Repost: “Can Christian Women Gone Wild Save Us From New Calvinism?”
I have shared my theory in other posts that contemporary antinomians are like serial criminals. Not in essence of being actual criminals, but in their deep-seated desire to get caught. You have seen the plot in movies—serial criminals always dropping catch me if you can hints to the police. At least two antinomians of our day, Tullian Tchividjian and John Piper, are good examples of this. But first, let me say that I realize that I am one of the very few people around who equate Gospel Sanctification / Sonship theology ( Tim Keller, a significant forerunner of Sonship theology, is one of the founders of TGC) / the gospel-driven life with antinomianism. However, my reasoning is simple; if we are sanctified by justification, that excludes the law either by obligation or ability. Neither do I buy into the idea that thinking the law is good—is an acceptable replacement for an obligation to obey it. Also, the fact that I rubbed shoulders with six GS proponents for several years, and I’m privy to the fact that they bragged about being antinomians is not helpful to those who are trying to persuade me otherwise.
Hold on, my phone is ringing: “Oh! Hi honey. Uh—uh , ya, hmmm. I know sweety, we have discussed this before—getting to the point and such, ya, I will get to the women shortly. Ok, talk to you later, bye!”
Anyway, Tullian Tchividjian recently dropped a really big hint by promoting the idea that preachers should strive to be accused of antinomianism as a way to validate their preaching as having enough Jesus. When one, lone man protested, it made national headlines in Christian circles. But despite Tchividjian’s efforts, it didn’t work. The one, lone protestant focused on the accusation element without considering for a moment that maybe TT really is antinomian. Whew, that was a close one! Michael Horton followed the same week by accusing an accuser of accusing him of antinomianism when the accuser never even used the word in the accusation. Another hint? Hmmmm.
Also, we have John Piper, the First Pope of New Calvinism, continually drawing attention to himself (hints?) by promoting heretics and refusing to correct associates that use profanity in public, while notable evangelicals at large cover for him, and not for a moment considering that any of this has anything to do with the guy’s theology while teaching that what we believe always dictates what we do—unless you’re Pope John the First. A prime example of this is Piper’s invitation to Rick Warren to speak at one of his Desiring God conventions. But hello, when you believe that every verse in the Bible is about the gospel, how can the particular elements of God’s truth really have that much significance? If Warren also believes that the Bible is a plenary gospel narrative, everything else is fair game—so why wouldn’t they hangout together? In fact, a reader sent me a quote by Tchividjian in regard to his defense of Piper for the invite by saying something like this: “All truth is God’s truth, even if it comes from Rick Warren.”
But what’s up with Piper being defended by the likes of Phil Johnson, John MacArthur’s right-hand guy, in the following post: http://teampyro.blogspot.com/2010/04/on-piper-warren-connection.html ? “I love John Piper. People often ask me what living preachers I listen to besides John MacArthur. John Piper is my clear first choice. He’s also one of my favorite authors.” Unbelievable. That is, until you read this in the same post:
“Speaking of Twitter chatter and Facebook feedback, I can’t touch on this whole subject without pointing out that the tone of some of the criticism leveled at Dr. Piper is simply revolting. Within fifteen minutes of Dr. Piper’s live webcast the other night, I had to delete a comment on my Facebook page from a woman who called him a clown. Over the past week I have deleted an average of two or three comments each day that were personally insulting or deliberately disrespectful toward Dr. Piper. One woman expressed a hope that his sabbatical would be permanent.
It intrigues and disturbs me that most (not all, but most) of the overtly impertinent comments have come from women. There’s evidently a growing regiment of self-appointed discernment experts consisting of women who give lip service to the authority of Scripture. They would unanimously affirm that Scripture reserves for men the teaching and ruling elders’ roles in the church. They would, I presume, deplore the ordination of women to such positions of authority. They are not offended by Paul’s statement in 1 Timothy 2:12; rather, they would say amen to it. And yet in practice they have no compunction about posting angry, loud condemnations and insistent demands for the removal of a pastor of John Piper’s stature. These things ought not to be.”
First of all, God is sovereign; it is obvious that God planned before the foundation of the Earth for me to marry Susan and not the woman who called Piper a clown. Besides, in the spirit of defending people just because we like them, are we sure that wasn’t her way of saying Piper is a follower of Edmund Clowney? As I unravel the sorted history of New Calvinism, there is some question as to who was really the father of Sonship theology that is the fundamental basis for neo-Calvinism—Clowney, or John “Jack” Miller. Clowney wrote Preaching Christ in All of Scripture, How Jesus Transforms the Ten Commandments, and Christian Meditation. Any of those themes sound familiar in Piper’s teachings? But if that’s not the case, to Phil Johnson’s point, how dare that woomun call out a man of “Piper’s stature” (did he really say that? Let me check again.Yep, he sure did). Well, that pretty much says it all—if one of the who’s who of the evangelical world teaches error, the uneducated book-buying peasants of American church culture need to keep their mouths shut and submit to the “ruling elders.” Worse yet, if not unthinkable, is the idea that one of the woomun peasants would speak out!
