My name is Jeff Peterson, residing in the prairies of Emmet County, Michigan. I am married to Sheryl and we have six children (one deceased at age 19 in 2002) and three four five six seven (number eight is pending) grandchildren. We attend the Indian River Baptist Church. My wife and I have been servants in prison ministry since 1996. Our soteriology is Reformed, our ecclesiology Baptistic, our hermeneutic Covenental and it’s all semper reformanda. Amillennial is the eschatology around here and is under construction as well (please, don’t start accusing types like me of holding to “replacement theology.” We don’t. We don’t hate Jews, either). Our apologetics are presuppositional and more Clarkian than VanTilian. For free materials of a Clarkian nature, read most anything on apologetics by Vincent Cheung. Or, if you don’t mind rather lengthy lectures of sketchy audio quality, listen to the good Dr. Clark himself (scroll down to Collection 6).
This blog is written from a layman’s perspective. Don’t look for detailed exegesis because I can’t give it.
The title, “Lighthearted Calvinist” is meant to express a form of irony – there are many who would say the term is an oxymoron. I would maintain that it is redundant – if we as the redeemed are to have “joy that is inexpressible,” (1 Peter 1:8), then should we not indeed be, “lighthearted?” A Calvinist – of all people – should know the depths from which he/she was rescued by the sovereign grace of God and then knowing that, how can we NOT be joyful? This joy, though, is not the “giddiness” with which too many Christians define “joy.” It’s an inner sense of wonder and gratitude and contentment and peace for the rescue mission accomplished in our lives through a merciful gift from the one, true, living God.
Yes, its true. I am a “published” author. Our electronic age has very much simplified the process so any John Doe with a computer can become such. In collaboration with two swell gentlemen of outstanding character and a certain degree of chutzpah, we published an apologetic for Calvinistic soteriology in 2010. In doing so, we have suffered the slings and arrows of many who failed to read the lengthy disclaimer on the Amazon site – ah, such are the foibles of fame and the zeal of those who see such a phrase as “Against Calvinism” and swoop to partake without showing a degree of prudence. We lament the book’s status as out-of-print. ”We” is a very small group, however.
Yes, we are aware here that not all Christians share our views on the doctrines of God’s sovereign grace in saving sinners. It would be greatly appreciated that if you disagree with what is written here, please disagree in a civil manner (and this goes to the converse for my Calvinistic brethren with attitudes toward non-Calvinists) and do so without name-calling, profanity or accusing we Calvinists of being worse people than Talibanic Muslims or child molesters. Don’t look here for statements saying that Arminians are not by definition “not saved”. Paul did not say in Romans 5:1 that the Romans were justified by affirming Calvinism. They were justified by faith.
If you don’t like gobs of parenthetic references (see above. And the present one) in your reading, you may well grind your teeth reading this blog.
But do, please, read away, keeping in mind you are reading the thoughts of an average guy, an old man who sits in the third row, north side, on the aisle (same seat? Well, it IS, after all a Baptist church, right? Baptists don’t worship tradition, right? RIGHT?!?!? Umm, let’s keep that in mind when removing the hymnals from the pews gets brought up at the business meeting, OK?), in a rural Baptist church in a “town” that legally does not exist. (It’s true. Indian River, Michigan is nothing more than a “CDP” – a “Census-designated place” according to the US Government. It is not a city or a village – it is a somewhat nebulous area within Tuscarora Township that everyone – even the US Postal Service – calls “Indian River.” Applying the duck test, by all outward appearances Indian River IS a town, but try and find such a legal entity – your efforts will be without fruit.)
Hey,
I came here ’cause someone linked to your Sproul quotes.
Just wondering if you’re on Twitter or Facebook?
-junior
Twitter,no. Facebook only for a limted (10) number of people.
Hey Jeff,
Great website!!! I found you through the book drawing on reformed voices. Imagine that, two Jeff Petersons who share the same Theological views.
If you have a second, shoot me an email.
In Christ,
Jeff
Jeff,
Like what your blog is about. I’ve been making the final steps in a shift from evangelical to reformed over the past few months.
