Letters to a Young Calvinist: An Invitation to the Reformed Tradition [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

In this short book of just over 100 pages you'll find the heart of a Christian philosopher who is transparent about the potential pitfalls and more importantly the splendor, depth, and riches of Reformed theology. Chief among the former is the potential for pride which has regrettably characterized far too many who wear the label "Calvinist." Yet the counsel, and rebuke, within these pages is tempered by the humility that is only earned by someone who has been there. Smith admits he's as much talking to a younger version of himself as he is the fictional subject of his letters. I found the format warm, thought-provoking and intimately personal. At the same time he engages such heavy topics as grace, election, Arminianism, choosing the right church, infant baptism, the New Perspective, egalitarianism, the difference between creeds and confessions and some of their distinctives, covenant theology and more. Some of these receive just a mention but by the end of the book you'll come away with a much broader perspective of what really is at the heart of Reformed theology. I even learned how a good Baptist like me can call myself Reformed. Essentially, we (in the Baptist tradition and others) are more influenced by the Westminster stream of confessions which "diminishes the catholicity of the Reformed tradition, so the `Calvinism' that it articulates is just the sort of slimmed-down, extracted soteriology that can be basically detached and then inserted across an array of denominations (and `non-denominations'). And so you get that strange phenomenon I've noted before: that a place like Southern Baptist Theological Seminary could be a vibrant center of Calvinism." (61) Fascinating!

Younger Calvinists will receive some sage advice from a seasoned mentor. Older Calvinists will find a model that can help them communicate the center of Reformed theology and ways in which it can be kept in proper focus. I emphasize this is just a model and perhaps the bare skeleton of what it should look like. But it's a beginning. There are plenty of resources recommended throughout the letters.

Finally, if you're not a Calvinist you're welcome to read some of our mail. If you're tired of having your Christianity questioned this would be a good place to see what true Calvinism should look like when it's not primarily interested in winning debates or scoring points.

In the vast work of John Calvin the industrious author offers no information on any striking moment or dramatic conversion to Christ and Reformation thought. Calvin came to saving faith overtaking his legal studies as a young law student through reading the original Hebrew and Greek texts of the Bible. This inspired him to adhere to Luther's grace based faith and the Reformation. Calvin later notes:

"I tried my best to work hard [at the Law], yet God at last turned my course in another direction by the secret rein of his providence. What happened first was that by an unexpected conversion he tamed to receptivity a mind too stubborn for its years--for I was so strongly devoted to the superstitions of the Papacy that nothing less could draw me from such depths of mire. And so this mere taste of true godliness that I received set me on fire with such a desire to progress that I pursued the rest of my studies more coolly, although I did not give them up altogether. Before a year had slipped by anybody who longed for a purer doctrine kept on coming to learn from me..."

And in "Letters to a Young Calvinist: An Invitation to the Reformed Tradition" James K.A. Smith (yes many Calvinists enjoy having single letters/initials embedded in their name) provides a winsome and witty volume that provides a very readable outline of many important features of Calvinism. Smith aims at young adults but this work is fine for non-students as well.

Herein Smith discusses:

- Salvation and entrance into the visible church
- Grace alone
- Semper Reformanda
- The importance and delight of being confessional
- "Wide-angle Calvinism"
- Augustine's influence on Reformed thought
- and more.

Give this to a young person and it may direct the reader to pick up Owens, Watson, Love, Edwards, and most importantly the Bible.

Ephesians 1:4-9 "Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ."

This easy-to-read volume is just 160 pages, so it is just a short theological inauguration and that may lead the young reader to the deeper waters of Puritan thought. Furthermore this is not a polemical book devoted to directly dismissing non-Calvinist thought through potent contentions.

Smith writes in a kind, unruffled, and caring manner that is missing sometimes in the outreach of Reformed thought; he communicates as a patient Puritan and not as aggressive Calvinistic neophytes sometimes do. He presses the truth of Reformed soteriology, yet regrettably, at times he seems to show consideration for Wright's notion of Justification. Nonetheless it is well written, accessible, and makes an outstanding gift, or it can be used as a family devotional outline along with the Bible and the WMSC.

Also see:
Truth, Knowledge and the Reason for God: The Defense of the Rational Assurance of Christianity
or the book that contends for moral absolutes:
There Are Moral Absolutes: How to Be Absolutely Sure That Christianity Alone Supplies
additionally see my presuppositional apologetic book written for Students at my site:
Mike A Robinson

In The Devil Reads Derrida Jamie Smith offers an apologia for writing popular works: he sees it as 'a responsibility to function as public intellectuals for the church as "public"'. This popular book does just that - it serves the church; it provides an accessible and erudite introduction to the Reformed faith in an epistolatory format.

He has traveled from Plymouth Brethren to Pentecostal and Reformed. He knows popular evangelicalism. This book provides, in part, insights from the journey. As one who has traveled to neocalvinism from traditional anglicanism to free church to house church charismatics I appreciated Smith's helpful advice. As one unfamiliar with the different streams of Reformed in the US I found this a helpful and insightful guide. I particularly appreciated his comments on the different 'Reformed confessions' (Letters XX-XII). He also has some useful comments about the justification 'debate' and Tom Wright.

Thankfully Smith doesn't focus on TULIP, election and predestination - not that they aren't important issues - but there are other issues: 'I have a hard time believing that the denial of limited atonement is the most pressing matter of discipleship right now. We should be more worried about Walmat' (p. 91).

He draws upon Augustine, Calvin and Kuyper and makes an excellent case for the virtues and strengths of the Calvinist position. Calvinism he sees as: 'a lens that magnifies a persistent theme in the narrative of God;s self-revelation: that everything depends on God (p. 14); as an 'Augustinian renewal movement within the church catholic' (p. 40); as a '"region" of Reformed theology' (p. 44); as a counter to 'the rampant gnosticism that characterises North American evangelicalism' (p. 103); it's 'an entire "complex" or "world- and life-view"' (p. 110). This is a broad and fully biblical view.

There are many introductory books to Reformed thought, but most are dry and dull; this one is full of wit, warmth and wisdom. Buy it, read it and then buy another to give away.

Contents
Introduction
Letter 1 - Welcome to the Family
Letter 2 - On Religious Pride
Letter 3 - Proud to Be a Calvinist?
Letter 4 - Grace All the Way Down
Letter 5 - God Owes Us Nothing
Letter 6 - God Doesn't Even Owe Us an Answer
Letter 7 - Semper Reformanda
Postcard from Geneva
Letter 8 - A Historical Tour of Reformed Theology
Letter 9 - Augustine, Patron Saint of the Reformers
Postcard from Princeton
Letter 10 - To be Reformed Is to Be Catholic
Letter 11 - On Being "Confessional"
Letter 12 - Beyond Westminster
Letter 13 - God's "Social" Gospel
Letter 14 - Our Promise-Keeping God
Postcard from Amsterdam
Letter 15 - Elected to Love
Letter 16 - Church Matters
Letter 17 - Too Reformed for Church?
Postcard from Seoul
Letter 18 - On Grumpy Speculations
Letter 19 - Wide-Angle Calvinism
Letter 20 - Far as the Curse Is Found
Letter 21 - What Are We Saved For?
Letter 22 - Bibliographical Providence
Letter 23 - Enjoying God by Enjoying Creation