Mar 12, 2009

The "New" Calvinism

1 Min Read

It's interesting when major media pick up on a story that Ligonier has been living for several decades. Time Magazine's forthcoming cover story on "10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now" notes Calvinism as number three.

God is at work, and always has been, carrying out his sovereign purposes for his own glory. There's nothing new about it. Whether or not humanity notices the gospel, we know the Word is always at work. So our joy is not found in the world regarding the work of the church. Our task is to be faithful and the Word will triumph.

This reminds me of Martin Luther's reflection on his ministry:

"Take me, for example. I opposed indulgences and all papists, but never by force. I simply taught, preached, wrote God's Word: otherwise I did nothing. And then, while I slept or drank Wittenberg beer with my Philip of Amsdorf the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that never a prince or emperor did such damage to it. I did nothing: the Word did it all. Had I wanted to start trouble.... I could have started such a little game at Worms that even the emperor wouldn't have been safe. But what would it have been? A mug's game. I did nothing: I left it to the Word." (Luther's Works)

HT: Justin Taylor