Tchividjian a Heretic, But Not the “Reformers”? Really?
Joel Taylor over at 5 Point Salt .com has written some decent articles lately that have been brought to my attention via a mutual Facebook friend. Taylor doesn’t like “New Calvinists” since his falling out with New Calvinist Paul Washer. However, he recently defended Washer in reference to some of my posts, and referred to Washer as a “man of God.” So, I am not sure where his relationship stands at this time with the Washer New Calvinist, but this post makes it clear that he believes the Tchividjian New Calvinist teaches “heresy.” He also calls Tchividjian’s theology “brutish stupidity.”
Gee, I am beginning to take a liking to Tchividjian for two reasons: Taylor has tweeted similar things about me, so I feel his pain; and this I can say about Tchividjian and other New Calvinists; they know exactly what the Reformers taught. Really, I am beginning to feel sorry for some of these guys because of the berating they receive from “real Calvinists.” For crying out loud, at least they know what they believe, and the way they abuse people accordingly comes from conviction. I like conviction.
The focus of Taylor’s post is a Tchividjian tweet:
“Just as I am without one plea” is just as true for sanctification as it is for justification.
Joel Taylor, the “Calvinist” (note the name of his blog), noted that “With his own words he combines sanctification with justification.” Well, ya, that’s exactly what the Reformers did; compare Tchividjian’s quote with some stuff written by Luther that I was reading today in preparation for my next book project:
God wants sinners only….God has nothing to do with holy men because a holy man is a self-contradiction. God accepts believing sinners rather than sanctified saints (V.H.H.Green: Luther And The Reformation, p. 55).
Any questions?
The reemergence of authentic Reformed theology in the form of New Calvinism poses a huge problem for the professing Calvinists of our day. This recent resurgence has lasted way too long in the information age. These guys have been so loud, and so abusive for so long, that they have provoked an unfortunate number of people wanting answers with research following.
So, go easy on Tchividjian, after all, he’s only being faithful to the original article.
paul
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
What is the outcome of combining justification and sanctification together? What does that mean in a neo calvinist’s daily spiritual life?
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Christian,
Let me make it real simple: Jesus obeys for us. His perfect life imputed all obedience to our kingdom living. Whatever we see in the Bible that Christ did is imputed to us in this life. Making any effort to obey in our walk with Jesus is works salvation. These are a few.
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[…] Tchividjian a Heretic, But Not the “Reformers”? Really?. […]
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In other words just be yourself and don’t be concerned about any of your behavior.
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Christian,
Ding, ding, ding….the daily double. Right, because all good works that we “manifest” are PREORDAINED and imputed to us from Christ’s perfect obedience while here on Earth. Christ died for our sins, and lived for our sanctification so His obedience could be imputed to us in Christian living. If you believe in “justification by faith alone”….[FOR BOTH JUSTIFICATION AND SANCTIFICATION], you are done. Assurance comes from hangin’ with the community, meditating on the gospel (= deeper knowledge of God’s holiness and our depravity), partaking in the gospel sacraments, and watching our life-video unfold as preordained by God. Once you get this prism in your head as the understanding of another religious language, you will begin to understand what Reformed thinkers are saying.
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Thanks, good answer. I will think about this for awhile, I also want my husband to understand. We had to find another church because neo calvinism moved into our church, via the pastor changing his convictions.
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Christian,
Sadly, you will find that there isn’t much out there. This country is in desperate need of new churches with a different vision than what’s out there. Fortunately, we are seeing laypeople starting churches in their own homes–that’s what’s needed.
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Yeah, Paul. The one thing I really like about CJ and SGM is they understand that the natural outcome of Calvinism is spiritual abuse, and pretty much come right out and say they don’t care. In this way the are utterly devoted to and consistent with the doctrine, so at least you KNOW clearly that if you join or stay with the para church you will continue to shut up, submit, and like it. Gotta admire the “whatever” attitude…and the outright telling Detwiler to stick it.
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Paul,
Do you think Eph. 2:10 gives any credence to NC claims?
“For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.”
As always, I’m sorry if you have dealt with this before and I have missed or forgotten it.
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Jeff,
No. I think Paul is both encouraging the Gentiles that they have all of the riches that the Jews have, but they also need to be careful to not make that a reason for boasting. Especially since they were grafted in because the Jews screwed up bad. Paul was also telling them that they were new, empowered creations and were created for good works that we “should” then walk in. I know what they are saying when they have people focused on this text, but then compare their assertion here with their double imputation motif. It’s a contradiction in which they want it both ways: did God prepare the works for Christ? Or us? Or both?
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