Paul's Passing Thoughts

Book Review by Paul M. Dohse

Dr. Robert Congdon is in the process of publishing a series of booklets in contention against New Calvinism. I have read the first booklet and for the most part, it represents an answer to prayers presented to God over a six-year period.

This work is not half pregnant. It doesn’t sit on the fencepost. It favors truth over friends. It warns the sheep in no uncertain terms, and it focuses on the disease—not symptoms.  Dr. Congdon gets it. And when you finish reading the first booklet, there aren’t any questions. No ambiguity there that we are accustomed to being waterboarded with. This is a unique work among the Christian academics of our day, and long overdue.

The fact that this series is being presented in booklets reveals Dr. Congdon’s heart as concerned Shepherd. As he states in this first booklet, New Calvinism is dividing churches and families—this is information that can’t wait another day. God’s people can begin digesting the information right away instead of waiting for a completed volume of work. Congdon also mentions that the church has failed to supply sound alternatives to searchers who fall prey to New Calvinism, and offers suggestions for future prevention.

I like the author’s presentation of the true gospel as a prerequisite to exposing New Calvinism. He rightly asserts that the New Calvinist gospel cannot save, and will neutralize existing believers. He rightly asserts that New Calvinism poses the greatest threat to the church in our day.

Many will find Dr. Congdon’s research shocking.  Many will not understand all of it, but most will grasp his demonstration of how New Calvinists deny the new birth. I’m not sure much more than that is necessary to understand. This ministry also learned some things from him that our six years of research did not reveal.

This is an important first step. We feel like Elijah who prayed earnestly for rain, and prayed that much more when he saw the first cloud rolling in.

We will now continue to pray for a downpour of truth that will drown this despicable beast called New Calvinism.

paul