Book Review: Calvinism in the Las Vegas Airport by Richard Mouw

September 9, 2005 Posted by Roger OvertoncloseAuthor: Roger Overton Name: Roger Overton
Email: rogeroverton@hotmail.com
Site: http://ateamblog.com
About: Roger Overton is currently pursuing a Masters degree at Talbot School of Theology. He has addressed various churches, schools and youth camps throughout the United States. Roger was co-editor of The New Media Frontier (Crossway, 2008) and God and Governing (Wipf & Stock, 2009). Roger can be emailed at rogeroverton@hotmail.com.See Authors Posts (569)

This scene in the Las Vegas airport sets the stage for
Richard Mouw’s book. There are at least two problems with the way Calvinists
represent themselves to the world, including other Christians, according to Dr.
Mouw. The first is the expression of doctrine and the general inability to
explain Calvinist theology. “I believe that TULIP, properly understood,
captures something very central to the gospel. And I want to bring that gospel
to Niki and her kind.” (14) The second problem is more along the lines of
character. “I must also say up front that it isn’t just in our conversations
with unbelievers that I find many Calvinists lacking in gentleness and respect.
I even find these qualities missing in Calvinists’ interactions with other Christians.
Indeed, Calvinists are often not very gentle and respectful when debating fine
points of doctrine with fellow Calvinists.” (15)

Dr. Mouw first sets the stage by noting why he considers
himself a “Calvinist” and how he became one. In chapter 3, “Mere Calvinism,” he
summarizes the famous five points so as to show exactly what Calvinism teaches.
In the following chapter Dr. Mouw zeros in on “L”- limited, or particular,
atonement. He explains why this doctrine, though he believes it, is left on his
“theological shelf,” only to be utilized when necessary.

Chapter 6 deals with the problem of God’s sovereignty and
evil. Dr. Mouw’s solution is that while “God ordains/permits everything that
comes to pass, we don’t simply have to accept that fact. We can complain
to God rather vigorously about the things we have a hard time accepting.” (51)
Following this he makes the case that we aren’t simply elected; we are elected
to something- to be agents of God’s sovereign rule. He saw this played out in
his life as he recognized Christ as Savior, Lord, and King through different
stages in his life.

The teachings of Abraham Kuyper are the focus of chapter 7.
Dr. Mouw argues here that we are to be public Calvinists. While we will not
succeed in “Christianizing” the world, we should adhere to the Christian
worldview and seek to transform our culture according to it. He then deals with
the commons accusation that the God of Calvinism is stingy about whom He saves.
In Chapter 9, Dr. Mouw shares a number of encounters he had on his own journey
through the Las Vegas airport. In reflecting on how he might have responded in
one of his encounters, he envisions his Dutch grandmother quoting the First Question
and Answer of the Heidelberg Catechism.

Jake’s mistake, according to Dr. Mouw, is that he quoted
from the Canons of Dordt instead of Heidelberg. His reasoning echoes a lecture
he attending by Louis Berkhof who said that Heidelberg asks us to speak existentially.
In speaking of our only comfort it speaks of man personally instead of
generally. Dr. Mouw concludes in chapter 11 with some reflections on where
Calvinists can learn from others on improving their character.

The questions this book raise are central to many of the
issues surrounding why I left an RCA church earlier this year. The questions
are the right ones to ask, like, “what does Calvinism have to say to our
present world?” However, the church answered these questions by “shelving” all
of their Calvinist and Reformed theology with the exception of infant baptism.
As this is an issue close to my heart, I was encouraged to find some helpful
suggestions for interacting in our world without shelving my Reformed theology
in Dr. Mouw’s book.

I do take exception with the idea that we should shelve
limited/particular atonement. Perhaps we should shelf some of our terminology,
but the doctrine itself is so key to the Gospel that I cannot imagine shelving
it without feeling that I’ve compromised the entire message in some way. I also
had trouble, though less so, with the idea that we should complain before the
throne of God. If I had a child who complained in the way Dr. Mouw describes, I
would discipline him immediately. These ideas, as Dr. Mouw would put it, make
me nervous.

There were far more things in the book, however, that I
found insightful and enjoyable. I went to my first catechism service last
Sunday (no other church I’ve attended has ever offered one) and I’m already
hooked on the Heidelberg. I think the perspective it takes, in as much of it
that I’ve studied, is much more helpful in articulating Reformed beliefs in a
common vernacular than the often misunderstood TULIP of Dordt.

Overall I found Richard Mouw’s personal engagement of
the issues to be heartening. His repeated quotes from men like Spurgeon,
Kuyper, and Warfield added richness to his already insightful points. In
general, Dr. Mouw’s suggestions for communicating Calvinism in contemporary
culture with gentleness and respect are much needed within the Reformed
community. Unfortunately, those who need to read this book the most will likely
prematurely dismiss it as watered-down theology. This is a loss not just to
them, but to those they interact with, as they’ll miss out on the many positive
insights offered here. Regardless, my hope is that it will be taken seriously
and be read by Calvinists as well as those who’ve been offended by them.

Related posts:

1. Another Response from Richard Mouw
2. A Response from Richard Mouw
3. Book Review: Rick Warren and the Purpose that Drives Him by Richard Abanes
4. Book Review: A Generous Orthodoxy by Brian McLaren
5. Book Review: TULIP by Duane Edward Spencer
6. Book Review: What is Reformed Theology? By R.C. Sproul

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