Carl
Hey Jeff,
Here is a cute little comic I made up that I thought you would enjoy:
http://pastorbobturner.blogspot.com/2009/05/jonah-used-to-believe-in-free-will-too.html
Jeff,
Nice site. Though I’m not reformed I enjoy reading! We take our youth on a winter retreat every year up to Boyne Mountain in your area.
I totally hear you about the paranthetic references. :) I find it so hard to resist!
Andy
where can I find your other posts? I don’t see a link to them, or could be I am just missing it..
thanks in advance.
thank you for answering my question.. I was reading your post on Calvinism on the post page, not on the main page. It was too early in the morning I guess.. God bless..
Jeff,
I spent some time browsing your site this morning and am encouraged by the bold God focused and glorifying content. We here at Solid-ground-books.com appreciate the link on the side as well!
Lord bless you,
Sam
A very nice website, Jeff, with lots of interesting tidbits for a non-Calvinist to peruse and ponder. I appreciate, too, the heartfelt honesty and candor as related to your post (and my comments) on the earthquake in Haiti.
BTW, I found you when a Calvinist friend sent me a link to your ‘dead Calvinist’ video. Nice twist!
Most Sincerely,
Bob
Thanks.
Most (90%+) of my Christian friends are non-Calvinists. They’re still praying for me. (Although, I don’t know why…because God would have to redirect/change/violate my ‘free will’ through a work of the Spirit, right? And He never interferes with ‘free will,’ right?) Ho, ho, ho…
My middle daughter lives with her husband and shiny new baby in Rochester – she works at Mayo. I suggested getting them Favre jerseys for Christmas. They were not amused. They take great pleasure in going to Twins games wearing their Tigers jerseys.
Dear Jeff,
You, my newfound Calvinst friend, have received the two highest awards I can offer:
1) I’ve bookmarked your site
2) Some “link love” (yeah, I know, but I can’t help that it’s a little self-serving, too) ;-)
http://martinsmercurialmusings.wordpress.com/2010/01/21/calvinist-thought-seasoned-with-christian-clarity-%e2%80%93-a-different-perspective/
Given game 163 of the 2009 season, I don’t think it would be a good idea to be a Twins fan in the Detroit Tiger’s stadium!
Best Regards // Bob
RE: Game 163. Doing your best to turn a lighthearted Calvinist into a curmudgeonly one, aren’t you? Hmph.
Thanks for the bookmark.
Hi Jeff,
I was able to put a little time in into responding to your comments – to my comments – related to the seven questions you asked. Got that? Anyway, I’m sensing that it’s getting awkward to follow all of the back-and-forth comments. Maybe it’s already there. Any thoughts as keeping track of all this?
One thought I have is to put up a separate post for each of your questions. If nothing else, at least the initial question is more contained. Still, conversational left turns can happen and who knows where they would lead. Anyway, let me know if you have any thoughts.
Thanks,
Bob
BTW – Care to venture a guess as to how much Joe Mauer will earn next year?
Perhaps a post with each question enumerated would work. That way responses could be made to each point as it’s numbered. I don’t know, though. Might take a while.
If the Twins sign Mauer they may be cutting off their nose to spite their face (see the Tigers with Cabrera). Baseball’s not like basketball – one guy’s not going to carry you to a title. Tough call for Twins management.
Jeff, check out this website; I think you should add it to your list of swell sites. John has a gift to explain deep truths in understandable ways!
http://www.soundofgrace.com
Jeff – there is no email address posted so this is the only way I knew to get ahold of you. Under your “swell audio” section you have linked to Ralph Davis’ sermons on our site. We now have a new sermons platform (much better looking and easier to use), and the old platform will be taken down sooner or later. If you would like to link to our new platfrom for Dr. Davis’ sermons, the link is http://www.aisquith.org/audio-sermons/?preacher=5
Done. Many thanks.
Hi Jeff,
Enjoyed the site so far (that is, using a parenthetical reference here at the risk of being redundant, from the Dept. of Redundancy Deptartment– I haven’t read through everything I’d like to read yet).
