Paul's Passing Thoughts

Written and produced for distribution at the Cross Conference. 

Why is Calvinism False : booklet 1

Why is Calvinism False : booklet 2

The New Calvinist elite will have a conference at the end of this month that specifically targets our youth. Personally, I cannot stand by idly and watch the Neo-Gnostics of our day have unfettered access to our youth and their indoctrination.

Moreover, characteristics of today’s youth, known as the Millennial Generation makes indifference to this reality even more egregious. This is a generation eager to engage others in the arena of ideas, unlike the previous generation that is more inclined to let others, particularly those of professional pedigree, think for them. Here is the problem: the New Calvinists are the only ones with the ideas; they are the only ones with proposals. The Millennial Generation is merely listening to the only ones that are talking to them.

The Millennial Generation will not be swayed by a laundry list of what’s wrong with New Calvinism because New Calvinism offers an alternative to the traditional church. The discernment blogosphere offers no alternative to the traditional church which is obviously troubled and powerless. The discernment blogosphere is indicative of lazy parenting:

Parent: “Stop doing that!”

Adolescent: “Why?”

Parent: “Because I said so.”

What discernment bloggers decry is often seen as unfortunate collateral damage by the Millennial Generation. They know something needs to be done, and they know it might seem radical at times. This idea wasn’t lost in the mind of Barack Obama who targeted this generation with, “hope and change.” This is a generation that is not afraid of change, unlike the previous generation.

Our mission will be to engage these young people face to face with the following ideas:

1. The foundation of New Calvinism is Calvinism, and Calvinism is a false gospel.

2. Change is needed, but New Calvinism is not the answer. Youthful energies must be redirected from following to leading.

Look, I often hear this in reply to the indisputable falsities of New Calvinism: “But if not New Calvinism, what?” (This was the exact reply from a prominent evangelical leader that Susan and I lunched with). Bingo. What’s the alternative? What’s the real solution? I do believe that this generation is solution oriented, but the New Calvinists are the only ones talking about solutions. And it’s a pity because this is a generation open to bold ideas that facilitate change.

As many of you know, home flock groups are a big part of New Calvinist churches. This is a trend that started in the early 90’s. Let me pause here to say that the essence of the generational brain trust of New Calvinism is genius. They implemented and integrated the New Testament church model into the traditional caste system of the Protestant Reformation. Trust me; there were no home flock groups in Geneva during Calvin’s rein.

However, in our day, this serves as a means of circumventing any movements away from the institutional church and its slavery to Reformed orthodoxy. The New Calvinists actually saw the Millennial Generation coming and adapted to it. Dr. Robert Congdon calls this the perfect storm of New Calvinism, and I agree.

But it begs the question: where is the chaos and all of the cultic splinter groups one would expect from these small groups? It would be argued that this is prevented because of the central authority based in the building where the weekly worship takes place. But really, all that is taking place is the exchange of biblical authority for Reformed orthodoxy. It plays into the traditional mindset that the commoner is wired to be led by other men of elitist stature. In other words, the individual is incapable of ordering his own life according to his own conscience and reasoning. This contradicts biblical reasoning. It is clear that God has many times ordered events that resulted in decentralized authority. This is the question of authority versus leadership, and leadership’s role in fellowship. These are areas of study where we are woefully inept: individualism versus collectivism; doctrines of human competence versus incompetence; the balance of natural order, the freedom of man to be fruitful and multiply, and how these issues relate to how we do church.

So, our focus at the Cross conference will be to challenge the foundation of the New Calvinist gospel: Calvinism. Our unique challenge will come from those who have read and know the Calvin Institutes and how it relates to the rest of Reformation writings. Our version of what is in the Calvin Institutes is the whole story, not just what John Piper et al want these young people to know. Undoubtedly, some, if not many, will be taken aback. And the answer to this question, “If not New Calvinism, then what?” follows:

1. Certainly not a false gospel.

2. Stop being a follower and be a leader who helps to figure it out. Start acting like you are part of the Millennial Generation. Stop letting others use what defines you as a means of controlling you, and getting your money for doing so.

3. You are more than welcome to join our think tank that is exploring this question of how church should be done. You are here at this conference because you fancy yourself as a leader—real leaders think on their own two feet. Real leaders love the truth; New Calvinism is not the truth. The Bible states that God will send a strong delusion to those who do not love the truth in the last days.

I am calling on discernment bloggers to be more solution oriented as well. We have a glut of humanity that has given up on church, but not given up on God. You can continue to document what is wrong with the church, and you should, that’s important in many ways, but remember that these people already know how bad things are—that’s why they left! I fear that discernment blogging is a movement to save the traditional church, but that is what New Calvinists and the Nones are running from. The Nones will NEVER be persuaded to return to the traditional ways of doing church. Never. They will never be convinced that spiritual Communism is a good thing that has never been done right. They have bought that song and dance too many times.

Why should the arrogant New Calvinists be given unfettered access to our youth? This is not right. You can help through prayer, financial support, or joining the team that will be going to Louisville. To those praying and those who have donated money to this cause, THANK YOU! Right now, those who would like to be part of the team, you will have to raise your own support, but that could change. To donate, or to join the team:

Contact Paul Dohse: mail@ttanc.com

Donate via mail: TANC PO Box 583 Xenia, Ohio 34385

Donate via PayPal: mail@ttanc.com

Materials that will be used for conversation starters, and are in the development stage follow. Input from others has been very helpful in developing these materials.

This booklet is in production format. You can print 1,3,5 in reverse order, drop the copies back down to the paper tray without flipping or turning, and print 2,4,6 normally. Then fold and staple bind with a long reach stapler. Why is Calvinism False 1,3,5 r

This is a trifold pamphlet. Just print side one, drop it back down in the paper tray without flipping or turning, and print side 2, then fold. 3Pillars