Reformed Books Soon

Given the growing interest there is in this website, with now almost 700 visitors each month, I will shortly be making available to the readership a number of excellent books on reformed theology and the history that was the context of the Reformation and of the men that followed. 

The books and booklets will present, in an eminently readable form, the best understanding of the Reformed Faith. That there is much confusion within the Christian community, as well as in the wider world, about what it is that constitutes the reformed faith, these books will set the record straight and will inform the Christian world of the true position.

This might sound like an idle boast, but it isn't.  When you consider that some of those who hold to the reformed faith really hold to one, arguably questionable, interpretation of the biblical data and of the great reformers who propagated this glorious message, that in itself ought to alert readers to what is going on.  The preferred interpretative key that is used is based on the theology of Dr John Owen (1616-1683), otherwise known as Owenism.

The pedlars of this view, and the closely linked Westminster theology, have shown themselves to be slightly dishonest in their handling of the biblical data.  For example, when Owen comes to interpretaung John 3:16, he sees the term "the world" as meaning "the world of the elect," an interpretation is highly questionable, to say the least.  His approach was to squeeze the biblical data through a particular theological/philosophical grid so that the end result fits in with that theology.  Hence, his belief that because Christ died only and exclusively for the elect - a statement that is found nowhere in Scripture - his interpretation of the many universalistic texts of the New Testament must agree with this basic preposition. 

When Owen's theology is compared with that of the great Geneva reformer, John Calvin (1509-1564), the contrast cold not be greater, not least in their respective understandings of soteriology (the doctrine of salvation).  Calvin believed, on the basis of exact Scriptural exegesis, that Christ died for all, for all men, for the whole world, for the human race, for mankind, and for humanity, in contradistinction to Owen's view that Christ died only for the elect. Calvin therefore had no difficulty in allowing the Scripture to speak out its own saving message as it stood, without feeling the need to make it say what a particular man-made theological
system demanded.

This has resulted in a muddying of the theological waters since the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, with a consequent loss of biblical balance and the growth of churches and theological schools that promoted their own theological ideas.

Indeed, some of the publishers reformed books have, in some cases, deliberately refused to allow those who promoted authentic Calvinism to have their works published and have only published those who held to such a position because their books had very good financial rewards.  Thus there is evidently a theological schizophrenia within some reformed publishing houses that borders on the dishonest, and sometimes crosses that line.  This is to be regretted.

The books that I will be promoting have, as a working title, Authentic Calvinism.  I think you will enjoy reading them, will be informed and inspired by their content, and will now yourself to "grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ," (2 Pet.3:18).

Come back to this website regularly, bookmark it on your computer, and book and order details will be given.