Calvinism in the Las Vegas Airport: Making Connections in Today's World [Paperback]

With some trepidation and the consent of my Diaconal board, I am about to do a sermon series on the 5 Points of Calvinism, something I never dared in my collective Protestant military chaplain days. Since the doctrines of grace are an integral part of our theology, they should be preached. But how does one relate "heavy" theology to the person in the pew? How can I keep it from becoming an intellectual exercise? Just as I was preparing and pondering, Fuller Seminary President Richard J. Mouw's book hit the market, with what has to be the religious book "title of the year". Mouw takes a scene from a movie in which a Reformed layman explains TULIP to a non-religious young woman. He summarized the points, but they failed to hit the mark. She left bewildered by what seemed an imponderable system. Mouw wants to help Calvinism into the 21st Century by making it relevant to life, and by examining how we may best convey its teachings. He wants considers how to reach that woman in the airport. He covers the 5 points, deals briefly with the problem of pain, confesses his own struggles, and calls for pluralistic dialogue with charity and tolerance. Calvinism is an intellectually stimulating approach, so it's important that we stress the closeness of our walk with Christ along with the rightness of our doctrine. I recommend this to fellow Calvinists who want a fresh look at our beloved system of thought.

I grew up in a Reformed family, in a Reformed church, in a Reformed school. I was eating TULIP before I was drinking milk! So, its somewhat an enigma for those who know me that I have such reservations about Calvinism. I have tried talking on blogs about these reservations but mostly get responses that don't further endear me to a Calvinist mindset.

But Mouw's book is different. Richard Mouw accomplishes exactly what he sets out to do in this book - a description of how best to be a Calvinist in the 21st century. I could almost entirely embrace Mouw's form and approach to Calvinism - which is no small statement for me to make!!

He does not spend a tremendous amount of time discussing the intricacies of the doctrine which will upset some. He is open to the fact that there may be other believers who have some mixed up doctrine but will still be saved - and he is open to hearing their concerns about where his doctrine might be mixed up. That will upset others. He admits that Scripture, taken at face value, says things that are in tension with his theology. He accepts these tensions rather than trying to twist Scripture to fit his theology. Some will gnash their teeth over this.

I get the sense that Mouw is the type of person that I could sit down with and I would be impressed with his humility, spiritual maturity, humor, and flexibility. That would not only make me willing to listen to what he has to say about Calvinism - I might even be drawn to it!

Ignore the comments that say this is not a book worth buying. The book is not designed to teach people the basic beliefs of Calvinism. However, it would be very helpful to those who recognize that there is great good in Calvinism but can't completely wade their way through it. I would highly recommend this book to anyone desiring to figure out a more embracing approach to Calvinism.

For a more complete review, go to the blog in my screen name and click on either the Readings or Reforming categories.

If there's one thing that Calvinists are especially not good at, it's explaining themselves in a way in which non-Calvinists could possibly understand them. This is one reason why it took me some time to become a Calvinist- none that I'd talk to bothered to articulate the "Doctrines of Grace" in a way that made sense to my Arminianist ears. Richard Mouw cites an example of this played out in the movie Hardcore. A pious Calvinist, Jack, is waiting in the Las Vegas airport with Niki, a pagan prostitute. They begin to discuss what Jack's beliefs are and he expounds on the great truths of the Canons of Dort summed up in TULIP. Niki is bewildered and Jack simply says, "Well, I admit it's a little confusing when you look at it from the outside. You have to try to look at it from the inside."

This scene in the Las Vegas airport sets the stage for Richard Mouw's book. There are at least two problems with the way Calvinists represent themselves to the world, including other Christians, according to Dr. Mouw. The first is the expression of doctrine and the general inability to explain Calvinist theology. "I believe that TULIP, properly understood, captures something very central to the gospel. And I want to bring that gospel to Niki and her kind." (14) The second problem is more along the lines of character. "I must also say up front that it isn't just in our conversations with unbelievers that I find many Calvinists lacking in gentleness and respect. I even find these qualities missing in Calvinists' interactions with other Christians. Indeed, Calvinists are often not very gentle and respectful when debating fine points of doctrine with fellow Calvinists." (15)

Dr. Mouw first sets the stage by noting why he considers himself a "Calvinist" and how he became one. In chapter 3, "Mere Calvinism," he summarizes the famous five points so as to show exactly what Calvinism teaches. In the following chapter Dr. Mouw zeros in on "L"- limited, or particular, atonement. He explains why this doctrine, though he believes it, is left on his "theological shelf," only to be utilized when necessary.

Chapter 6 deals with the problem of God's sovereignty and evil. Dr. Mouw's solution is that while "God ordains/permits everything that comes to pass, we don't simply have to accept that fact. We can complain to God rather vigorously about the things we have a hard time accepting." (51) Following this he makes the case that we aren't simply elected; we are elected to something- to be agents of God's sovereign rule. He saw this played out in his life as he recognized Christ as Savior, Lord, and King through different stages in his life.

The teachings of Abraham Kuyper are the focus of chapter 7. Dr. Mouw argues here that we are to be public Calvinists. While we will not succeed in "Christianizing" the world, we should adhere to the Christian worldview and seek to transform our culture according to it. He then deals with the commons accusation that the God of Calvinism is stingy about whom He saves. In Chapter 9, Dr. Mouw shares a number of encounters he had on his own journey through the Las Vegas airport. In reflecting on how he might have responded in one of his encounters, he envisions his Dutch grandmother quoting the First Question and Answer of the Heidelberg Catechism.

Jake's mistake, according to Dr. Mouw, is that he quoted from the Canons of Dordt instead of Heidelberg. His reasoning echoes a lecture he attending by Louis Berkhof who said that Heidelberg asks us to speak existentially. In speaking of our only comfort it speaks of man personally instead of generally. Dr. Mouw concludes in chapter 11 with some reflections on where Calvinists can learn from others on improving their character.

The questions this book raise are central to many of the issues surrounding why I left an RCA church earlier this year. The questions are the right ones to ask, like, "what does Calvinism have to say to our present world?" However, the church answered these questions by "shelving" all of their Calvinist and Reformed theology with the exception of infant baptism. As this is an issue close to my heart, I was encouraged to find some helpful suggestions for interacting in our world without shelving my Reformed theology in Dr. Mouw's book.

I do take exception with the idea that we should shelve limited/particular atonement. Perhaps we should shelf some of our terminology, but the doctrine itself is so key to the Gospel that I cannot imagine shelving it without feeling that I've compromised the entire message in some way. I also had trouble, though less so, with the idea that we should complain before the throne of God. If I had a child who complained in the way Dr. Mouw describes, I would discipline him immediately. These ideas, as Dr. Mouw would put it, make me nervous.

There were far more things in the book, however, that I found insightful and enjoyable. I went to my first catechism service last Sunday (no other church I've attended has ever offered one) and I'm already hooked on the Heidelberg. I think the perspective it takes, in as much of it that I've studied, is much more helpful in articulating Reformed beliefs in a common vernacular than the often misunderstood TULIP of Dordt.

Overall I found Richard Mouw's personal engagement of the issues to be heartening. His repeated quotes from men like Spurgeon, Kuyper, and Warfield added richness to his already insightful points. In general, Dr. Mouw's suggestions for communicating Calvinism in contemporary culture with gentleness and respect are much needed within the Reformed community. Unfortunately, those who need to read this book the most will likely prematurely dismiss it as watered-down theology. This is a loss not just to them, but to those they interact with, as they'll miss out on the many positive insights offered here. Regardless, my hope is that it will be taken seriously and be read by Calvinists as well as those who've been offended by them.

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