Is there really a "Reformed Resurgence" underway? There has been a considerable amount of buzz online over a recent Barna report which challenges the notion that we are, in fact, seeing an actual resurgence of interest in reformed theology and practice in American churches, despite the rise of neo-Calvinistic celebrity speakers, books and conferences.
Justin Taylor discounts the reliability of the study.
R. Scott Clark offered his thoughts, suggesting the "noise" might be the result of the "re-emergence of predestinarians among Southern Baptists." He also suggests that there might be parallels with the first Great Awakening which some argue offered "more noise than statistical substance."
Daryl Hart has also chimed in on the subject, *modestly* suggesting that the sociologists have only supplied statistics for "what we already knew." Hart concludes: "...we were not that hopeful for a movement led by the likes of John Piper, Mark Driscoll, and C. J. Mahaney. These men all have their virtues (and their vices), but when Calvinism depends on Baptists and charismatics it is hard to think that Reformed Protestantism is surging." As usual, Hart does not pay much attention to the distinction between Reformed Baptists and Neo-Calvinistic Baptists like Piper, et al.
JTR
1 comment:
Thanks brother Jeff for your notes. I just started browsing through some of them, and it has been a blessing to me
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