If Phil would check Acts 17:11: the Holy Spirit commends the Bereans for vetting Paul’s (the apostle) teachings and no gender is mentioned. In fact, verse 12 seems to indicate women were among them. And I know this is difficult for Phil, but John Piper is no apostle Paul. Furthermore, Priscilla and Aquila both instructed Apollos (Acts 18:26), and I doubt Piper is an Apollos as well. As far as Phil’s citing of 1Timothy 2:12, because of 1Corinthians 14:34, I would think Paul is referring to the corporate setting, and not the milieu of life in general. Phil’s boss, John MacArthur, agrees; see his comments on 1Timothy 2:12 in his Bible Commentary, page 1783. He states the following: “He is not prohibiting them from teaching in other appropriate conditions and circumstances (cf. Acts 18:26; Titus 2:3,4).” John’s over the Seminary and Phil’s over other stuff, right?
Moreover, now that we have established that women can callout man-leaders of high stature, Phil apparently deleted a woman who was dead-on regarding Piper taking a permanent sabbatical. Piper took an eight-month sabbatical for beyond unbiblical reasons. An eight-month, paid sabbatical to eliminate several “species of heart idols.”? And the obvious logical conclusion as follows: an eight-month sabbatical instead of being counseled by his own elders; where is all of that in the Bible? Add to that his announcement that he is hoping to remain pastor there five years after returning from his sabbatical. The lady is absolutely right, why not just retire and be done with it? And by the way, HOW DO YOU PREDETERMINE HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO ELIMINATE “SEVERAL SPECIES OF HEART IDOLS”? ARE THEY THE EIGHT-MONTH TYPE? Have we lost our minds?
Phil also wrote: “It intrigues and disturbs me that most (not all, but most) of the overtly impertinent comments have come from women. There’s evidently a growing regiment of self-appointed discernment experts consisting of women….” Yes, discerning Christian woman gone wild, and thank goodness for them. Phil sates that it is mostly women who are speaking up and calling for leaders to be held accountable. Sad. And the women folk are right about something else: something can be done about it; separation, not inviting them to conferences (Matthew 18:17). Rejection, not fellowship (Titus 3:10 Rom 16:17,18), Rebuke, not excuses (1Timothy 5:19).
John Piper is one of the featured speakers at this years TGC conference in Chicago. Who knows what hint he will drop this time around. Will some Christian woman gone wild have to satisfy his deep-seated desire to be exposed? Can Christian women gone wild save the church from New Calvinism? Stay tuned.
paul
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28).
I have been closely following a few Southern Baptist church plants in my area which are pastored by New Calvinists. It’s very obvious that women have been relegated to lesser status than is expressed in the above passage. I heard one NC pastor say in this regard “I preach to the men”! New Calvinists use their theology to promote a narrow interpretation of the role of women in marriage, as well as the role of women in the church.
If it takes Christian women gone wild to challenge this nonsense, so be it! I continue to be amazed that so many young, intelligent folks follow Pied Piper. We are losing a generation to his tune.
LikeLike
Max, I’m being made privy of this of late–yet another angle on this hideous movement. Can we say, “control.” Interesting: Sometimes I wonder if NC is going to reach cult status and thereby notably separated from evangelicalism.
> —–Original Message—– >
LikeLike
Paul, I’m reluctant to place the NC movement in a cult category (at this point), but disturbing characteristics of this sort are emerging. There definitely is a personality following which appears cultish in those ranks. A multitude of 20-30-somethings are being greatly influenced by certain leaders of the “movement”. In fact, these men are affectionately referred to as “influencers” in NC circles. One can argue that we’ve all been influenced by Christian mentors, but this thing has a very uncomfortable look and feel. I get a check in my spirit when I’m exposed to much of their teaching – a clear sound is just not there. Unfortunately, NC ministries have effectively utilized social media to rapidly spread NC theology, methodology, and missiology.
One thing about it, if it’s not of God, it will fail. Too many competing voices vying for the spotlight and book sales will bring it to its knees eventually. My concern is that we may very well lose a generation to aberrant teaching before the movement implodes.
LikeLike
Paul, You have gone and done it now. You have dared to touch on the holy grail of authoritarianism and the heinous sin of uppity women.
I quit reading Pyro several years ago because of a passing comment Phil Johson made in a comment thread. I had no idea how ridiculous they were until he explained to another commenter that even though his wife is very smart doctrinally, she would never answer a doctrinal question asked by a man. And he said that Mrs. McArthur would never do such a horrible thing either. So, I guess that rules out witnessing to anyone regardless of gender. I am sure Satan is delighted.
Bjt hyou wait. It is worse than you thinkn . There is a whole religion made of this stuff. I sometimes think the underground Chinese Christians who have been imprisoned for their Faith are going to have to come here as missionaries to us. Many women in China have been imprisoned for their activities in witnessing. And I noticed that aPaul was dragging 1st Century believing women off to prison before his conversion. Seems he saw them as a threat, too.
AS to Piper, he has been hawking this strict gender stuff for decades and then announces he must work on his marriage. But wait. He has been telling us for decades the perfect gender roles that are salvic in nature. Didn’t it work for him?
