I have been much amused and entertained lately by watching exchanges taking place on YouTube between Dr. Jordan B. Cooper (Lutheran), and Dr. Leighton Flowers (non-Calvinist) about their respective theological beliefs. The exchanges seem to have begun with Dr. Cooper posting a video message in which he criticises Leighton Flowers for being a Pelagian! To this Flowers gives a couple of video responses denying the accusation; to which Cooper again replies by restating the accusation! The exchanges can be seen here:
https://youtu.be/Yn567CKLTes
https://youtu.be/qaluwlmLccw
I have a solution to the impasse. Instead of throwing labels around, why not define clearly, in biblical terms, what each side’s theological position is, and how they compare? Throwing around labels can be interpreted as an exercise in hostility, rather than a sincere engagement in theological understanding.
https://youtu.be/qaluwlmLccw
I have a solution to the impasse. Instead of throwing labels around, why not define clearly, in biblical terms, what each side’s theological position is, and how they compare? Throwing around labels can be interpreted as an exercise in hostility, rather than a sincere engagement in theological understanding.
I am neither a Lutheran nor a Calvinist; but I have an issue with Lutheranism which I don’t have with Calvinism. Calvinism has a very clear and well-defined theology. You know exactly what it teaches. It doesn’t leave you in any doubts about that. It may be wrong (and it is); but it doesn’t leave you in any doubts about what it is—so you can make up your mind whether you agree with it or disagree. The same cannot be said of Lutheranism. Nobody seems to know exactly how it distinguishes itself from other Protestant traditions theologically. Is becoming a Lutheran merely adopting a new cultural tradition, and becoming part of a new congregation; or does it entail a change in one’s theological thinking as well? If so, what is that theological difference, and on what scriptural basis is it framed?
If someone was a Calvinist, and wanted to become a Lutheran, what would he have to stop believing as a Calvinist, and start believing as a Lutheran (on scriptural grounds), in order to become a Lutheran? Or if someone was a Lutheran, and wanted to become a Calvinist, what would he have to stop believing as a Lutheran, and start believing as a Calvinist (on scriptural grounds), in order to become a Calvinist? Nobody seems to know for sure. There are ambiguous answers to that question, but not clear ones. I have searched the Internet, including Dr. Cooper’s own videos, for a clear answer to that question, and so far found none.
He has a video on his site titled: “Why Is Lutheran Theology Unknown Among Christians,” which can be seen here. The answer to that question is, Because nobody knows for sure what it is! I know exactly what Calvinist theology is—and therefore can decide whether to agree with it or not. The same cannot be said of Lutheran theology. So I think Dr. Jordan Cooper would be doing himself a special favor by defining clearly what his (Lutheran) theological position is, and how it is distinguished from other Protestant traditions (notably Calvinism), and on what authoritative basis, before throwing pejorative labels at others, who at least seem able to articulate their theological positions better and more clearly than he seems able to do.
I found another interesting video, an interview with Dr. Cooper in which he identifies himself as a convert from Calvinism to Lutheranism; but he seems to have a hard time articulating the theological distinction between the two. The most central, distinguishing feature of Calvinism is predestination and justification by faith alone; and everything else (i.e. TULIP) follows logically from that. And as far as I know, it was Martin Luther who first came up with that theological foundation rather than John Calvin. It is Luther who gets the credit for introducing that theology into Protestantism. Calvin got that idea from him. And everything else, including TULIP, follows logically from that. Luther laid the foundation, and Calvin built upon it, and carried it to its logical conclusion. So it seems that Calvinism vs. Lutheranism is a distinction without a difference. The only difference between them seems to be that Calvinism is more honest about its theology than Lutheranism is. Calvinists are not scared to go where the foundational premises leads them to; whereas Lutherans want to keep the foundational premises (without which they couldn’t exist), but don’t like to look down the abyss where it logically leads to.
If you start with “predestination” and “justification by faith alone,” then “TULIP” becomes the inevitable consequence. It is the only logical conclusion. There is no way to escape the conclusion from the given premises. The only way to escape the conclusion, is to ditch the premises upon which it is based—both of which are heretical and false—and both of which are foundational to both Lutheranism and Calvinism. If you eliminate predestination and justification by faith alone from either Calvinism or Lutheranism, both religions would cease to exist. Both religions would vaporize and disappear into oblivion. It is foundational to either religion. The only difference between them is that Calvinists are honest about where it logically and theologically leads to, whereas Lutherans are not.
If you start with “predestination” and “justification by faith alone,” then “TULIP” becomes the inevitable consequence. It is the only logical conclusion. There is no way to escape the conclusion from the given premises. The only way to escape the conclusion, is to ditch the premises upon which it is based—both of which are heretical and false—and both of which are foundational to both Lutheranism and Calvinism. If you eliminate predestination and justification by faith alone from either Calvinism or Lutheranism, both religions would cease to exist. Both religions would vaporize and disappear into oblivion. It is foundational to either religion. The only difference between them is that Calvinists are honest about where it logically and theologically leads to, whereas Lutherans are not.
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