Humble Calvinism: And if I Know the Five Points, But Have Not Love ...

by J.A. Medders

Overview

Understanding Calvinism in our hearts as well as in our heads.

Self-confessed recovering, cranky Calvinist, Jeff Medders wonders whether the love of God has been replaced with the love of Calvinism. It's one thing having the "five points" all worked out in your head, but have they really penetrated your heart?

His warm-hearted, challenging (and surprisingly witty) book reveals how a true understanding of "the five points" fuels a love of Christ and his people that builds others up, rather than tearing them down. Medders urges readers to be humble and gracious as well as zealous for the truth, to the praise and glory of Christ and his church.

For some Calvinism is synonymous with being argumentative, arrogant, and unloving. Author Jeff Medders shows how taking Calvinism to heart should fuel a love of Christ and his people that builds others up, rather than tearing them down.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781784983727
Publisher:	The Good Book Company
Publication date:	03/01/2019
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	5.08(w) x 7.80(h) x 0.51(d)

About the Author

J.A. Medders is the Director of Theology and Content for Send Network, a preacher, podcaster, and the author of multiple books including Humble Calvinism and The Soul-Winning Church. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in biblical spirituality from the Southern Baptist Theology Seminary. Jeff is a native of Houston, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Natalie, and two children. You can follow his writing and ministry at spiritualtheology.net.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Ray Ortlund
1 The Problem With Calvinism
A Short Interlude About Jargon and History
2 Humble Calvinism is Not an Oxymoron
3 Total Dependency
4 The Prequel to Your Faith
5 The Cross, the Church, and the Cosmos
6 Drawn In and Sent Out
7 He Holds Our Hands
8 Humble and Happy (and Calvinist)
Afterword by C.H. Spurgeon

Editorial Reviews

Calvinists should be humble and happy. It’s sadly not always the case, and Young, Restless and Reformed has too often become Proud, Aggressive and Tiresome. The trouble is we’ve misunderstood and misapplied Calvinism. J.A. Medders has done us all—and me in particular—a very great service in providing some helpful and necessary correction. I was both convicted and encouraged by his exhortation, and you will be too.

Adrian Reynolds (Head of National Ministries

If you’re not a Calvinist, this book is for you; and if you are a Calvinist, this book is for you. Jeff Medders explains simply, winsomely, and humbly from a Calvinistic perspective what the Bible teaches about five key doctrines. And he demonstrates throughout that no one truly understands the “doctrines of grace” unless they themselves are gracious and humble. Down-to-earth, often funny, and with a keen knack for illustration, Medders makes plain what biblical Calvinism—Humble Calvinism—looks like in everyday life.

Donald S. Whitney (Professor of Biblical Spirituality and Associate Dean at The Southern Baptist The

It has been said that sound doctrine is to faith as the skeleton is to a body. The skeleton is foundational to strength and health, but if it is the most visible thing about the body, then the body is either malnourished or dead. Jeff's wonderful book, Humble Calvinism, serves as a wake-up call for that part of us that tends to be more doctrinaire than doctrinal, with a knowledge that puffs up instead of a love that builds up. If you want to add flesh and bones to your faith, you'll find in this book an excellent—not to mention refreshing—way forward.

Scott Sauls (Senior pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville

Maybe in another generation the term "humble Calvinism" won't seem like such an oxymoron. If so, this encouraging and challenging book will have been used by God to help us live up to what we believe.

Collin Hansen (editorial director of The Gospel Coalition and author of Young

Medders writes laugh-out-loud Reformed theology. Humble Calvinism is far as it can be from the dour stereotype of the Genevan Reformer’s legacy. The book is a tract for our sectarian times, a delightful cornucopia of sprightly prose, fresh insights, and heartfelt self-examination. At times I found myself guffawing through the funny-bone pain of his all-too-accurate descriptions of the company of the Reformed. The humor serves a serious purpose: intellectual Calvinism puffs up; humble Calvinism builds people up in Christ. May the tribe of humble Calvinists increase!

Kevin J. Vanhoozer (Research Professor of Systematic Theology

I knew the ins and outs of Calvinism well before I understood the ins and outs of God’s grace, which is an insane thing to write—but also why Jeff’s book is so valuable. I likely would’ve been too arrogant to appreciate it then, but looking back it is exactly the message I desperately needed as a young Reformed guy. Medders’ message of Jesus-centric, humble, grateful life and theology is what I was missing, and I was a theological wrecking ball because of it, leaving bruised and broken people in my wake. I’m so grateful this book is available now and I pray it will save some other cocksure Calvinist from himself.

Barnabas Piper (Author and podcaster)

I am a truer Calvinist and a happier Christian having read this book. Like a trained physician, Jeff carefully diagnosed pride in areas of my heart that I did not know existed. As a skilled pastor, he then prescribed the the only thing that can cure me—the glorious gospel of grace.

Matt Boswell (Hymn-writer; Pastor

The words Humble and Calvinism probably feel at odds to many of us. Jeff Medders speaks straight to the elephant in the echo chamber, showing himself to be the chief of prideful Calvinists and charting his subsequent journey toward humble Calvinism. For years I've watched Jeff take a low road, aware of his own desire to achieve but instead choosing humble faithfulness. He is the right person to write this book and he has handled it in humility, with beautiful writing and rich theology.

