4 Misconceptions About Calvinism

Pastor Bob O'Bannon

While reading John Piper’s excellent new book, Five Points, it occurred to me how many misconceptions there are about the five points of Calvinism. My guess is that the main reason many people reject the five points, otherwise known as the “doctrines of grace,” is because they assume something that Calvinists actually don’t believe. Here are some common misconceptions:

Misconception 1: Calvinism teaches there is no such thing as free will.

Not really. This depends entirely on what one means by “free will.” Calvinists hold that unbelievers do not have the “freedom” or ability to come to Jesus on their own (John 6:65), to submit to God’s law (Rom. 8:7), or to understand spiritual things (I Cor. 2:14). These all constitute some level of limitation on a person’s freedom. But Calvinists do hold that unbelievers have the freedom to do what they want, say what they please, and think what they like. People do what they want – which is the essence of freedom. The problem is that they don’t want the right things, and will be enslaved to their sinful desires until God gives them new spiritual life.

Misconception 2: Calvinism teaches that Christians do not choose Christ.

It’s true that a person cannot choose Christ unless God first chooses him, as Acts 13:48 and John 15:16 state. But it does not follow from this that a person is excused from the responsibility of choosing Christ. Instead, we might say that the first evidence that a person has been chosen by God is when that person freely and gladly chooses Christ. Here is how the Westminster Confession of Faith 10.1 puts it:

All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, He is pleased, in His appointed time, effectually to call…and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ: yet so, as they come most freely, being made willing by His grace.”

Those God chooses will come to Christ, and they will do so “most freely.” In other words, they will make a choice.

Misconception 3: Calvinism is a deterrent to evangelism.

Actually, it’s quite the opposite. The fact that God’s elect are out there, waiting to hear the Gospel, and that God has promised that He will save everyone He has determined to save (John 6:39), without exception, gives me the assurance that when my Gospel proclamation falls on the ears of one of God’s sheep, there is nothing in all creation that can keep that person from believing (maybe not at that moment, but eventually). That’s why Jesus told Paul to keep preaching the Gospel in Corinth: “I have many in this city who are my people” (Acts 18:9-10).

Misconception 4: Calvinism is a deterrent to righteous living.

Here’s how the argument goes: If a person is taught that he/she cannot lose his/her salvation, as Calvinism teaches, then what’s to keep that person from living an unrighteous life? With salvation in the bag, why not live according to the flesh? Why not ignore God’s commandments? The answer to the argument is that the Bible says those who live according to the flesh will die (Rom. 8:13), and whoever says he is saved but ignores God’s commands is a liar (I John 2:3-6). It is important to keep each of the five points of Calvinism together. The fifth point, “perseverance of the saints” (which teaches that a person cannot lose his salvation), presupposes the earlier points. The second point, “unconditional election,” teaches that Christians have been chosen to be “holy and blameless” (Eph. 1:4). The fourth point, “irresistible grace,” teaches that the Spirit gives new hearts to sinners that they might “devote themselves to good works” (Titus 3:5-8).

Calvinism is not a perfect system. It has its own difficulties to explain. But the points listed above are misconceptions, and should keep no one from embracing these glorious doctrines.

3 Reasons a Congregation Should Have Its Own Building

Pastor Bob O'Bannon

As a pastor of a church that is getting close to opening a new sanctuary, I’ve had to do some thinking about whether a congregation should even seek to have its own building. Maybe that sounds like a silly question, because you’ve assumed that it is the goal of all churches to own their own facility. But that would not be true. Many churches, especially new church plants, do not have their own buildings, and some have no intention of getting one.

What are some of the arguments against having a building? Some point out that the word “church” technically refers to the body of believers, not to a building, and that the New Testament never commands that we construct our own buildings. Others note that the early church did not meet in large buildings, but mostly in private homes. Still others will mention that buildings cost a lot of money – both to purchase and to maintain – and that this money could better be spent in other Kingdom-oriented ways.

There is truth to all of these points, but they don’t persuade me against having a building. Below are three reasons that a congregation, assuming it has the necessary resources, should consider having its own building.

