

I don’t know where to start.  I just got through the first chapter tonight, and I could hardly put it down.

The first chapter alone is worth the price of the book many times over. This chapter is called “Born Again Again”. 

The author set out to Atlanta for a youth conference when he was standing in line at a hotel, when he heard some young people talking about theology--of all things!  And guess what?  Can you believe the first people this author talked to when researching his book was a group of Seventh Day Adventists from the Florida Hospital SDA church?  Wow!  Apparently there are some SDA pastors who really like what Reformed teachers such as CJ Mahaney and others are teaching. 

This may whet your appetite for a really exciting journey to what the Lord is doing to bring a new revival of truly Biblical theology.

I will be very busy for the next three days, but I at least wanted to get this thread started.

More to come.

Solio Deo Gloria!

Stan

The author of the book, Collin Hansen began to see that there is a resurgence of interest in Calvinism, especially among the youth. So, as an editor for “Christianity Today”, he was given permission by the main editor of CT, David Neff (also a former SDA) to take two years to tour the country to explore the phenomena of the new interest in a theology that seemed all but dead in American evangelicalism.

But recently John Piper, Mark Driscoll, RC Sproul, JI Packer, John MacArthur, CJ Mahaney, and others have helped bring new interest in bringing these Biblical truths back.  John Piper especially has captured the hearts and minds of a large portion of evangelicalism, even though many who hear him are not fully convinced Calvinists--at least not yet.

The first stop on this two year trip was Atlanta, Georgia to the 2007 Passion Conference where John Piper was invited to speak.

The author was standing in a big line waiting at a major hotel near the conference center, when he overheard two young men talking about theology and church. So Hansen butted in on their conversation and asked them why they had signed up for the conference. The older man said that he escorted a group of college students from the Florida Hospital Church, an SDA congregation in Orlando! Among them was Robin Treto, 18 who had a voracious appetite for John Piper sermons. He had downloaded some 200 sermons on the book of Romans from the site, and became totally overwhelmed with this “meat of the word” ministry.

The author then asked Robin how an SDA would become interested in Piper’s theology?

This is a great story, but it is getting late.

To be continued,

Stan

Robin Treto had become a believer in Jesus Christ while in the SDA church two years prior to this conference. Robin had rebelled like many young SDAs against their parents very strict religion of legalism. He was into drugs and booze. He observed that his cousin who introduced him to partying, was beginning to respond to the gospel, and instead of partying together, they started studying the book of Romans and especially the 8th chapter. However, as he studied he became more confused initially, but then the Holy Spirit opened his spirtual eyes, and by irresistible grace brought him to his knees and he realized that Christ had paid the penalty of sin for him, and he was born again.

Robin then developed a voracious appetite for the gospel and listened to 200 sermons of John Piper’s series on Romans downloaded for free from http://www.desiringgod.org (all the while attending an SDA church). Robin did leave his parent’s SDA church, but he did not leave SDA, but went to another church.  Remarkably, an SDA pastor gave him some CDs of CJ Mahaney, another Reformed teacher who also has charismatic leanings. As Robin listened more and more to Piper and Mahaney, it became apparent to him that Calvinism squared with his own growing knowledge of scripture.

However Calvinism did not go down easy for Robin. He admits that it was rough sledding ( especially in light of his SDA background). God’s sovereignty was a fearsome concept. But these fears evaporated as he saw the scriptural basis through positive presentations. To quote Robin:
“Guys who taught it to me-Mahaney, Harris, and Piper-said it humbly and so passionately”

The author asked Robin how Calvinism meshed with Adventism. Robin admitted that it doesn’t, and he had to give up the theology major he was pursuing at Southern Adventist College, but at least for awhile, he has elected to stay in the SDA church hoping to influence others. He attends the SDA church on Saturday, and then on Sunday attends R.C. Sproul’s church where he hears this great teacher expound on the great themes of the Reformed faith.
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This story confirms what I have observed among many serious students of scripture who have left the SDA church. Our souls long for the grand themes of God’s miraculous saving grace. We want the real meat of the word. We long to know that God is in control of all our circumstances, and that there are no accidents in the kingdom of God.

