Yount, Restless, Reformed
I was encouraged by a book review I came across yesterday. "Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist's Journey with the New Calvanists" (Crossway Publishing, 2008). Collin Hansen is the author.
Apparently, when "the emerging church was all the rage" Hansen couldn't understand why "he didn't know anyone who was emerging." He decided to travel, and interview. What he discovered was a resurgence in reformed theology among young evangelicals. Apparently, the search is on for deeper historic roots. Postmodernism and cultural relativism have failed to produce satisfaction, and there is a growing desire for a Christianity that requires deep committment. The Puritan writers are filling a need here.
Hansen writes: "Firsthand experience with pain and brokenness has deeply ingrained disillusionment in many young Americans." The young people he interviewed say that "a culture about nothing" is not a fulfilling one to live in. One 25 year old said: "Self-focus isn't feeding our hearts." The antidote for this? Systematic theology, and a foundational understanding of the Sovereignty of God. We have become a culture "starved for transcendence." (Timothy George) And reformed theology is meeting that need.
The concluding observation of Young, Restless, Reformed is that this new interest in reformed theology is producing a new zeal for holiness and a passion for evangelism, and, "that is not a revival of Calvanism. That's a revival."
This book was reviewed in Touchstone Magazine, May 2009, by Jocelyn Mathewes.
Apparently, when "the emerging church was all the rage" Hansen couldn't understand why "he didn't know anyone who was emerging." He decided to travel, and interview. What he discovered was a resurgence in reformed theology among young evangelicals. Apparently, the search is on for deeper historic roots. Postmodernism and cultural relativism have failed to produce satisfaction, and there is a growing desire for a Christianity that requires deep committment. The Puritan writers are filling a need here.
Hansen writes: "Firsthand experience with pain and brokenness has deeply ingrained disillusionment in many young Americans." The young people he interviewed say that "a culture about nothing" is not a fulfilling one to live in. One 25 year old said: "Self-focus isn't feeding our hearts." The antidote for this? Systematic theology, and a foundational understanding of the Sovereignty of God. We have become a culture "starved for transcendence." (Timothy George) And reformed theology is meeting that need.
The concluding observation of Young, Restless, Reformed is that this new interest in reformed theology is producing a new zeal for holiness and a passion for evangelism, and, "that is not a revival of Calvanism. That's a revival."
This book was reviewed in Touchstone Magazine, May 2009, by Jocelyn Mathewes.
Labels: Doctrine, Guest Post, Reformed Theology
posted by Petros at
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