1. A building gives a church visibility in its community.

Very often I will meet new people, and they will ask me what I do. I tell them I am a pastor. They ask what church. I tell them New Life Presbyterian in Yorktown. On many occasions, the next comment out of their mouths is, “Oh yeah, that building that sits up on the hill!” Sometimes new people will come to visit our church, and I will often ask how they learned about us. Very often the response is something like, “I drive by it all the time on my way to work, and decided I would give it a try.” A building serves many purposes, of course, not the least of which is a 24/7 advertisement to the community that you exist.

2. A building eliminates obstacles to the flourishing of a congregation. It is true that buildings require lots of money, constant attention and careful maintenance, but congregations without buildings have their own burdens to deal with: weekly setting up and tearing down everything necessary to conduct a worship service; finding a place to meet for mid-week activities; facing the possibility of having to move to another location for whatever reason. While some point to the growing house church movement in China as an example of why buildings are unnecessary, Kevin DeYoung points out in his book, Why We Love the Church, that the Chinese house church movement is actually an “organizational nightmare” (p. 180) and that Christian leaders in China are praying “for the day of owning their own church building and moving toward a large church model.” (p. 182). This is not a criticism of the Chinese church – just an acknowledgment that church without a building might not be as glamorous as some think.

3. A building gives emphasis to the Biblical doctrine of place. When God created Adam and Eve, he put them in a specific place (the garden). When God delivered Israel from Egypt, he announced his intention to lead them to a place (land of Canaan). When Israel finally settled in their land, God wanted them to worship him in a specific place (the temple). And when Jesus returns, he’s coming back to establish his reign in a place (the new earth). The church is not a collection of ghostly souls that simply float through the air of our communities; instead, the church is a collection of redeemed, but fully embodied, creatures. And one thing true of the body is that it needs a place – to stand, sit, sleep, eat and yes, even to worship.  In other words, “buildings matter because bodies matter.”

Certainly it’s possible for a congregation to overspend on a building, or to build at the wrong time. And by no means am I suggesting that a church without a building is less useful in God’s kingdom than a church with a building. But buildings are good, and we as a congregation can’t wait to enter into our new sacred space.

Should a Christian Feel Obligated to Listen to Contemporary Christian Music?

Pastor Bob O'Bannon

It was revealed recently that Dan Haseltine, lead singer for band Jars of Clay, has voiced support for same-sex marriage. Jars of Clay is generally included in the category of Contemporary Christian Music, otherwise known as CCM. The news about Haseltine has raised some questions about the man’s views, but it also raises questions about CCM in general.

CCM is a genre of music not defined so much by its style or sound, but by the content of its lyrics, which is primarily concerned with matters related to the Christian faith. CCM artists are played on Christian radio stations, like K-Love here in Muncie (88.3 FM), and sold primarily in venues like Family Life Bookstores.

A question naturally arises: since “secular” music is so often consumed with content that Christians might find objectionable, and since CCM seeks to promote “positive” and “encouraging” music (according to the K-Love Web site), should Christians feel obligated to listen to CCM?

Consider four things:

1) There are Christian musicians who do not record for a CCM label. Not all Christian musicians choose to distribute their music through CCM, and often these artists tend to attract the attention and respect of unbelievers. Check out this review of the new album by Wovenhand on the very secular website Pitchfork.

U2 is one of the most highly revered bands in rock history, and right there in one of their most popular songs is the line: “You broke the bonds, you loosed the chains/You carried the cross of my shame, you know I believe it.” Johnny Cash sang of those who “clung to the tree and were redeemed by the blood.” Sufjan Stevens has performed versions of “Holy Holy Holy” and “Come Thou Fount.” You don’t have to listen to CCM to hear music made by Christians.

2) Many non-Christians make music that is worthy of praise. Not only do non-Christians often make music that is excellent and commendable (Phil. 4:8), but frequently their lyrics capture truths about the human experience that are profound and unwittingly in line with Biblical revelation. Just as Paul found truth in the words of the pagan poets (Acts 17:27-28), so can Christians find truth in the lyrics of pagan musicians. John Calvin wrote:

All truth is from God; and consequently, if wicked men have said anything that is true and just, we ought not to reject it.”

3) Music need not be restricted to matters related to the plan of salvation. According to I Kings 4:32, Solomon wrote 1,005 songs. The very next verse indicates that Solomon spoke of trees, beasts, birds, reptiles and fish – but it says nothing about whether he sang about how a person can be saved, making me wonder if his music would even get played on CCM radio today. Solomon wrote music about everyday life in God’s world, which is perfectly appropriate and advisable for a Christian.

