Killing Calvinism: How to Destroy a Perfectly Good Theology from the Inside

I just finished reading Killing Calvinism: How to Destroy a Perfectly Good Theology from the Inside. I found the title of this book to be alluring. It snatched my attention from the first time that I heard of it. It was on my watch list for books that I was hoping would go on sale eventually. Strangely enough, when it did go on sale, it wasn't me that purchased it, but it was my wife who purchased this book. She saw it on the when she was browsing through the Kindle books and decided to pick it up. I was surprised to see it listed with my books, but quickly started to read it.Like I said, the title of this book is what drew me in, but what kept me reading was the openness and honesty of the author. From the subtitle, How to Destroy a Perfectly Good Theology from the Inside, I could tell that this book was going to deal with the reality of people's reaction to, what is popularly called, Calvinism, and the difficulty of relaying that truth to others. There are so many knee-jerk reactions to salvation and the sovereignty of God that it is hard to get past all of that and into the actual teachings of Scripture. The flip side to that coin is the pride, anger and arrogance that seems to go along with those who hold this view, whether that is a reality or not, many seem to detect a connection here.Greg Dutcher shares a quote from John Piper regarding the anger:When a person comes to see the doctrines of grace in the Bible, he is often amazed that he missed it, and he can sometimes become angry. He can become angry that he grew up in a church or home where they never talked about what is really there in Romans 8, I Corinthians 2, and Ephesians 2. They never talked about it -- they skipped it -- and he is angry that he was misled for so long.I understand that sentiment. There are so many passages of scripture that were never discussed or taught. I have seen this anger in me. I don't want to do things that might hinder others from seeing and savoring the greatest aspects of God's amazing grace, and I definitely don't want my attitudes to dim their glory. The author shared another Piper quote that really rang true:I love the doctrines of grace with all my heart, and I think they are pride-shattering, humbling, and love producing doctrines. But I think there is an attractiveness about them to some people, in a large matter, because of their intellectual rigor. They are powerfully coherent doctrines, and certain kinds of minds are drawn to that. And those kinds of minds tend to be argumentative.So the intellectual appeal of the system of Calvinism draws a certain kind of intellectual person, and that type of person doesn't tend to be the most warm, fuzzy, and tender. Therefore this type of person has a greater danger of being hostile, gruff, abrupt, insensitive, or intellectualistic.So I don't go into a Piper-quoting frenzy, I will stop there. I do appreciate how the author, through these quotes and through personal experiences and confessions, displays the typical dangers that seem to cloud the teachings of these doctrines. I was stirred, again, by the author's love, not of Calvinism, but of the Lord, to keep in mind God's wonderful grace.If you are a Calvinist, 5-point or no... I recommend getting this book. I found it extremely helpful and encouraging. I will end this book review by sharing another quote in the book, this one by R.C. Sproul. This quote is on that I found to be extremely interesting and full of eye-opening encouragement. I concerns Sprouls acceptance of the teachings of Calvinism:The combination was too much for me. Gerstner, Edwards, the New Testament professor, and above all the apostle Paul, were too formidable a team for me to withstand. The ninth chapter of Romans was the clincher. I simply could find no way to avoid the apostle's teaching in that chapter. Reluctantly, I sighed and surrendered, but with my head, not my heart. "OK, I believe this stuff, but I don't have to like it!"I soon discovered that God has created us so that the heart is supposed to follow the head. I could not, with impunity, love something with my head that I hated in my heart. Once I began to see the cogency of the doctrine and its broader implications, my eyes were opened to the graciousness of grace and the grand comfort of God's sovereignty. I began to like the doctrine little by little, until it burst upon my soul that the doctrine revealed the depth and the riches of the mercy of God.

Overall I was encouraged and admonished by what I read in Killing Calvinism. We reformed folk need this kind of prodding. Honestly, all Christians every where need books like this. The idea would make a compelling series--Killing Arminianism, Killing the Gifts, etc. Just a thought Cruciform. No patent pending.I found an insider's critique refreshing. Dutcher is one of us. I found his admonition fatherly. Almost like Solomon giving his son final instructions. For instance, Dutcher admonishes, I sometimes fear that if we all just stay holed up in our bunkers, we will end up killing the revival of Calvinism in our midst. . . . We must not give current and future generations plausible reasons to reject the very essence of Christianity that we believe Calvinism represents. That is, if we don't live our Calvinism, we might just kill it. (Kindle Locations 129-135)If I could sum up the book in one sentence it would be this: "But we cross a line when we are more focused on mastering theology than on being mastered by Christ" (Kindle Location 302). Yes! We must be mastered by Christ.I heartily amened all eight points but I found some of his illustrations unhelpful which in some instances lessened the impact of the point. Two examples. First, he argues we should learn from other theological traditions (amen! Count me as a Calvinist who loves the Wesley's). He tells a story about hearing an interview with Bill Hybles on the radio and feeling encouraged by something he said. This idea is great but we need to develop it more. Just because its good to learn from others does necessitate that I should read every Hybles book to fish for the pearl amongst the mud.Or for instance I won't waste my time reading Charles Finney just because I'm sure he has said something right. However, I will gladly read the Wesley's and Fred Sanders who are Arminians. Reformed theology has a robust doctrine of common grace which acknowledges that all truth is God's truth. Dutcher actually has some helpful clarifications on his blog "How Essential Is Calvinism in Our Unity with Other Christians?"One other example worth noting was the story he told in chapter six ("By Tidying Up the Bible's Loose Ends"). He retells the story of a small group discussion which focused on 2 Peter 2:1 where Peter talks about false teachers and says "denying the Master who bought them." He contrasts a few people who expressed puzzlement and the one who says, "[I]t doesn't matter because we know that Jesus died only for the elect" (Kindle Locations 946-947). Granted it does matter but this example is poor.Outside of the "it doesn't matter" because it does, his general interpretation is right. Good exegesis interprets the unclear by the clear and single passages in light of all the bible. So while the guy's answer is certainly flippant it's right to argue that we know Jesus died for only the elect so that rules out x interpretation. Also, we know people make false professions where they claim Christ but do not possess saving faith. In the OT, many Israelites were within the covenant community who was redeemed out Egypt and it rightly could have been said of them that they denied the Lord who bought them. A better example in my opinion might be the lapsarianism debate.Just two example where clarification and a better example might have proved helpful in making a stronger case. I'm nitpicking here but those were my only two concerns (if you can even call it that).The meat of the book is USDA prime. For a group of elders who are seeking to preach and minister within the reformed faith Killing Calvinism would be fantastic read. It might also provide a loving kick in the pants for that recovering in-your-face Calvinist in your life. The chapters are concise and to the point. Each chapter offers one main thought and moves the argument along without losing focus. And at the end of each chapter Dutcher offers a prayer. I loved this feature and prayed these prayers. It's really a devotional styled book.

Devoid and empty. Protestant triumphalism. Less of God more of the author. Reminded me why I stopped going to church. Most of them are social clubs not houses of worship.

The book is actually an impassioned plea FOR Calvinism and it reminded me that the biggest problem with Calvinism is not the theological system itself (although there are issues with that) the biggest problem with it is Calvinists, but the warning bells it sounds would ring true for almost any theological perspective...a really great read. it will challenge Calvinists and non-Calvinists alike.