On Reformed Theology, Age of the Earth and ...

I have been thinking of writing this for a very long time. I have had so many conversations with people, heard so many conversations between other people, and observed so many interactions on social media. I read many articles and social media posts. And what I saw in many of them has continuously prompted me to write this:

*Reformed Theology*

I am reformed. I believe that Reformed theology is what the Bible teaches. I did not come to this conclusion based on something a pastor or theologian said. What I read in books and heard in lectures/sermons triggered me to start my personal investigation but it was not what convinced me. I started examining Scripture and that was what ultimately convinced me. And let me tell you it was not an easy journey. I resisted coming to this conclusion, I read the opposing view, trying to see which one best represents what the Scripture says and although on many occasions what I read in Scripture was difficult to accept, I finally came to the conclusion that Reformed theology is what in fact the Bible is teaching. But I am not writing a defense of Reformed theology here.

I am addressing those who identify as reformed.

I do not think many non-Christians would come to faith after examining Reformed theology. They hear the Gospel, are convicted of their sin, realize their incapacity to meet God’s standard and see that faith in Christ is the only way for their salvation. Gospel is the good news of salvation made possible by the once for all sufficient death of Christ on the cross for our sins and His resurrection.

Reformed theology (remembering it includes but in no way is limited to TULIP) is not the gospel. It definitely increases our appreciation of the gospel. It shows the gospel for how truly glorious it is but it is not the gospel.

The whole discussion about Reformed theology in general and TULIP in particular happens only after someone has put their faith in Christ. Understanding how we are saved (e.g whether regeneration precede faith or vice versa) is a discussion we normally have after we have trusted in Christ.

Sadly in many instances I have seen Christians equating gospel and reformed theology/Calvinism/TULIP. If you see their interactions both in person and online you see that it has become their only focus, their driving force in life, the only thing they talk about and this comes (more often than not) at the expense of the gospel.

I have heard of people who are not willing to discuss Christianity because the first thing they have heard is Calvinism not the gospel. I know of many Christians who are not willing even to hear about Reformed theology because another Christian has continuously told them that if they are not Calvinist, they are not even Christian! Such an approach not only does a huge disservice to reformed theology, it does a huge disservice to the gospel itself.

Reformed theology is not an easy concept. It goes against our gut feeling. No Christian has come to accept reformed theology because they are more intelligent or godly. Reformed theology is difficult to accept which means we should not add to the difficulty by our arrogance and the non-biblical idea that those who are not Calvinist are not Christians.

I believe in Reformed theology. I will explain and defend it when the conversation comes to that topic! But I would not even for a second doubt that those who do not accept it but genuinely trust in Christ are my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Do I believe that the reformed theology is biblical? Absolutely

Do I believe that Reformed theology affects how we view prayer and Evangelism among other issues? Yes

Do I believe that those who reject it misunderstand/misinterpret Scripture? Yes

Do I believe that their understanding of how we are saved somehow negates their salvation? Absolutely not!

Reformed theology, properly understood should humble us not cause us to elevate ourselves to a point that we see ourselves as an elite group of people who are privy to a special kind of knowledge that then gives us the right to condemn and ridicule those who do not agree with us.

If you have come to understand and accept Reformed theology, thank God for He has graciously opened your eyes to see those truths.

If you as an individual or your church are known first and foremost because of your emphasis on Calvinism rather than the gospel, if the first and last thing people who visit your church hear is Calvinism and not the gospel, if your first and foremost desire is to turn everyone into a Calvinist rather than sharing the gospel with the unbelievers, if you hear a new Christian say “I chose Christ” or “I accepted Christ” and the first thing that comes to your mind is to stop them and correct their theology rather than praising God, it is time to look into your hearts and repent and ask God for humility.

*Age of the Earth*

I am an Old Earth creationist. I do not believe in Darwinian Evolution. I believe in the inspiration, authority, inerrancy and infallibility of Scripture.

(It is kind of sad that I have to write the above disclaimer before even continuing with this)

I came to my conclusion after hearing and reading various views. This involved watching debates and lectures and reading books and articles on Evolution, Intelligent Design, cosmology, astronomy, geology and most importantly examining those views in the light of Scripture.

Again the sad reality is that you have people on both sides of the debate (and based on my observation mostly on the Young Earth Creationist side) who continuously demean and ridicule the other side. The Old Earth creationists ridicule the other side by calling them ignorant and anti-science and the Young Earth creationists say that those who do not hold to their interpretation of Genesis are undermining the inspiration and authority of Scripture, that they elevate science above the Bible, that they try to be relevant and so sacrifice the Bible because science is more attractive! Again sadly, the continuous emphasis (in their conversations and social media posts) is on the age of the universe and proving that the other side is wrong rather than the gospel. It sometimes comes to the level of having an obsession with the topic. And again sadly many non-Christians are not willing to hear and examine the truth of the gospel because we have made a non-Salvific issue into such a big deal.

It takes humility to come to see that there are people who believe in the authority and inspiration of Scripture on both sides of the issue.

Whether the universe is 14 billion years old or 10000 years old, Jesus died and rose again, He is King and Lord over our lives and it is only faith in Him that saves us, and frees us from our bondage to sin.

One of my favorite characters in the Bible is the thief on the cross. He did not debate Calvinism/Arminianism. He did not care about the age of universe. He realized he was a wretched sinner and he realized the one crucified next to Him was the Savior He needed and he asked Him for help. That was sufficient And He WILL BE IN HEAVEN!

So my dear brother and sister in Christ, by all means listen to both sides of the debate on these issues (and similar ones) and examine the Scripture for yourself and come to your conclusion but please do not let your view on these topics be the first thing people come to know about you. We are first and foremost Christians. Other labels should come later.

My dear brother and my sister in Christ, by all means discuss and debate these topics but do it in a civil manner. We have lost the ability to discuss issues, finish the discussion and say “I disagree with what you say (even all that you say) but it does not in any way change our friendship/the fact that we are brothers and sisters in Christ.

We must not forget what Jesus said about the importance of unity among believers.

John‬ ‭17:20-21

" I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, ⭐️so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”⭐️