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Book Review - Young, Restless, Reformed by Collin Hansen |
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Friday, 13 November 2009 |
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 Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist's Journey with the New Calvinists by Collin Hansen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I wish there were more books like this one. Collin has done a great job of expressing the current Calvinistic climate in America today. I was amazed at some of the diverse avenues and passion that Calvinism is found in. This book has really helped me to understand some of the reasons that Calvinism is resonating strongly with many of the younger generation. Collin is definitely passionate himself and provides his on biased arguments in the discussion. But he also does a fair job of presenting the views of those he talked with; even when they were self-defeating views. In discussing some of the conflicts Calvinism has faced today he presented the following quotes from Steve Lawson of Dauphin Way Baptist Church in Mobile, Al: I asked Lawson if he would have acted differently in retrospect. Without hesitation he said no. “I don’t mean to say I’m perfect,” Lawson said. “By that I mean that I believe in the sovereign providence of God. God ordered my steps to come to Dauphin Way. God brought me to that church to preach his Word as an expression of his mercy and grace.” But he definitely doesn’t recommend that other Reformed pastors should accept calls to lead Southern Baptist churches that do not share their Calvinist convictions…”You only have one life to live”’ Lawson says to young pastors. “Do you want to drive a car that when you push on the Gas pedal, someone else steps on the brake?” One thing is certain. The young Calvinist today has a tremendous passion for our transcendent God. For example, Collins quoted Joshua Harris as saying, “I do wonder if some of the appeal and the trend isn’t a reaction to the watered-down vision of God that’s been portrayed in the evangelical seeker-oriented churches…I’m not trying to knock them, but I just think that there’s such a hunger for the transcendent and for a God who is not just sitting around waiting for us to show up so that the party can get started.” This book is an easy read and yet comprehensive. I enjoyed the book and believe it would be helpful to anyone wanting to better understand the broad spectrum of Calvinism today. View all my reviews >>
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