These women, who dare to speak out, are exhausted from following rules, roles and forumlas. They have not been taught about the indwelling Holy Spirit and have been following man. Many are figuring out after years and years, this is not the “real thing”.
REmember, Piper is the one who tells them to “take abuse for a season” and tell your husband you want to follow him even though he wants you to do a threesome. Even though Piper never says if this husband is a professing believer or not. Kind of important to know, eh?
LikeLike
Sorry for all the typos. For some reason my comment box has the guest, log in buttons across it and I cannot see some of what I type.
LikeLike
“One thing about it, if it’s not of God, it will fail”
Max, Someday, I want to really flesh out this thinking. One reason is because their “failure” often looks like huge success to most people. I said this for years while similar ministries and churches grew and grew and claimed God was blessing them.
I started thinking very differently a few years ago when I kept reading in the OT, God saying He would save a remnant and in some cases a specific number of Israel. And of course, Matthew 7. The the letters to the churches….what does it mean to “remove the lampstand”. Does it look like failure to the world? I don’t think so. Christians many times look like losers and not the celebrity culture in Christendom we are seeing.
I think there is a great delusion going on. It might be a failure but many may not know it until that Great Day.
LikeLike
“Hold on, my phone is ringing: “Oh! Hi honey. Uh—uh , ya, hmmm. I know sweety, we have discussed this before—getting to the point and such, ya, I will get to the women shortly. Ok, talk to you later, bye!””
LOL!
A good wife! And you are smart to listen to her!
LikeLike
“There’s evidently a growing regiment of self-appointed discernment experts consisting of women who give lip service to the authority of Scripture. They would unanimously affirm that Scripture reserves for men the teaching and ruling elders’ roles in the church. They would, I presume, deplore the ordination of women to such positions of authority. They are not offended by Paul’s statement in 1 Timothy 2:12; rather, they would say amen to it. And yet in practice they have no compunction about posting angry, loud condemnations and insistent demands for the removal of a pastor of John Piper’s stature. These things ought not to be.”
If you look at the choice of wording and have followed this stuff long enough, he is echoing John Knox’s “Monstrous Regiment of women”. They love that polemic.
LikeLike
Lydia,
I still can’t believe the guy said it. I stumbled upon the post today and decided to repost it. Unbelievable.
> —–Original Message—– >
LikeLike
“If their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail” (Acts 5:39)
Lydia, there is no doubt that NC reformed theology churches are growing. Rebellion is exciting and will draw a crowd for a season, but crowds are not necessarily congregations. There has always been the Church within the church. God’s math is different than our calculations “small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:14) We should not be distracted by the success of numbers. Not all that glitters is gold.
In ministry, we must sort out God’s will vs. purposes and activities of “human origin”. Jesus put it this way “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9). In all the religious noise today, we must pray for discernment to sort through the traditions and teachings of men for that which is Truth. Problem is (at least in SBC ranks), I see a lot of debate about theological difference, but not much prayer for wisdom in this regard.
IF my people … THEN will I.
LikeLike
Lydia, Max,
There is very little doubt in my mind that this is a latter-day form of the churches primary foe throughout all redemptive history: antinomianism. The movement will probably continue to grow until the Lord’s return.
> —–Original Message—– >
LikeLike
Paul,
Unless God’s people humble themselves, pray, seek God’s face and turn from their wicked ways in widespread repentance and revival, I agree with your assessment. At some point, “apostasia” will settle into the organized church … the final apostasy, a defection from truth, a great falling away from that which is right. The 21st century church may very well be the last.
America has enough teachers and preachers, we need watchmen and prophets to challenge this flood. May the Lord raise up such standard … or return soon.
LikeLike
Paul, I am sure you are well aware but Tchividjian actually is only saying what Lloyd-Jones (one of the greatest preachers of all time in my opinion) encouraged pastors to do, use the accusation of antinomianism as a tool for self evaluation. Lloyd-Jones said this, ““The true preaching of the gospel of salvation by grace alone always leads to the possibility of this charge being brought against it. There is no better test as to whether a man is really preaching the New Testament gospel of salvation than this, that some people might misunderstand it and misinterpret it to mean that it really amounts to this, that because you are saved by grace alone it does not matter at all what you do; you can go on sinning as much as you like because it will redound all the more to the glory of grace. . . .I would say to all preachers: If your preaching of salvation has not been misunderstood in that way, then you had better examine your sermons again, and you had better make sure that you really are preaching the salvation that is offered in the New Testament to the ungodly, to the sinner, to those who are dead in trespasses and sins, to those who are enemies of God.” Like I said I am sure you know this just thought it was an interesting point to bring up.
LikeLike
Tim,
Jones makes it clear that he was talking about justification. TT thinks that statement also applies to sanctification, which is classical antinomianism. Plain and simple: New Calvinism is an antinomian movement, and the apostles predicted that antinomianism would be the premier doctrine at the center of the “great falling away” in the last days. I have come to believe it is that simple. And Lord willing, it’s the case I make in the book that I hope will be out sometime in Oct.
> —–Original Message—– >
LikeLike