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The debate that won't die

Link: The debate that won't die | Christianity, Features.

This is my latest article for Christianity. I've already had a lot of feedback. I was trying to tease out the fact that the debate is back and that the stance you take will impact your model of discipleship. Leave your comments below if you read the article and have some thoughts on it.

Two words that strike fear into the ecumenical heart. Calvin and Arminius. Like sex and politics in your local pub, these two words are not meant to be uttered in polite Christian company.

But if you look beneath the surface sheen of our media friendly, reasonable evangelicalism – 2008 version – the ability of these two ancient theologians to frame the contemporary debates within the church has not diminished and seems likely to gain greater profile in the coming months as key theological word warriors refuse to hide politely their critical words under a diplomatic bushel.

In working together, evangelicals have tended to keep quiet about their views about God’s role and ours in the whole process of salvation, especially as views of God’s role are deeply held and felt, and affect our view of the world. But the debate today has become more fiery as modern Calvinists declare their belief that God selects some and not others for salvation, while Arminians counter that our choosing to respond or not is crucial. Calvinists believe we should ‘trust God’ that he knows best, Arminians counter that to do this questions God’s love – does God really love the world if he destines some to eternal torment?

Christianity feature to spark debate?

Are those who call for the return of a cherished ‘Christian nation’ missing the prophetic point? Dave Roberts questions where we ever were a Christian nation and argues for a servant-hearted approach to influencing our local communities and wider society for Christ.

The British church is facing huge challenges. We find ourselves grappling with the paradox of falling numbers, we face a cultural hostility to Christianity expressed in the denigration of the gospels in the Da Vinci Code and the dismissal of God by leading scientist Richard Dawkins. We believe that we are surrounded by moral decay.

So ran the opening lines of a feature I contributed to Christianity in July. You can add your comments below. For those who want to read more can I suggest 'Myth of a Christian Nation' by Greg Boyd