4) There are legitimate questions about the quality of CCM. There is no question that Christian music has improved over the last 30 years, but as a whole, CCM tends to sound overly commercial. It is bland, sterile and slick. It lacks imagination and creativity. Some might respond that this is inconsequential, since CCM is primarily about the message, but that begs new questions: do CCM artists have to subscribe to any kind of doctrinal statement?  What happens if they slip into error or heresy? Are they accountable for what their music teaches? What exactly does Dan Haseltine believe, anyway?

So, should Christians feel obligated to listen to CCM? No. Should you continue to listen to CCM if you find it enjoyable and encouraging to your faith? Absolutely. But remember Paul’s exhortation in I Thess. 5:21 to “test everything.” That includes both secular music and CCM.

Two resources I would recommend for further reading:

The Liberated Imagination, by Leland Ryken.

Imagine: A Vision for Christians in the Arts, by Steve Turner.

5 Reasons to Believe in the Resurrection

Pastor Bob O'Bannon

Sometimes Christians are accused of having a “blind faith” – that we believe the unbelievable even though the facts are contrary to the evidence.  Certainly it requires faith to believe in the resurrection of Jesus, for instance, but this faith is not a blind faith – it is an informed faith. It is a faith based on plausible reasons. As we approach Easter, below are five good reasons for you to believe in the resurrection of Jesus:

1)  The empty tomb.

I Cor. 15:3-4 tells us not just that Jesus died, but that he was buried. He was laid in a tomb after his death. But on resurrection morning, we are told, his body was not there any longer. The tomb was empty. Certainly the Roman authorities could have quelled the early Christian movement by simply producing Jesus’ body, but they never did. The tomb was empty, and the body was missing. It is interesting to note that while some people will venerate the tomb of Buddha, and others will venerate the tomb of Mohammed, Christians do not venerate the tomb of Jesus. The reason is because he is not there.

2)  The eyewitness accounts.

After Jesus was resurrected, He made several appearances to people, including an appearance to 500 that is mentioned in I Cor. 15:6. Paul makes note that many of these 500 people are “still living.” Why would he say that? What difference does it make if the eyewitnesses are alive or dead? The answer should be obvious: if they are still alive, they can be consulted. It’s as if Paul is saying, “Go ahead. I dare you. Check out my story.” Paul must have had a high degree of confidence in the reliability and credibility of those who literally saw Jesus alive after his crucifixion.

3)  The transformation of the disciples.

In I Cor. 15:5, Paul mentions that Jesus appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. Peter was the guy who denied Jesus three times, who crumbled before a harmless servant girl when asked if he knew Jesus, who later that night was shut behind locked doors in fear. But in the book of Acts, just weeks later, we see Peter preaching boldly to hundreds of people, saying things like, “This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose, and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death, but God raised him from the dead.” (Acts 2:23). How do we account for that kind of radical change? He saw Jesus resurrected from the dead, and his life was never the same.

4)  The testimony of women.

The first people to see the resurrected Jesus were women (Mat. 28:1-10). In the culture of Jesus’ day, this is hugely significant. Women had such a low social standing that their testimony was not even admissible in a court of law. If the Gospel writers were fabricating a story, they would have had every reason to strike this detail from the record in an effort to make their story as plausible as possible. But they didn’t.  This is because they were committed to a reliable historical account of what actually happened on the first Easter morning.

5)  The growth of the church.

The early church grew from a few frightened disciples on the night of Jesus’ death to a few billion believers in the world today. It has been transformed from the most persecuted institution to the most influential institution in the history of the world. How could the church grow so rapidly if the apostles were spreading a lie? Why would so many of them go to their deaths if they knew the resurrection was a sham? It’s true that people will die for beliefs they think are true, but they won’t die for beliefs they know are false.

If you are interested in further reading about evidence for the resurrection, here are some places to look:

The Resurrection of the Son of God. N.T. Wright. 

Basic Christianity. John Stott. (chapter 4)  

The Case for the Resurrection. Lee Strobel.  

Jesus Under Fire. Michael Wilkins. (chapter 6)

4 Reasons You Should Consider Buying Vinyl Records

Pastor Bob O'Bannon

Next Saturday (April 19, not tomorrow) is Record Store Day. This annual celebration of independent record stores has been taking place since 2007, and gives special attention to the vinyl record, which happens to be the main reason independent records stores are still in business. As music consumption moves away from CDs and increasingly toward MP3 downloads or direct streaming, there has been a movement back toward buying records the old fashioned way. Vinyl sales have been on the increase for the last few years, and show no signs of slowing down.