Lore Ferguson Wilbert (Writer at Sayable.net and assorted other publications)

Reformed culture seems to be known for its harshness and lack of grace. Yet Reformed soteriology should create a joyful heart and a deep, glad humility that overflows into compassionate evangelism and graciousness to all. I hope Jeff's book will be used by God to renew a spirit of gentleness and humility among us, and will encourage those who have rejected these beautiful beliefs to consider them anew.

Matt Chandler (Pastor of The Village Church

Calvinists should be humble and happy. It’s sadly not always the case, and Young, Restless and Reformed has too often become Proud, Aggressive and Tiresome. The trouble is we’ve misunderstood and misapplied Calvinism. J.A. Medders has done us all—and me in particular—a very great service in providing some helpful and necessary correction. I was both convicted and encouraged by his exhortation, and you will be too.

Adrian Reynolds (Director of Ministry

It has been said that sound doctrine is to faith as the skeleton is to a body. The skeleton is foundational to strength and health, but if it is the most visible thing about the body, then the body is either malnourished or dead. Jeff's wonderful book, Humble Calvinism, serves as a wake-up call for that part of us that tends to be more doctrinaire than doctrinal, with a knowledge that puffs up instead of a love that builds up. If you want to add flesh and bones to your faith, you'll find in this book an excellent—not to mention refreshing—way forward.

Scott Sauls (Senior Pastor

If you’re not a Calvinist, this book is for you; and if you are a Calvinist, this book is for you. Jeff Medders explains simply, winsomely, and humbly from a Calvinistic perspective what the Bible teaches about five key doctrines. And he demonstrates throughout that no one truly understands the “doctrines of grace” unless they themselves are gracious and humble. Down-to-earth, often funny, and with a keen knack for illustration, Medders makes plain what biblical Calvinism—Humble Calvinism—looks like in everyday life.

Donald S. Whitney (Author

It was funny, entertaining, engaging, informative, encouraging, and convicting all at the same time...

Noah

The words Humble and Calvinism probably feel at odds to many of us. Jeff Medders speaks straight to the elephant in the echo chamber, showing himself to be the chief of prideful Calvinists and charting his subsequent journey toward humble Calvinism. For years I've watched Jeff take a low road, aware of his own desire to achieve but instead choosing humble faithfulness. He is the right person to write this book and he has handled it in humility, with beautiful writing and rich theology.

Lore Ferguson Wilbert (Author

Calvinists should be humble and happy. It’s sadly not always the case, and Young, Restless and Reformed has too often become Proud, Aggressive and Tiresome. The trouble is we’ve misunderstood and misapplied Calvinism. J.A. Medders has done us all—and me in particular—a very great service in providing some helpful and necessary correction. I was both convicted and encouraged by his exhortation, and you will be too.

Adrian Reynolds (Associate National Director

Maybe in another generation the term "humble Calvinism" won't seem like such an oxymoron. If so, this encouraging and challenging book will have been used by God to help us live up to what we believe.

Collin Hansen (Editorial Director

Reformed culture seems to be known for its harshness and lack of grace. Yet Reformed soteriology should create a joyful heart and a deep, glad humility that overflows into compassionate evangelism and graciousness to all. I hope Jeff's book will be used by God to renew a spirit of gentleness and humility among us, and will encourage those who have rejected these beautiful beliefs to consider them anew.

Matt Chandler (Lead Pastor

A great book on how to be robustly Reformed and savour the doctrines of grace without being a jerk about it. I wish I had read this book when I was in seminary. This book is about how theological knowledge and Christlike love go together, and if they don’t, then you’re doing it wrong.

Dr. Michael F. Bird (Lecturer in Theology

Experience isn’t the best teacher. Someone else’s experience is. You learn the same lesson without paying the same price. I’m grateful for Jeff’s book for this reason. He charts a course through the land mines of Calvinism with the shrewdness (and sympathy) of someone who’s recklessly walked the path and lost a few limbs in the process. He doesn’t stop with explanations but leads us to the desired end of any expression of Calvinism (or Christianity, for that matter)—a deep love and humility.

John Onwuchekwa (Pastor

Reformed culture seems to be known for its harshness and lack of grace. Yet Reformed soteriology should create a joyful heart and a deep, glad humility that overflows into compassionate evangelism and graciousness to all. I hope Jeff's book will be used by God to renew a spirit of gentleness and humility among us, and will encourage those who have rejected these beautiful beliefs to consider them anew.

Matt Chandler (Lead Pastor of Teaching at The Village Church in Dallas/Fort Worth

A great book on how to be robustly Reformed and savour the doctrines of grace without being a jerk about it. I wish I had read this book when I was in seminary. This book is about how theological knowledge and Christlike love go together, and if they don’t, then you’re doing it wrong.

Michael F. Bird (Lecturer in Theology

It’s for people who haven’t heard of Calvinism. It’s for people who dislike Calvinism because of arrogant Calvinists. But above all, Humble Calvinism is for arrogant Calvinists.

Jonny Ivey

Too often, we allow our personal theological perspectives to divide us when God calls for unity. I'm thankful for this call for empathy, understanding, and humility. Regardless if your theology is Reformed or not, I hope you'll process the principles from this book and put them into action.

Caleb Kaltenbach (Author

Experience isn’t the best teacher. Someone else’s experience is. You learn the same lesson without paying the same price. I’m grateful for Jeff’s book for this reason. He charts a course through the land mines of Calvinism with the shrewdness (and sympathy) of someone who’s recklessly walked the path and lost a few limbs in the process. He doesn’t stop with explanations but leads us to the desired end of any expression of Calvinism (or Christianity, for that matter)—a deep love and humility. (Pastor