I came via the feature Eddie Eddings did on Calvinistic Cartoons and am thankful your site was there. Not many people can use “curmudgeonly” in a sentence these days but you pull it off nicely.
May the Lord continue to bless you in your service to Christ and your witness for Him.
jon cardwell
I am evil – I know – but I can’t resist:
Anything of interest happen with “game 164″ last night? {;-D)
Hmph.
Well, you should be a happy camper tonight.
:)
Guys, I am confused. My English is not very good. So please clarify. I visited this site thinking that it was Pro-Calvinist.
Now I notice that you are publishing a book titled – ‘Against Calvinism’ and are vowing to disprove the ’5Points’ which I am convinced are Scriptural.
Back in Jesus’ day some religious dudes came to our Lord and said, “How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us PLAINLY”.
So please tell me plainly, is this book a defense of Arminianism or is it an Ironical and sarcastic response to Arminian objections concerning ‘Sovereign Grace’. if it is the latter, I might consider buying this book.
“Sarcasm is a dangerous weapon to employ, but its use is
fully warranted in exposing the ridiculous pretensions of error, and is often quite effective in convincing men of the folly and unreasonableness of their ways”. [A.W. Pink]
Mike:
Perhaps this statement from Jon Cardwell’s blog will help – “For quite some time I’ve wanted to write a small book that would make a bit of Reformation history and especially the Doctrines of Grace accessible for the youngest Christians in the congregation I ministered to. This desire was planted in Alaska and continues to grow, even today. Yet, this book didn’t start out like that. It began as a joke that Jeff and I thought would be fun, but as you can see, it’s become much more than that.”
Yes, in fact the book is written from a Calvinistic point of view and sarcasm and irony are two of the abiding principles in what we have produced.
The three of us hold firmly to the doctrines of God’s sovereign grace, please be assured.
You humor wouldn’t be taken well in most “Calvinist” or “reformed” churches I’ve been involved with. Mater a fact it’s the irony that you display that has gotten me into trouble. My wife ran across your site and told me about it. I’m so tired being convicted of God truth, and yet it isn’t good enough. It seems like there is always something extra I need to do. If I don’t become a member I won’t be sanctified, if I’m not baptized I won’t be blessed, if I don’t submit to church leadership I’m in rebellion, if I’m not in church every sunday and wednesday i’m forsaking the body, if I ask a question and it opposes church leadership I’ve openly challenged chruch leadership,If i have too much to eat I’m glutinous, if I’m not part of a local body my family will suffer by not being covered. I’m so very tired. I can see how spurgon said his health suffered because of what he was preaching.
Andy:
Thanks for stopping by.
It is a sorry thing how – especially in Reformed circles – one professes salvation by grace through faith, but then sanctification comes by law-keeping and legalism (no, sanctification is by grace through faith as well). Accountability within the family of faith has to be balanced with love and compassion.
Trust me, the humor and pointed methods of expressing biblical truths expressed here are not readily accepted in many Reformed OR non-Reformed circles. What you see here, though, is what I express in teaching Sunday School and all other verbal expressions I give.
Hopefully this site will be a little outpost of the grace and truth that John 1 says Jesus came with, as well as with humor for a good purpose.
Thanks again.
My first post probably didn’t express the appreciation of what your write, and the approach you take. It’s one I’m well to familiar with, as if I’m reading something I’ve said, or thought. I have no outlet for my thought though, or anyone to share my way of thinking. I’ve been told I’m aragont and full of pride, divisive. I’m convinced there is no place for my family, but aparently I’m not beaten into the ground enough yet for me to be writing on here.
Andy:
When one speaks in the vein of Jesus or John the Baptist or Paul or Peter one will – far too often and typically unjustly – be referred to as divisive and/or unloving. The church has redefined “love” in many cases to mean “never saying anything negative or anything that may divide, regardless of the truthfulness of the statement.” Biblical love – especially as expressed by the living God Himself, demands that truth be spoken and the truth that sets people free also divides.
