Like so many of my friends at the end of college, I was swept alone with the new Reformed wave. It’s been nearly 11 years now for my wife and me. In that time, we have gone from Dispensational Fundamentalist churches to a Reformed andCalvinistic Presbyterian church. In the past four years or so, the New Calvinist movement has picked up speed, and if we look closely enough we would see that many of the New Calvinists end up in Reformed and Calvinistic BaptistChurches.
Although my wife and I were very early on convinced of a Reformed and Presbyterian theology, the best church that we could find (incidentally by driving 55 miles one way) was a Reformed Baptist church. For four years, we fellowshipped with those dear saints forming lifelong friendships for which we praise our Lord and would not trade for anything.
I have watched the New Calvinist movement gain momentum, and I pray it will never stop. However, there can also be a very real danger to any movement, and in the end I am afraidthere could be deep controversy and division.
I have no crystal ball, and as much as I love tea I haven’t read the leaves for years; but history tells us that nothing is purely good and all good things come to an end. The main reason for this is that we are fallen and fallible. Sin is ever present within us seeking to take hold of a bank robber just as easily as it can take hold of a Calvinist. I have seen the destructive powers of the New Perspective on Paul and Federalist Vision. I have been watching the fight for the integrity of the inspiration, inerrancy, infallibility and most importantly the sufficiency of Scripture.
Many controversies have flared up and died down over the past two thousand years. That doesn’t mean that we don’t fight these battles when we need to, but what it does mean is that we should not be surprised when controversies arise. Staying vigilant against these erroneous doctrines is what is usually forgotten. But staying vigilant can be tiring, and if one generation has no need to fight the battle the next generation doesn’t see the real need to stay alert. So the error pops up again in the third or fourth generation and those teaching error are seen as innovators. It isn’t until studies have been made and strong men and women stand up to condemn the false teaching that it is seen for what it really is. By then however, there is much damage to the church of Christ.
The feeling I can’t seem to shake is that there seems to be an internal struggle with those of us who came into the Reformed faith through this new Reformed Movement. The problem I have with writing about it is that I have no wish to offend anyone thus making it a self-fulfilling prophecy.
As I have said, in the past four years or so many of those coming into Reformed Theology are coming in as Reformed Baptists. My worry is not based on any disagreements that I have with Baptism or any other doctrinal issue. My fear is with a trend that I have noticed with the new Reformed Baptists. There seems to be a tension building against the Reformed pedobaptists. I think there is a built-in defense mechanism with the Reformed Baptists that makes them feel as if they have to prove what they believe over and against the pedobaptists. They seem to feel that we look at them as not being truly Reformed.
Of course, it doesn’t help that some of my pedobaptist friends have had discussions regarding whether or not Reformed Baptists can actually be called Reformed. In other words, the Reformed Baptists may have some legitimate evidence to support their defensiveness.
I am not talking about the leaders of the Reformed Baptists that appear side by side pedobaptists at conferences and in print. I am talking about the next generation that is soon to come-of-age. My fear is that there is going to be a huge controversy between these two groups in the near future.This controversy has the potential to put such a large wedge between them that they will leave a wake of destruction that will put an end to this movement as we know it and should not be named among the people of God.
I said that we shouldn’t be surprised that movements like this sputter out or die because of man’s fallen nature. Pride of person and love of self are the fuels that destroy the best of people. The Devil is ever on the watch and is subtly waiting to devour all of us.
When Peter denied Christ, he did so without the understanding that that was exactly what he was doing. When Jesus told him that he would deny Christ, Peter determined in his heart that he would not deny his Lord. Later in the garden, the soldiers came to take Jesus away. Peter quickly assessed the situation and grabbed his sword (he would not deny Christ). This fisherman thought the time of the Kingdom had come, and he was going to fight with the Messiah. The problem was, of course, that Christ’s Kingdom is not of this world. As the servant’s ear fell to the ground, I believe Peter believed that his trial had come and he had passed. Even with a rebuke from his Lord for the action, Peter thought he had not denied Christ.
So with that small victory under his belt, he watched the trial confused and fearful. Then the accusation of a small girl caused him to swear and curse. For Peter, his trial would be obvious and bold, and when it came he passed the test. As he was weeping bitterly a few hours later, he did so with the understanding that the danger was not in facing the men with the spears but in a fearful lie to a young servant girl.
Temptations to sin are usually extremely subtle—just ask Eve. If you were to ask the majority of people who have stolen anything, you will find that they justified their theft. To them, it had been owed to them. The store charged too much on other things, so this stolen item would make up the difference. Sin is subtle and deceptive.
My fear is that there is going to be greater and greater division between the Reformed Baptists and the Reformed pedobaptists. I believe that the battles will be fought over our understanding of baptism, covenants, the Kingdom, the Lord’s Supper, the gifts of the Spirit, historical Christianity and church government—pretty much over just about every area of theology.