In my opinion, this is great. In fact, I recently bought a refurbished Pioneer turntable, dusted off my old vinyl records, and have begun to pursue vinyl as my music format of choice. It’s like coming home again. There are at least four reasons that I suggest that music lovers should consider going vinyl:

1) Vinyl sounds great.

The word typically used to describe vinyl is “warmth,” and that’s exactly what occurred to me when I recently put on my first vinyl record in about 25 years. Of course older records might have some crackles and pops, but some listeners actually prefer the vintage ambience produced by the wear and tear. I’m not going to make the argument that vinyl is technically better than digital, but I doubt any untrained ear will notice much of a difference.

2) Vinyl encourages community.

One of the sad developments of the digital culture is the demise of book stores and music stores. Sure, it’s easy and convenient to buy music on Amazon or iTunes, but I suggest it is more rewarding to actually travel to a record store, walk into a physical place, talk with a living and knowledgeable sales clerk, and who knows, maybe even get to know some fellow music lovers who happen to be in the store. There is an excellent independent record store right here in Muncie, called Village Green Records. It is located at 519 N. Martin in the Village and it will be celebrating Record Store day next week.

3) Vinyl requires you to slow down.

In Kevin DeYoung’s book Crazy Busy, he recommends that we “deliberately use old technology” as a way of fighting against our overly frantic lives. For example, he suggests we write a paper letter, or look something up in a dictionary. To this list I would add: “buy and listen to vinyl records.” Listening to music on vinyl requires me to be more personally invested in the process: I have to get the record out of the sleeve, place it on the turntable, carefully drop the stylus on the record, and be prepared to flip sides. There is something in this ritual that demands my personal involvement and requires attention I might not otherwise give to the music.

4) Vinyl records are beautiful.

One of the biggest deficiencies in acquiring music through digital downloads is the loss of album art work. Yes, I know you can download the art, but it’s just not the same as holding a 12.5-inch by 12.5-inch album in your hands. Even more impressive is the glorious gatefold sleeve. The case could be made that even the appearance of a shiny black vinyl record spinning on the turntable is something to behold.

Of course there are some disadvantages to vinyl: new releases tend to be expensive, costing about $15-20 an album (keep in mind, however, that rights to the digital download almost always comes with the record, and used records can be really cheap); you can’t play them on your smart phone or in the car; and they do require maintenance. Those reasons alone might be enough to convince you that vinyl is not the way to go. That’s understandable. But maybe a quote from Amos Lee will help: “I love vinyl, man.” That pretty much sums it up.

4 Excellent Web Resources You Might Not Know About

Pastor Bob O'Bannon

Years ago, before the Internet, I came across a reformed tape library catalog that allowed a person to order cassette tapes of sermons and lectures given by reformed pastors and theologians. I would rummage through the catalog, looking for interesting topics and favorite speakers. Then I would complete the order form at the back of the catalog, put it in an envelope with my payment, drop it in the mail box and wait patiently for my tapes to arrive weeks later.

Today that process seems like such a burden! Now, I just sit down at my computer, press a couple of buttons, and hear my favorite speakers immediately – for free. When it comes to Christian teaching and preaching resources, we happen to have an embarrassment of riches right at our fingertips on the Internet.

If you’re reading this blog, you know this already. And you are probably familiar with some of the more popular Christian Web resources, like the Gospel Coalition, Bible Gateway, SermonAudio, DesiringGod, Monergism, etc. But since there is such an abundance of resources available, there are many you might not know about. It is these lesser known Web resources that I offer here for your consideration:

1) The Aquila Report – This is the site I visit most often. It is a collection of Web articles and blogs written about a wide variety of cultural, theological and church-related topics, with frequent inclusion of events occurring in the PCA. Each day several new articles are added, with topics ranging from reviews of the movie “Noah” to the spread of Shariah law in North Africa to the causes of spiritual depression to the latest development in the same-sex marriage debate.

