I find it so refreshing to talk with British evangelicals such as N. T. Wright and Richard Bauckham and others.  Both of those fine gentlemen have read Reformed and Always Reforming and told me they consider themselves “postconservative evangelicals.”  Both have also said they don’t find themselves embroiled in theological controversy as happens so often among evangelicals in the U.S. Indeed.  We seem to be the only country where evangelicals feel compelled to debate not just with vim and vigor... Read more

This October Zondervan will publish two books together: Against Calvinism by yours truly and For Calvinism by Michael Horton.  I have just read Horton’s book and written its foreword.  (He is writing the foreword to mine.) Mike’s book is one of the most lucid, fair, well-research, critical expositions and defenses of Calvinism I have ever read.  Of course, I disagree with the theology it defends, but I respect Mike and his manner of presenting that theology.  It is perhaps the... Read more

I think I’ve recommended this book before, but I’m reading it for the third time (because my students are reading it): The Doors of the Sea by David Bentley Hart (Eerdmans, 2005). It’s only 109 small pages in length, but it is one of the best books on God’s sovereignty and the problem of evil I have ever read. Which is not to say I agree with everything he says in it. The subtitle is Where was God in the... Read more

My response is: Hold the fire!  What does Bell say in that video that justifies accusations of heresy?  All I hear him doing is raising questions.  He doesn’t make any declarative statement that commits him to universalism or any other heresy. The problem I have been pointing out here is NOT legitimate criticism; it is the tendency to jump the gun and assume what someone else believes or means based on very skimpy or non-existent evidence.  In my opinion, anyone... Read more

Some of you are asking if I think it is every appropriate to criticize the beliefs of fellow Christians and especially fellow evangelicals.  I can’t imagine where that question is coming from.  I thought I made clear that my concern is with premature criticism.  A basic axiom of all criticism is “Before saying ‘I disagree’ be sure you can truly say ‘I understand’.” I have experienced so much misunderstanding among evangelicals that I am very wary of most criticism I... Read more

Here we go again.  The self-appointed evangelical inquisitors are already attacking Rob Bell on the basis of a book not yet published.  If accounts (e.g., at Christianity Today’s web site) are correct, critic Justin Taylor read some chapters of the book.  However, to the best of my knowledge, he has not produced any direct quote from them that justifies the claim that Rob Bell has now adopted universalism.  Apparently, according to the CT report, John Piper has twittered a “goodbye”... Read more

This is a book everyone interested in Calvinism, whether for it, against it or simply thinking about it, should read.  I am told it will be available within the next few weeks if not already.  It’s an engaging read, very informative and stimulating. My review of it (separate from this one) will be published in May.  I’ll announce where later when I get final word of acceptance from the editors of the publication.  Here I will make a few remarks... Read more

First, let me define “paradox” as not everyone agrees on its meaning.  A paradox is an apparent contradiction.  There are actually not that many blatant contradiction that anyone tries to believe.  Few Christians claim actually to embrace sheer contradiction.  But many Christian writers, including perhaps especially Calvinists, claim to embrace paradoxes. For example: God designs, foreordains, renders certain and governs every decision and action of creatures (in such a way that they are not able to do otherwise) but they are... Read more

Please take the time to watch Arminianism: The Root of “Christian” Liberalism? on youtube.com.  I, for one, would like to know who these people are so that I can contact them to challenge their entirely fallacious attack on Arminianism.  Unfortunately, when you go to youtube.com and enter “Arminianism” this is one of the first things to pop up, so I assume many people have been influenced by it.  Watch it and comment here, please.  And if anyone can find out... Read more

I’m slowly working my way through an advance copy of a forthcoming book on Calvinism entitled Ten Myths about Calvinism: Recovering the Breadth of the Reformed Tradition by Kenneth J. Stewart to be published by InterVarsity Press in March. Kenneth Stewart is professor of theology at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, GA.  His academic credentials are impeccable (e.g., two doctorates, one from Edinburgh). Everyone interested in Calvinism and Calvinist theology ought to order a copy of this book and read... Read more