See here for an example: http://sacredsandwich.com/archives/2781
Just keep speaking the truth – that is the most loving thing you can do. Thanks.
I stopped being loving and tolerant years ago, and have divided more than set free. I have to remind myself constantly that I am only one of the workers, and I may not see the yield. It sure sould be nice to see it once in a while. It just that I’m pooped out to say the least.
Our charge is not to “successful,” but to be obedient. Once you grasp a hold of that, you will see much freedom in your walk.
Andy – some workers are especially suited for the task of breaking up the clods to make the good soil into which the seed will be sown. Having been such a worker for a while I would like to encourage you to believe that God doesn’t always leave us to do that job.
He teaches us grace and compassion and sometimes lets us speak kindly to those who are struggling through where we have already been. Take comfort, my friend, your work is vital and recognized by the Lord of the harvest.
Can I email you?
Feel free.
Thanks for the encouragement Hone. I’m a full time farmer, and that word picture is a good one. I’m having a hard time finding out how and where I fit, or maybe just excepting that this is the job for the time. Seems that I but heads with preachers more than anything.
Jeff,
I just found your website and really like it. I will be attending the Reformation Society Meeting tomorrow at your home church and look forward to hearing you speak and meeting you. This will be the first time I have been to one of these meetings. Also, the church where I pastor supported Robert Rapa before he moved to your church and so I look forward to meeting him also.
Thanks for stopping by.
I am less than satisfied with my presentation so far but will forge ahead.
Dr. Rapa wrote a few minutes ago and he has to go downstate for a funeral and will not be attending.
God Bless.
I found your website doing a search on Vincent Cheung. I started reading Cheung about 6 years ago and I was referring back to his article “The Problem With Evil” whilst breaking up some clods on Facebook.
I really appreciated your response to Andy. It took me awhile to accept that that is my job, even though I wanted to be the gentle seed sower my sister is. I was encouraged by your response, maybe someday…
I’ve bookmarked and will be back often. Thanks.
Jeff,
I don’t know if you are the same Jeff Peterson that posted “The Atomic Bible” on faithwriters.com back in 2008, but if so, I wanted to let you know that I will be reprinting the article on my website (not slated to go “live” until 10/1/11) called totallyChrist.com.
I also enjoy the under-appreciated art of irony; I personally consider it the measure of sharp wit (though I naturally would, of course). Regarding your fondness for parenthetical statements, I find the occasional substitution of grammatically tolerable hyphens – as illustrated here – to be effective in disguising the frequency of their use.
Though I am a free-willy kind of guy (doctrinally speaking), I acknowledge the reasonableness of both positions. To grow in our knowledge and understanding of God each of us must eventually take a position on one side of this issue or the other. Thankfully, I also believe that “saved is saved,” whether one believes they are saved by the unmerited grace of preordained election or saved by the unmerited grace of a willing repentance/acceptance.
Taken to unscriptural extremes us free-willers tend to overlook God’s sovereignty while Calvinists can overlook the need for repentance and obedience; honest adherents to either school of thought should overlook neither.
I was saved – or became aware of my election :) – through Ephesians 2:8-10. Talk about three verses that can be used to support either position. No one questions the grace part, we can all admit that we suck, it’s the “through faith” that gets sticky. Does faith qualify as a work? In the context of that passage clearly not or the whole thing would make no sense. If faith is not a work then it does not violate God’s sovereignty and must therefore come from God. Point for the Calvinists. However, God also desires that none should perish, so by electing some but not others He would violate His own perfect will; thus the conclusion that, while faith comes from God, it is available to all. Point for free-willers. But to counter the counterpoint, if faith is available to all but it must be accepted, the act of the acceptance is clearly a work and works can not save. Point for Calvinists. However… and so goes the reasonable discourse until both sides grow weary of being correct or the lesser studied runs out of supporting passages.
Ahhh, would that we all had the simple faith of a child.