The distorted gospel of Adventism, and it’s root theology of Arminianism, just does not satisfy what the soul longs for. For many years after leaving SDA, we attended an Arminian church that in many ways was very close to SDA, in that the senior pastor believed that it was up to US to continue abiding, and that we could lose our salvation. The Calvary Chapel movement is very popular among former SDAs, but in the final analysis has significant theological problems.

A completely new theological world opened up to me when I discovered the great truths of the Reformers who brought back the true teachings of Jesus and Paul.  This great tradition of Luther and Calvin has been continued by Charles Spurgeon and so many others, and continued today by John Piper, John MacArthur, RC Sproul and so many others..

Rejoicing in God’s sovereign grace,

Soli Deo Gloria

Stan

Stan Ermshar - 09 August 2008 04:57 PM

Remarkably, an SDA pastor gave him some CDs of CJ Mahaney, another Reformed teacher who also has charismatic leanings.

At first reading, I was on the brink to say “Wow”, that’s unusual! At the second glance, I understood that this is the development of a principle noticed by D. M. Canright long time ago in his book, Sevnth-day Adventism Renounced,

Talking about what is good and what is bad in Adventism, he said

All in their system that has been a blessing to them is held also by all evangelical churches, such as faith in God, in Jesus and the Bible, a pure heart, holy life, self-denial, etc. Nothing good has come to them or to the world by those doctrines which are peculiar to Adventist, as the TIME of the advent, the condition of the dead, the Sabbath, the visions, etc.

It’s quite possible that the Adventist pastor that gave those CDs with CJ Mahaney is understanding better where he will find what is good for his people, in the other protestant churches. What that pastor tried to do is something similar towhat God is presented as doing in Romans 11, but it’s the reverse situation, he’s trying to bring branches of cultivated olive tree into a wild olive tree, hoping that the wild olive tree will become a cultivated olive tree.

Gabriel

Stan,

I remember that at some point I told you how your attachment to reformed theology was very encouraging for me when I discovered that the Adventist Church has no gospel at all, no nothing firm, no anchor for my soul. It was a shattering experience, and reading about your discoveries about he reformed faith was just the thing I was looking for: an anchor for my soul, a solid rock in the middle of life’s storms.

The gospel, as it was presented to me in Adventism, and to some degree in the evangelical churches which entertain Arminian ideas, was that God is going to do me good IF I will do X (X = man’s part in cooperating with God), and so God’s blessing in my life was relative and proportionally with my performance. Since our performance suffers greatly from instability and even in our best moments we know in our heart of hearts that we made a poor performance before God’s holy eyes, no wonder that expecting blessings from God in such conditions was wishful thinking.

What I discovered in the reformed faith was a God who doesn’t depend on us in order to do us good, he’s depending only on Himself and his pleasure, his actions are according to the pleasure of His will. He’s sovereign and He’s able to accomplish his purposes because nobody can successfully prevent Him doing this. Sin is not able to prevent God in justifying me, it’s not able to bring on me condemnation when God is pronouncing justification, it’s not able to control my life since my wicked will cannot stand against God’s purposes for me. Nobody can pluck me from the hands of my Master, Jesus is King over everything, the Head of every power in this life, and His victory exerts through the cross over principalities and powers and dominions.

The transition was not easy, because the basic principle which I was taught was that God respects the free will of man to the degree that man’s will is powerful than God’s will, man’s will is sovereign and God’s will is subordinate. But the constraints of sin, of reality, pushed me toward the doctrines of grace and God’s sovereign exertion of grace, since looking in myself brought only desperation. I despaired of my will, and I still despair of my unrighteousness, and I understood and I’m still learning that if I’m looking at my will, my heart, my deeds, nothing good can come from myself. If something good must come and will come, it will come from God’s good will, according to His pleasure, not according to my works, desires, decisions. etc

Soli Deo Gloria

Gabriel

Amen Gabriel!  I really appreciate your thoughts. You have become a brilliant proponent of the majesty of God’s unspeakable riches contained in the glorious gospel of sovereign grace.

