Calvinism & Our Generation Part 2: Excitement

Walking through my seminary hallway, I over hear lots of interesting conversations.   Sometimes I hear conversations about sports or small talk or books, but often times I hear people, if not groups, discuss the issue of Calvinism.  I’ve been in small country churches in East Tennessee and have been asked not about my family or wife or my preaching, but about Calvinism.  I’ve been in large churches in New York City where I’ve overheard conversations about Calvinism.  At a missionary training for the overseas mission board of my denomination, I was grilled by guys going overseas about what I think about Calvinism.  I just heard from a friend about her sister, a recent high school graduate, who is thinking through this issue.  I have had numberless conversations about Calvinism and have over-heard hundreds of other conversations taking place about this issue… Why are so many young people talking about Calvinism?  Why are so many young people excited about Calvinism?  

Collin Hansen writes in his book, Young, Restless, Reformed: A journalist’s journey with the New Calvinists two main reasons for the excitement that young people are showing towards Calvinism.  By young people I mean high school and/or college students… give or take a few years from both.  First of all, young people are being exposed to guys like John Piper, Mark Driscoll, and Albert Mohler (which Time Magazine calls the three who are the at the front of the movement), and are being introduced not only to them as speakers and preachers but also as theologians and their system of beliefs about God’s being and actions.  Young people are going to conferences like Passion and being exposed to John Piper’s passion for God’s sovereignty.  They leave and go read his books and are continued to be drawn to this high view of God’s control in the world that he created.  Young people right out of college are heading to Louisville, KY to study at now one of the largest seminaries in the world, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (where I hope to be a 2 time graduate next May… if not 3 time graduate in the future) and study under professors who hold a high view of God’s sovereignty.  Also, Driscoll has become a leading figure at conferences around the world, many people all over the world are reading his books, and his sermon podcasts are downloaded almost a million times a year.  

Another reason that Hansen gives for the excitement that young people have towards Calvinism is that young people are beginning to taste the transcendence of God.  Many youth ministries present God’s immanence very well.  God is our friend.  He can help us with our problems.  He loves us.  etc.  These are true and to this we say AMEN, but contrast this with God’s transcendence – that God is sovereign over his creation, Jesus is King and rules over us and his creation, he has conquered sin, atoned for sin, and will judge everyone who has ever lived on wether or not they believe this.  

The contrast here is substantial.  Young people are beginning to believe in a God who is sovereign and in control of every atom in his universe.  

I agree with Hansen.  Young people are beginning to taste the transcendence of God and get excited about it.  By default, questions about transcendence and God’s rule lead to questions about God’s being and actions.  It is interesting that a system of beliefs that is 500 years old has picked up so much energy with young people.  

We must conclude none-the-less that Calvinism has become cool.  Therefore, Calvinism has become exciting.  Tension will always be there and wether one is a Calvinist or not, we can stand firm with hands held high screaming…  Hallelujah that our generation is getting excited about Jesus!