Time Magazine Applauds Calvinism, John Piper, Mark Driscoll, and Al Mohler: is this a good thing?

Joh 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

Luk 6:26 “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

Time Magazine is applauding Calvinism, Piper, Driscoll, and Mohler. Shouldn't that be a red flag? This the article that shows my concern.

I don't think its appropriate to gloat and giggle over the article. Perhaps folks might consider these things first:

If Arminianism is wrong and unbiblical,why are Reformers combining Reformed theology with Arminianism? Eastern mysticism, Post-Modernism /Emergent Church Movement,seeker-friendly, foul language, x-rated "Christian" website links, denial of the inspiration of Scripture, Roman Catholicism, are all man-centered. Where is the unity between Christ-centeredness (which Reformers claim) and man-centeredness 2Cor. 6:14-18)?

I do not understand how people who say all the time that a dead man can't hear and do a thing to get saved are the SAME ones who think a dead church could be merely reformed. The doctrine of Total Depravity would necessitate the rejection of "need" for the Reformation because a dead church can't be reformed just as dead men can't be reformed.

Calvinism is more than just TULIP: At Kim Riddlebarger's blog, Richard Muller who is author of several books on Calvin, Calvinism and Arminus, etc he states at the end of his article "How Many Points", published in the "Calvin Theological Journal" makes my point:

Quote:

WITHOUT THE CONCEPT of the church as covenanting community and THE DOCTRINE OF INFANT BAPTISM, THE FIVE POINTS MAKES LITTLE SENSE.

Our confession of the divine foundation of the covenanting community also directs our attention from the doctrine of the efficacy and irresistibility of grace to the conception of SACRAMENTS AS MEANS OF GRACE AND NOT MERE ORDINANCES.

In conclusion, we can ask again, "HOW MANY POINTS?" SURELY THERE ARE MORE THAN FIVE. The Reformed faith includes reference to total inability, unconditional election, limited efficiency of Christ's satisfaction, irresistible grace, and perseverance of the saints, NOT AS THE SUM TOTAL of the church's confession but as ELEMENTS THAT CAN BE ONLY UNDERSTOOD in the context of a larger body of teaching INCLUDING THE BAPTISM OF INFANTS, justification by grace alone through faith, the necessity of a thankful obedience consequent upon our faith and justification, the IDENTIFICATION OF SACRAMENTS AS MEANS OF GRACE, the so-called AMILLENNIAL VIEW of the end of the world. The larger number of points, including but going beyond the five of Dort, is intended, in other words, to construe theologically the entire life of the believing community. And WHEN THAT LARGER NUMBER OF POINTS taught by the REFORMED CONFESSIONS IS NOT RESPECTED, the FAMOUS FIVE ARE JEOPARDIZED, indeed, DISSOLVED —and the ongoing spiritual health of the church is placed at risk.

End quote.

This isn't biblical. Infant sprinkling is found nowhere in all of Scripture; only Believer's Baptism. Confessions and Creeds of the Reformation are not declared to be authoritative in Scripture either; only God's Word---not men's. God's church is local and its made up of believers, the ecclesia ---those who are saved and assemble together for the teaching of God's Word--- the Lord's Table, corporate worship, and ministry of gifts, and church discipline as well as baptisms of new believers.

Regarding Mark Driscoll: not only does has a filthy mouth, not only is he proud of it, not only does he link to x-rated "Christian" sex website, but the way he discusses Jesus Christ is utterly dispicable. It is not surprising then, why Time magazine would applaud him as acceptable.

See Steve Camp on Mark Driscoll and more.

See Slice of Laodicea here for Driscoll's x-rated website link:

For example, (in Erick Raymond's review of Driscoll's "Vintage Jesus" book), in his run through "The Gospel According to Mark", describes Jesus as a guy who,“[tells] a leper to shut-up”,”,“needs Paxil”,“needs sensitivity training”,"[Is] an obvious workaholic who needed to start drinking decaf and listening to taped sounds of running water while doing aromatherapy so he could learn to relax.” How blasphemous indeed! Where is Driscoll's fear of the Almighty? Where is his trembling? Where is his respect of the things of God? People like him cause the world to no longer call Christians "God-fearing men" simply because they have no fear of God!