2) Mars Hill Audio – No, this is not Mark Driscoll’s Mars Hill church. This is Mars Hill Audio, which has been hosted by Ken Myers since 1993. Its purpose is to “help Christians who desire to move from thoughtless consumption of contemporary culture to a vantage point of thoughtful engagement.” Each “audio journal” features several guests (mostly academics) who are interviewed by Myers in a way very similar to the style of interview you might hear on NPR radio. The most recent journal, for instance, includes discussions of the life and thought of Abraham Kuyper; how access to recordings enables a deeper understanding of music; and how the life of the Trinity calls us to lives of generosity. You must subscribe to hear all the segments, but click on “Fresh Tracks” to sample a free download.

3) Reformed Forum – This site offers weekly conversations on a host of Biblical and theological subjects, all from the perspective of reformed Presbyterianism. The dialogue can get pretty deep in the weeds theologically, but the hosts are witty, engaging and easy to listen to, so don’t be put off by the heavy subject matter. Guests most often are authors of recently released books, leading to discussions on topics like the question of canon, Warfield on the inspiration of the Bible, antinomianism, and how to develop a theology of productivity. Listen and learn!

4) Unashamed Workman – This is a Web site designed especially to instruct, refresh and encourage preachers. It offers a wealth of very practical and challenging articles on how to be a better preacher, including an ongoing series called “10 Questions,” where 10 questions about preaching are posed to a number of leading Gospel proclaimers, such as Tim Keller, Matt Chandler, Phil Ryken, Thabiti Anyabwile, Tim Chester, and many others.

3 Things That Are Good About ‘Breaking Bad’

Pastor Bob O'Bannon

A lot has been written about “Breaking Bad,” the popular AMC TV show, since its last episode was airedback in September. The last eight episodes recently arrived on Netflix, so that’s why this analysis comes a little late in the game. Yes, be forewarned — there are spoilers to follow.

“Breaking Bad” is not for everyone. It can be hard to watch. As one person said, you crave it and dread it at the same time. It is about a man (Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston) who is diagnosed with cancer and needs to find a way to make enough money to provide for his family when he’s gone. So he starts manufacturing methamphetamine, and finds out he’s really good at it. He makes a lot of money. His cancer goes away. He makes even more money. Along the way, we witness some heartbreaking scenes, some squeamish violence, and some profound lessons about the moral universe in which we live.

Here are three good things about this show:

1) It vividly portrays how sin can increasingly harden one’s heart. The story of Walt reminded me of the story of Saul in I Samuel. Both were men with great potential and many gifts. Both gave the appearance of moral uprightness — Walt repeatedly claimed his actions were for his family; and Saul often claimed to be serving God (I Sam. 15:20). Both had many opportunities to humble themselves and repent. But they refused. And each time they refused, their hearts got just a little bit harder. This is the power of sin: it enslaves (Rom. 6:16) and it ensnares (Prov. 29:6). And as both Walt and Saul demonstrate, those who harden their heart will fall into calamity (Prov. 28:14).

2) It highlights the fact that all personal choices are significant. At the beginning of the show, Walt is depicted as a mild-mannered high school chemistry teacher living a quiet life in the suburbs. At the end of the show, he is a ruthless drug kingpin who strikes fear into people’s hearts. “Breaking Bad” takes all five seasons to show us the small, incremental steps that were taken to get Walt from one place to the other. Jackson Cuidon has written an interesting analysis in Christianity Today on the role choices play in “Breaking Bad.”  Our choices are not morally neutral. They change us. As Cuidon writes, “We get shaped by the things we do, or don’t do, even unintentionally, even if you’re not paying attention.” C.S. Lewis wrote something similar: “[E]very time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different than it was before. . . all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing into a heavenly creature or a hellish creature.” Walt’s choices turned him into the latter.

3) It raises the question of how Walt’s actions can be considered wrong if there is no God. What got me interested in “Breaking Bad” was a quote I saw from the show’s creator, Vince Gilligan. He said: “I feel some sort of need for Biblical atonement, or justice, or something. I like to believe there is some comeuppance, that karma kicks in at some point, even if it takes years or decades to happen. My girlfriend says this great thing that’s become my philosophy as well. ‘I want to believe there’s a heaven. But I can’t not believe there’s a hell.’ ” In other words, we all have an instinctive desire for justice to be served, especially for people as wicked as Walter White. And if there is no hope that things will one day be put right . . . well, here’s how Gilligan says it: “If there is no such thing as cosmic justice, what’s the point of being good?”