New-Old Calvinism

Kenneth J. Stewert, Ten Myths About Calvinism: Recovering the Breadth of the Reformed Tradition (IVP/Apollos, 2011), pages 288–289:

What is true of us individually is also true of the particular movements we are part of now. We need to see that every resurgence of the Reformed faith is, in fact, new-old; that is, it is a fusion of elements from long ago with contemporary elements. That blend is important because the quality and staying power of any particular wave of Calvinism will lie, in large measure, in how these two factors are held in creative tension. If a Calvinist movement stresses only the reiteration of ideas and doctrines from long ago, its tendency will be antiquarian and fogyish; its devotees might actually wish to be living in a different time and place! On the other hand, if a Calvinist movement glories chiefly in its affinities with the contemporary scene (whether these affinities are musical, in the arts, the trappings of pop culture, etc.), the necessary link with historical markers of the movement may be very hard to locate.

2 thoughts on “New-Old Calvinism

  1. Regarding myths about Calvanism, I’m beginning to think this quote so widely attributed to Calvin but never cited is a myth. Can you help me with an original source? Thanks.

    “The evil in our desire typically does not lie in what we want, but in that we want it too much.”

  2. I searched Calvin’s book – “Institutes of Christian Religion” as mentioned by Joshua Harris as his reference to no avail. If anyone finds it let me know the true source.

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