Yet this is whom John Piper endorses and defends for repeatedly sharing the pulpit with him.
Paul Tripp thinks using foul language is merely cultural, and gleefully uses the "s" word and laughs when his kids learn to use it too. Go here for his "s" word use in a promo video for the "Power of Words" Desiring God conference. How is it that Phil Johnson and John MacArthur can know and BOLDLY proclaim what is appropriate for speech especially for pastors and teachers and yet their friend John Piper, a pastor and supposedly mature Christian of 30 years, does not? How totally polar opposites The Shepherd's Conference was from Desiring God's Conference a few months ago!

Is it any wonder that the God-hating Time Magazine applauds Driscoll and Piper and their Calvinism? Scripture says men hate His truth, they will not agree with it nor do they find it good. Rather they find all things of God as foolishness (1Cor. 2:14). So when the world pats a person on the back, that should be a red flag. It means they find you unoffensive, which means you aren't standing for Truth as Jesus did.

How did God deal with the shepherds of Israel? Did He wink at their sin and excused it as being merely "immature"? Or did He condemn them and pronounce judgment upon them? See Jer. 6:13-15; 7:4-24).

Consider this too:

The continuing list of what a Reformer can hold to as optional yet find "unity" by "holding to" the TULIP and Creed and Confessions:

Feminism: women can be pastors and leaders over men in church (see the RTS Orlando pushing Synergy feminist conference). Reformed Theological Seminary (Orlando) and evangelical feminism…
Emergent Church Movement junk
Jesus' physical return
Our physical resurrection
Satan as our current enemy
Justification by faith alone
Adam is literal
Fruit of the Spirit
Creation in literal 6 days
Impeccability of Christ
Lordship of Christ
Not using freedoms in Christ to cover evil; causing a brother to stumble
Not Getting Drunk
Repentance
Gospel includes the resurrection of Jesus
Literal hell/ hold to Annihilationism
The Narrow Road excludes many people (the Broad Road) (aka no Universalism)
The Trinity
Sufficiency of Scripture
Philosophy - hold to it
No truth in error
Faith Alone
Christ Alone
Inspiration of Scripture
Total Depravity
Perseverance / Preservation of the Saints by God alone
Rejection of heretics
Rejection of Roman Catholicism
Edifying speech
Perpescuity of Scripture and its doctrines

This leads me to ask, what makes anyone a Christian? Because they SAY they are?

This POMO age has created "Christians" that not only do not know biblical doctrine, they don't live by it nor do they think its clear. Instead it has trained "Christians" to think ignorance as a virtue rather than a vice. That riding the fence is GOOD rather than BAD. I'm sorry people, but when a PROFESSOR at a SEMINARY doesn't know that God created the universe in six LITERAL Days, its time for him to pack up, go home, study Scripture ALONE, and sit under biblical teaching in a biblical church.

Truth IS knowable. Jesus said it is. Do you really believe HIM?

What I can't understand is that when a "Christian" teacher/preacher blathers on with grotesque language, contrary to Ephes. 4, that's lauded as relevant or passed off as "immaturity". However, when pointing out the gross error and unacceptable according to Scripture, people like me are written off as "judgmental" and "unloving". I see hypocrisy written all over this.

In criticizing Driscoll, one PCA pastor cussed me out and then said "now, I have to go finish my sermon for tomorrow". Yeah, THAT'S honoring to the Lord. But it makes my point that there is such a thing as "touching the seminary anointed and doing Reformed prophets no harm." There IS a magisterium mentality there. There is the sin of favoritism (see James 2There is rubber stamping of all who mouth "TULIP" or "Reformed"even if they reject the ONLY Gospel that can save! How dare such people look down their noses as Arminians when they are just as man-centered---and so full of arrogance.

If we hold to biblical doctrine it will have an affect on our whole lives. If we are reflecting more of the world than Him, we should examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. Remember 1John 1-2 as well as Titus 1 and 1Tim. 3 for the requirements of elders.

I say these things as a person who holds to the Doctrines of Grace and God's absolute sovereignty in all things. But I do not call myself a Calvinist nor Reformed because of the teachings that are within it. I don't mean to be disrespectful at all, but I have major concerns regarding who and what is being hailed as wonderful, if you see what I mean.

Mat 5:10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Is this happening with Driscoll or Piper? Or are they gaining a wider audience? Something to consider.

I don't find it a compliment that Time Magazine lauds Calvinism, Piper, Driscoll, or Mohler. If I found my name on that list, I'd worry, that's for sure!