Calvinism’s structure provides for comprehensive worldview

HOUSTON—Baptists differ over the merits of Calvinism and its resurgence, but two scholars advancing disparate positions on John Calvin’s theology agreed it could have positive benefits if examining it leads Baptists to embrace a more biblical worldview—whether or not it lines up with the teachings codified by the Synod of Dort.

Timothy George, dean of Beeson Divinity School at Samford University, and David Naugle, professor and chair of the philosophy department at Dallas Baptist University, addressed the inaugural G-5 Conference, held in conjunction with the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting.

Jim Denison, president of the Center for Informed Faith, moderated the discussion, part of an event geared toward the fifth generation of Texas Baptist church leaders.

George, who identifies with Reformed theology, pointed to positive ways Calvinism has influenced Baptist identity, characterizing it as a theological system that takes the Bible seriously.

But George also noted dangers in Calvinism—a susceptibility to extremes, the propensity toward “us versus them” sectarianism and a tendency toward theocracy in society rather than religious liberty.

Naugle, who does not subscribe to all the tenets of Calvinism, briefly outlined common critiques of Reformed theology, such as its “lopsided” emphasis on God’s sovereignty at the expense of his goodness and its failure to adequately reconcile unconditional election with Scriptures that points to a more open invitation to respond to God.

But Naugle also described the “comprehensive worldview that touches every sphere of faith, life and culture” as “Calvinism’s gift to the church.”

That robust and holistic way of looking at the world through eyes of faith particularly appeals to young evangelicals whose background in theology has been shallow and segmented, he noted, characterizing some of his students as having “lots of stars but no constellations.”

For some, Calvinism provides a structure that brings together a scattershot understanding of theology into a cohesive biblical narrative of creation, fall and redemption, he observed.