Anyway, I’ll be printing your article and just wanted to let you know. If you have a more revised version of it I’ll use that instead (just stick to the original scientific apologetics theme of the article; if you get all Calvinist on me I can’t use it – but be sure to include a current bio paragraph and an active link to your site). Attach it to me in an email in either .doc or .pdf format to sendmarkanemail@yahoo.com.
Finally, if you are the same Jeff Peterson that served in the Air Force and spoke at the Nat’l Museum of the Air Force, it’s good to see that you are spiritually continuing in the motto of “these things we do so that others may live” (as if you had a choice :)
God bless,
Mark Lingenfelter
Thanks for stopping by.
Negative to all your points as to past encounters with me. I guess I just don’t get out enough…..:)
God Bless.
[...] dear friend and brother in Christ, Jeff Peterson, often refers to William W. Birch as “my favorite Arminian.” I will add this to Jeff’s [...]
Jeff, I was wondering, where is the page where we were discussing Romans. Did you delete it, and if so why?
Got me. Should still be there.
I found it. So. No response?
I think my record to date is 8 parentheticals contained within one another, so don’t sweat it on my account. ;-)
God bless you and yours.
Jeff,
I’ve very much enjoyed your FAQ page. I didn’t know a Baptist and a Presbyterian could even have such a similar Calvinistic background, but I love the way in which you’ve articulated the reformed faith to some of the great questions of our day! Keep up the great work!
Thanks, Paul. I try, by the grace of God. God bless.
Hi …I was wondering if you knew if Messianic Rabbi Kirt Schneider was a calvinist?
Hmmm. I’ll have to do some research. At first glance, there’s no indicator to what he believes about almost anything.
I’ll try to check it out.
Hi Jeff,
I am Elton from Tirana, Albania. I am a fellow believer of yours, and I found out that we shared our commitment to “Reformed, Baptist, Covenental and semper reformanda” principles. I really need your spiritual assistance and prayers for I together with a group of several believers are trying hard to start a reformed baptist church in Tirana.
I would really like it if we could be in touch on these issues. Blessings
In Christ,
Elton
Feel free to write. I certainly don’t have all the answers but I can give you the ones I do have.
Thanks for stopping by and God Bless.
Thanks for these various articles. I have enjoyed working through this site! Lots of help.
I believe that the conclusion of John Calvin’ 5 points i.e.TULIP to be absolutely accurate of the Holy Scriptures but I’m a 6 pointer. There are 6 petals on a Tulip so I added an (S) TULIPS. S: Salvation is solely the act of a Soverign God and we find in MT. 1:21…”for He(Jesus Christ) SHALL SAVE His people from their sins. Now who are His people? Now then Rom.11:26,27. And so all Israel SHALL be SAVED. Israel the body of Christ, both Greek and Jew. Hebrews 8:10 …the covenant…and they SHALL be to me a people! This covenant was made before the foundation of the world by God the Father with His Son Jesus Christ and it is EVERLASTING Heb.13:20,21. So let all those that have been taken out of the bondage of darkness and placed into THAT ETERNAL LIGHT, Jesus Christ rest in that peace that surpasses all UNDERSTANDING-SAVED.
When I was in Seminary my favorite Systamatic Theology book was By Louis Berkhoff, Reformed Theology. I coined a phrase I found in it, Theological Anthropology, study of God, study of man and what is the relationship of the created to their Creator and what should it be. Only the Bible(KJV) would be used for study. Having been voted the most Calvinistic Preacher by my peers it is abosolutely made perfectly clear in Scripture that man is dead, dead, dead.dead, to his Creator. Therefore the necessity of the Quickening, i.e. new birth, made alive again in Christ Jesus and this is impossible for man, and a supernatural event is necessary that can only come from above. You must be born again is not a commandment but the necessity of regaining that relatiomship with our creator.
Not only was I voted the most Calvinistic but also the most evangelistic. I’m confused when I hear some say go make diciples as MT. 28:18-20 clearly say go teach whatsoever I have commanded you, Only God the Holy Spirit is making Diciples of Christ-”You have not chosen me but I have chosen you”Jn 15:16.
I have enjoyed your site and pray I wrote this in proper section. Lord Bless. Michael