Evangelical what???! (a.k.a. Labels, Labels, and More Labels)

I’m currently teaching a Sunday school class on Calvinism in the Las Vegas Airport, seen at the right. The chapter we’re going to be covering this coming Sunday deals with labels. You may find that an odd subtopic for a book about Calvinism (then again, the books title is odd enough), but let me explain.

When Mouw told a colleague that he was writing a book on Calvinism, the colleague suggested changing the title because of the negative connotations the term “Calvinism” carries with it. Mouw goes on to explain that, despite the negative public opinion, he still feels that “Calvinist” is the best and most accurate label to describe who/what he is.

In my blog entitled Why Calvinism?, I discussed a little bit about the label I prefer to be known as: Christian. However, from time to time, there is a need to parse this broad label down to something a little more specific. While my thoughts wandered during last week’s Sunday school class (Hey! Nobody’s perfect!) I decided that I like the label: “Evangelical Reformed Calvinist.”

I was even so bold as to mention that title in conversation with an elderly gentleman afterwards. What found so entertaining was the reaction I received when I introduced this label. The gentleman starred questioningly at me and I just allowed him to be confused for a moment. Then I piped up and responded, “Despite popular opinion the two terms really go quite nicely together. They really don’t contradict each other.”

The old man looked at me, began to smile a sort of self-satisfying smile and said, “Yes. Yes they do go together. I’m not sure I’ve ever really thought about it before, but you’re right.”

What gives me such a warm feeling is knowing that this man hails from a generation that is known for being rooted in traditionalism: academics and dogmatics are the way to true faith – Christian living is always secondary. He’s the second person in his generation who has recently proclaimed the importance of doing more evangelism to me in the past month – the other was nearly 90!

But what exactly do I mean by “Evangelical Reformed Calvinist?” Here goes…

Evangelical: I believe that Christians everywhere as well as the world-wide Church are called to obey the Great Commission. I strive daily to make efforts to do this in my own life.

Reformed: “Reformed” and “Calvinist” are not interchangable. I’m “Reformed” because I hold to a covenant theology and because I am not affiliated with the Baptists, Lutherans, or some other branch of Protestantism.

Calvinist: Well, if you haven’t figured this out yet, then you need to read more of my blogs. Perhaps at this point, Practical Tulip may be the best option for you.

Sometimes labels are restrictive…sometimes they’re descriptive. Now you know a little more about who I am and how I describe myself…

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Where was I?

On days like today it’s natural to reflect on your personal feelings and experiences when the act occurred. I’m no different.

I got up that morning about 5:30 AM. I was working for my grandfather and uncle on the family farm. As I headed out about 6:00, the radio station I was listening to took a news break. When the DJ said a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center, the first thought that went through my head was, “Dumbass, you came in too low.”

Shortly before I pull into the farm it was announced that the second tower had been hit. When I pulled into the yard the tractors were running but no one was around. It was erie to say the least. The only sound for miles was the sound of tractor engines rumbling in the cool morning air. I stood there for a moment looking around; I’m sure it seemed much longer than it actually was.

When I went inside, I found my grandfather and uncle sitting in the living room in front of the television watching intently as the events unfolded. It was surreal what happened. We watched as a the first tower fell. As life is we began our day of work after that, nobody saying a word. We were all in shock at what had just happened; we didn’t know what to say.

To all the victims, their families, and all who were affected: our prayers are with you…

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What if…

What if every member of a church were to begin praying through their church directory?…

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Calvinism in Practice

This week I decided to scratch an itch that’s been irritating me for awhile. That itch has to do with putting T.U.L.I.P. into practice. I believe Calvinism to be a great theological system – obviously, since I adhere to it – however, I, as do many Calvinists, struggle with how to put this into practice. It is my hope to one day write a 5-book series on the topic that would entail a detailed commentary and apologetic for each of the five point, with particular interest in how the theology can and should affect the believer’s life, faith, and practice.

Rather than bore my readers – if in fact I have any – by writing all my thoughts on this blog, I created a new blog specifically for use in exporing these issues. You can reach my new blog at the link to the right entitled “Practical Tulip.”

Happy reading…

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"Sanctified Sinner": Oxymoron or Wimsical Insight?

I was thinking this morning about theology – not that that’s anything our of the norm for me. But beyond that, I was thinking about the unnfortunate reality that so many Christian – myself included – become so caught up in their theology that they miss the most important thing: submission to Christ as Lord. There have been numerous occassions in my life in which I’ve debated with people over such trivial matters as word order, word choice, and underlying assumptions with regards to theological discussion.

Likewise, I recently registered with a reformed theology forum. So far, I’ve added my share of comments and offered feedback of my own on certain topics. After three days, no one has made any response to any of my posts. Based on my experience in such circles as well as my observations of the various discussions currently in the works, my thought is that people aren’t responding because they don’t really know how. That could be a result of some heresy on my part and the other user simply do not consider me worth their time in responding to my false theology; or it could be that I tend to push the typical reformed theologian further – or at least differently – then they have ever been pushed before. People are unsure how to respond to my ideas and thinking because they’ve never encountered it before, they’ve never been pushed to think about thier beliefs the way I desire to see everyone do so.

All that as introduction, my thoughts turned to the signiture at the bottom of each of my posts: “See my blog at Menial Ramblings of a Sanctified Sinner.” You see, I’m now afraid that the title of this here blog will turn off any who read that signiture. And I don’t think they’ll be turned off because it’s “menial,” or “rambling.” I think they’ll be turned off because of my use of the phrase “sanctified sinner.”

I’m not sure, but with my luck I’m probably committing some act of heresy using that phrase. I once had a pastor say to me, “The New Testament never refers to believers as sinners. The closest it comes is saying, “Formerly you who were dead in your transgressions…”, but it uses the past tense as if to say, “Believers were at one point in time considered sinners, but not anymore.” In God’s eyes, as a result of Christ’s death and resurrection, believers are no longer thought of as sinners.” I promise you, I was certainly thinking about that when I decided on the name of this blog.

On one hand, this pastor-friend of mine was right – believers are certainly sanctified by the blood of the lamb. And as such, delivered from the punishment of death as consequence of our sin.

However, in the words of Dr. Mouw in Calvinism in the Las Vegas Airport, “I am reminded daily of my total depravity by my human desire to always do things my way.” In that sense, I am still a sinner – i.e. one who actively chooses to do “what is not lawful.” I think Paul often felt much the same way I do. You know what you’re doing is wrong, you’ve made Christ Lord of your life, you even desire to do what is right, but for what ever reason you continue to do what dishonors God. We are all “Sanctified Sinners.”

And for me, that doesn’t cause any theological problems – in fact, it reinforces what I already hold so dear. If I were to ever stop thinking of myself in such light, I think it would be all too easy for me forget just how dependent I am on God’s grace and mercy. It is only by His grace that He has become my Lord. And it is only by His grace that, at the end of days, I will find myself in that heavenly throne room bowing down and worshipping the Creator of all.

I am a Sanctified Sinner…and I offer no apology at thinking so…

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