Dr. Larry Hufhand, Point of View: Wondering Again

Recently, an evangelist friend of mine reminded me of another form of Calvinism that’s making its rounds.  He, as well as I believe it is by far the most dangerous form of all.  For want of a better identification, let’s call it, “Calvinism with a hoot.”  It’s the reformed theology that is coming out of the Sovereign Grace movement, coupled with the “beat” music of the charismatics, all of which is led by the likes of C J Mahaney who is a “continuationist,” and the new religious right.

What they have done is taken the theology of Augustine and Calvin and added a charismatic twist to it.  Of course the music they sing is Sovereign Grace music, since they believe the music of Fanny Crosby and P. P. Bliss and others is not only old and archaic, it is also Arminian in theology. One of the premier conferences featuring this kind of programming is the “Resolved Conference,” the most recent of which, was held this past June of 2012, in Palm Springs, CA and hosted by the Grace Community Church, located in Sun Valley, CA.

Three of the speakers were Dr. John MacArthur, Pastor of Grace Community, C J Mahaney, founder of the Sovereign Grace Ministry, and Dr. Al Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, KY. (Talk about a mixed trio, Dr. MacArthur with his Presbyterian polity, C J Mahaney, with his continuationism, and Dr. Mohler with his A-millennial eschatology)

The music was put together by Enfield, a musical group that ministers weekly at the Grace Community Church in the College ministry of the church. To commemorate the origin of the Resolve concept, they passed out T-shirts featuring the face of the late Jonathan Edwards.

Dr. Lawrence Hufhand, Editor

The Hufhand Report

Sept. 7, 2012

Related Reading:
Resolved Conference Founder Rick Holland at Northland International University

Were the Reformers Heretics?

The IFB & Calvinism: Flashpoint!

Site Publisher Commentary:

“To commemorate the origin of the Resolve concept, they passed out T-shirts featuring the face of the late Jonathan Edwards.”  Dr. Peter Masters in The Merger of Calvinism With Worldliness had these remarks for Resolved.

“The new Calvinists constantly extol the Puritans, but they do not want to worship or live as they did. One of the vaunted new conferences is called Resolved, after Jonathan Edwards’ famous youthful Resolutions (seventy searching undertakings). But the culture of this conference would unquestionably have met with the outright condemnation of that great theologian.

Resolved is the brainchild of a member of Dr. John MacArthur’s pastoral staff [Rick Holland], gathering thousands of young people annually, and featuring the usual mix of Calvinism and extreme charismatic-style worship. Young people are encouraged to feel the very same sensational nervous impact of loud rhythmic music on the body that they would experience in a large, worldly pop concert, complete with replicated lighting and atmosphere. At the same time they reflect on predestination and election. Worldly culture provides the bodily, emotional feelings, into which Christian thoughts are infused and floated. Biblical sentiments are harnessed to carnal entertainment. (Pictures of this conference on their website betray the totally worldly, showbusiness atmosphere created by the organisers.)”