Continuing with the first chapter, the author (Hansen) talks about his personal experience going from a Wesleyan Methodist background to discovering the truth of the Reformed faith. He went to college at Northwestern where there was a chapter of Campus Crusade for Christ. He relates that even though he definitely was saved, he felt he was not growing in his faith. He relates, :"Sin plagued me with guilt, and I saw very little victory over temptation”.

Hansen had never heard of Calvinism until another Methodist friend in campus crusade at college related that he believed in predestination. A group of the kids from Campus Crusade began studying Romans, and another older student introduced him to RC Sproul. Hansen says that he didn’t go looking for Reformed Theology, but it found him.. He was impressed how well the Calvinists in their group really knew scripture. He became convinced that Calvinism makes the best sense as to what scripture teaches.

Hansen relates his experiences with religion professors after he had discovered what the true gospel is, and he became “born again again”
He faced ridicule from his professors who expressed shock that there were any more Calvinists left. After a barrage of questions from one professor, who was using human reasoning and arguments to shoot him down, Hansen just had to reply, “I’m sorry, but I don’t have answers for any of your questions”, but “I merely believe Calvinism comes closest to honoring the teachings of Jesus and the apostle Paul”. But then here is the fascinating reply the professor gave,"Oh, if that’s your criteria, then you’re right” What an amazing reply!

The author concludes the first chapter by observing that many who heard John Piper preach at the Passion Conference, (including Robin our SDA friend) never realized they were travelling down a path trod by many of their peers. But they recognize the power of the conversion that God brings--"born again by the power of God, then transformed by the mystery of grace.”

Soli Deo Gloria,

Stan

As a footnote observation on the first chapter of the book aptly titled “Born again again”, this title really does intrigue me.

So many people who clearly are born again at some point in time will study the Bible for a few years and maybe go to a church that is either Arminian or semi-Pelagian. Then whenever they are introduced to the Reformed gospel, and then after much prayer and study embrace these concepts--then suddenly there is an overwhelming awe on discovering these truths. Many testify that they are overwhelmed by the idea that God would have chosen them for salvation, though realizing how undeserving they are.

There is a new excitement about the overwhelming sovereignty of God, and His goodness and grace.

It is truly like being born again again, as Collin Hansen the author and Robin Treto, the SDA who came to realize these great truths have testified.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Stan

Chapter 2 of our book is entitled “Out of Bethlehem”

This chapter details the importance that John Piper has had in this youth movement towards Reformed faith. Piper is the pastor of a large church in Minneapolis, Minnesota called “Bethlehem Baptist Church”.  We saw in the last chapter how the SDA Robin was influenced by listening to over 200 sermons by Piper..

About 20 years ago, Piper wrote a classic work “Desiring God”, which he calls an account of Chrisitan Hedonism. This book is written with the most important goal of enjoying God, and glorifying God.

This chapter details the author’s visit to Piper’s church and the private meeting with him.

I will include a few notes about this in the next post.

Stan

Stan Ermshar - 11 August 2008 11:28 PM

As a footnote observation on the first chapter of the book aptly titled “Born again again”, this title really does intrigue me.

So many people who clearly are born again at some point in time will study the Bible for a few years and maybe go to a church that is either Arminian or semi-Pelagian. Then whenever they are introduced to the Reformed gospel, and then after much prayer and study embrace these concepts--then suddenly there is an overwhelming awe on discovering these truths. Many testify that they are overwhelmed by the idea that God would have chosen them for salvation, though realizing how undeserving they are.

There is a new excitement about the overwhelming sovereignty of God, and His goodness and grace.

