Magnifying God: The Legacy of John Calvin Session 1

Calvin’s Kin: Why They’re Multiplying

Tonight was the opening session of the Magnifying God: The Legacy of John Calvin conference at University Reformed Church in East Lansing (across the street from Michigan State University). Quite a few people for a midsized town holding a theology conference celebrating John Calvin on a Friday night. A mixed bag of young and old. The first session was quite good and it should be a good day of teaching tomorrow.

Collin Hansen opened up the conference with a look at why Calvin's kin (those who embrace much of his teachings) are multiplying so rapidly recently. Calvinism has always had pockets in places like Grand Rapids and northern Iowa, but it has gone mainstream in spite of what Collin called Calvin's "image problem". After a brief overview of Reformed theology so we are all on the same page, Collin listed three reasons for the upswing in interest in Calvinism:

1. Transformation: The transforming work of God in people's lives; dramatic conversions of "first generation Reformed" people; transformative teachers leading the Reformed charge.
2. Tradition: A return to the pastor-theologian model, Piper as an example and he emulates Jonathan Edwards; a new appreciation of ancient practices; Ligon Duncan: Young people seeking formal, historical, transcendent worship.
3. Transcendence: The idea of the Christian life as not being about you, but rather being about God is the first step to Calvinism;

An underlying theme, as I mentioned in my book review of Collin Hansens book, is all of the dynamic and learned pastors and theologians who espouse Reformed theology, men like Piper and Mohler and Mahaney. Tomorrow Collin looks at some of the problems facing Calvinism and what the future holds. Should be good stuff, more on the conference tomorrow!