Sunday, February 23, 2025

BOOK REVIEW - "KILLING CALVINISM: HOW TO DESTROY A PERFECTLY GOOD THEOLOGY FROM WITHIN" BY GREG DUTCHER



 A one-star review of this book on Amazon was written by someone who was hoping to learn how to destroy Calvinism. To his disappointment, in "Killing Calvinism: How to Destroy a Perfectly Good Theology From the Inside" author Greg Dutcher writes as a Calvinist encouraging fellow Calvinists to avoid various pitfalls which would alienate others from Calvinism.

One doesn't need to spend much time on on-line theological discussions to see Calvinists come across as bullies. I've seen groups where unbelievers were not welcome - "unbelievers" meaning not only Arminians but those who believe Arminians are true Christians. 😱

Dutcher shares eight ways to destroy Calvinism... or to put it more accurately, things to avoid to keep from destroying Calvinism. These are:

  1. By Loving Calvinism as an End in Itself
  2. By Becoming a Theologian Instead of a Disciple
  3. By Loving God's Sovereignty More Than God Himself
  4. By Losing an Urgency in Evangelism
  5. By Learning Only from Other Calvinists
  6. By Tidying Up the Bible's "Loose Ends"
  7. By Being an Arrogant Know-It-All
  8. By Scoffing at the Hang-ups Others Have with Calvinism
As I mentioned, this book is written for Calvinists. Personally, in the Calvinism/Arminianism debate I consider myself a NOTA (None Of The Above). However, I've found this an encouraging book, helping me stay focused on being a disciple/evangelist and listening and respecting those who disagree. In fact, this book has made me lean a little more reformed than before.

I highly recommend this book.

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