Five-point­ corrective

HUMBLE CALVINISM
By JA Medders
The Good Book Company. 162 pages. £7.99
ISBN 978 1 784 983 727

Calvinism has often been used as a theo-logical stick with which to beat opponents or as a source of high-handed priggishness because ‘we know God has chosen us’ – with an emphasis not on God but on us.

Such ghastly behaviour is found in both the past and the present, and has driven many sincere Christians away from Reformation truth rightly holding their noses and saying ‘it stinks’. This book is a very welcome corrective.

Once an obnoxious Calvinist

The author is lead pastor of Redeemer Church, Tomball, Texas and confesses that he has learned what he has to share from hav-ing at one time been an obnoxious Calvinist himself, critical of others and more concerned to win theological battles than to win people. He locates the root of the problem not in Calvinism itself, but in an over-intellectualisa-tion of the doctrines of grace. ‘Calvinism in the head will puff you up. Calvinism in the heart will build others up.’

TULIP

Having described the problem, the book then travels through the classic five points of Calvinism – Total depravity; Unconditional election; Limited atonement; Irresistible grace and the Perseverance of the saints (TULIP). These truths are proved from Scripture, but then expounded as to how those great doc-trines should affect our lives. These applica-tions form the major part of each chapter. Calvinism is only properly worked out in our lives as the theology leads us to be humble, joyful, awestruck, loving Christians who are keen to evangelise the world. It is a very worth-while read.

My one criticism is that the book is written in what has now become an over-worked style. Its illustrations are drawn from an assumed American culture of burgers and films and cute children and current ‘hipster’ expres-sions from the seminary campus. I’m getting somewhat bored with that. Nevertheless, we definitely say ‘good job’ to JA Medders.