It is truly like being born again again, as Collin Hansen the author and Robin Treto, the SDA who came to realize these great truths have testified.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Stan

BRT (Before Reformed Theology)

The theological ‘truths’ that I had accepted were NOT LIFE CHANGING and were, at best, insipid, uninspiring, ho-hum, self centered and subjective. I spent 36 years silently in neutral! I had nothing of worth to share.

ART (After Reformed Theology)

Upon ‘discovering’ God’s absolute sovereignty over everything, especially salvation, I am inspired and transformed. To paraphrase a quote in a previous post, unless someone is really interested in the Bible I’ve become a bit of a bore, a one-note-Johnny. I can’t get enough of God’s truth and find it impossible to keep my mouth shut in group Bible study. I truly am a new person – I have been born again – Hallelujah!

John Douglas

Thanks John for your testimony that rings so true.

John Piper is a truly remarkable individual. He pastors a large church but lives modestly He doesn’t even own a television set.. He is truly humble in spirit. He apparently doesn’t strike one as a particularl;y charismatic individual, but his preaching goes out with power.

His web site is http://www.desiringgod.org He appeals to many in the non-Calvinist camp as well. All sermons are available for free on this website.

Piper’s influence has been huge, starting with his signature book “Desiring God”.

There is a large missions outreach, and evangelism is a high priority contrary to what some might think of Calvinism.

Piper is very passionate about TULIP, the five points of Calvinism. This link on his website is very good in explaining what Calvinism is, and why it is important to believe it:

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/1985/1487_What_We_Believe_About_the_Five_Points_of_Calvinism/

There are a lot of interesting anecdotes in this chapter, and interviews with members of Piper’s church.

Also there is a section of counterpoint to Calvinism, where a typical Arminian’s view such as that of Roger Olson is contrasted with Calvinism.

Stan

I just finished reading the entire book today.

I am in awe of how God is working among the young people of our day. There is indeed great hope for the upcoming generation.

There is so much I want to post on this book, but so little time. I go back on to my difficult work week tomorrow, and so much of what I’d like to share will have to wait.

Stan

Here is great review of Colin Hansen’s book that came out today by Jesse Johnson:  http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/08/19/young-restless-reformed/

Dennis Fischer

Dennis - 19 August 2008 12:44 PM

Here is great review of Colin Hansen’s book that came out today by Jesse Johnson:  http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/08/19/young-restless-reformed/

Dennis Fischer

Thanks Dennis for posting this link, and appreciated yours and Dan Hagan’s remarks on that blog. I just posted a little something on there, and if any other former SDAs would like to put their testimonial or response on there to the book, and how the doctrines of grace have changed their approach to scripture, this might be helpful.

It is interesting that “Pulpit” magazine posted a favorable review. Pulpit is part of John MacArthur’s ministry, and disappointingly, MacArthur refused to have any part in being interviewed for the book. MacArthur has been openly critical in a public way of Mark Driscoll’s ministry mentioned in the book.

Stan

You can find an article Hansen wrote on this topic in 2006 here.

Aaron

Aaron - 23 August 2008 08:44 PM

You can find an article Hansen wrote on this topic in 2006 here.

Aaron

Thanks Aaron.  That link you supplied summarizes in great detail the essence of the book being reviewed. It was worth the purchase price of the book though just for the first chapter, which reaffirms my belief that Adventists and former Adventists need to hear the gospel with the doctrines of grace unashamedly proclaimed without having to apologize for them possibly being divisive.

The real truth of scripture is divisive by nature. If scripture clearly teaches these truths, then they must be taught without reservation.

Stan

John, I like your BRT and ART designations.  In my experience (ART), I realized that the Reformed perspective is a better theology for a greater doxology.  A soteriological stance that makes one’s heart to sing in gratitude and praise is truly God-centered and God-exalting.  Those who embrace the doctrines of grace can finally declare that they have left the uncertainty of Adventism.

Dennis Fischer