NYTimes: A Calvinist Revival for Evangelicals

As someone who is a member of a church that is Calvinist and looks and practices in much the same way that Dever’s church does, I think there are two things going on here. One is the theology of Calvinism, the other is on a lot of the side items that go along with many of these newer Calvinistic churches. This is a value on true expository preaching, a deeper study of Scriptures and a strong focus on the quality of preaching, a liturgical style service, a stronger focus on the Bible as being the actual center of our life, strong discipleship, elder led,….. This is also what is attracting a lot of people. These tend to go hand in hand with a lot of Calvinist or Reformed style churches. Coming from a typical fundamentalist background, I was shocked at the stark difference of this style. I am shocked that despite no formal outreach mechanisms at our church for college aged kids and not a single program for college aged kids, we can have upwards of 50% of our congregation filled with college kids from the local secular colleges and universities. And not just coming to listen but fervent in their involvement in the church and their committment to God. This reflects what Dever sees in his church.

dgzweda expressed what I saw on my first visits to CHBC. I had spent years wondering (often out loud) where the 18-30 year olds were in the fundamentalist churches we were attending. The only exceptions were in places with a Christian college in the area. My first impression of CHBC was that of orderly, traditional worship, enthusiastic congregational singing of traditional hymnody, real expository preaching, and an involved congregation made up of that missing demographic. Add to that the practical implementation of the 9 Marks of a Healthy Church and I was seeing what I had been desiring to see in 30 years of ministry. I tell people I’m still pre-millenial but I’m no longer pessismistic.

Hamilton Square Baptist Churh and see how a non-Cal\Reformed church ministers to her over 18 members.

[Rob Fall]

Hamilton Square Baptist Churh and see how a non-Cal\Reformed church ministers to her over 18 members.

Is that non-Calvinistic but reformed, or is it non-Calvinistic and non-reformed?

The second. We’re also non-Arminian. As our founding charter of 1881 states, “We believe in the doctrines held by the Regular Baptist Churches.” I interpret that Regular to be the same usage as in the Regular in the GARBC.

[Chip Van Emmerik]

Rob Fall wrote:

Hamilton Square Baptist Churh and see how a non-Cal\Reformed church ministers to her over 18 members.

Rob,

Is that non-Calvinistic but reformed, or is it non-Calvinistic and non-reformed?