January Theology Pub

January’s Theology Pub promises to be interesting. Our guest will be Dr. Craig Carter, Professor of Religious Studies at Tyndale University College and Seminary.

Dr. Carter has been through an interesting shift in recent years. At his blog he writes, “I am trying to be a catholic Evangelical and am finding myself becoming more conservative in both politics and theology in the process.” A good example is this section from a recent post:

…the rise and flame-out of the Emergent Church movement has shocked and alarmed ordinary Evangelicals into the realization that a second major slide into liberalism is not only possible, but likely unless theological renewal occurs.

This development has caused many to take a second look at a robust, biblical, orthodox, Reformed theology and consider whether or not it alone has the power to prevent the slide into a new social gospel which is no real gospel at all. The fact that a number of people are coming to the conclusion that whether or not Reformed theology is the only kind of theology capable of sustaining a vigorous Evangelicalism, it is likely the best alternative for doing so is what is causing the “New Calvinism” to grow in influence within Evangelicalism.

At our January 17 pub he’s going to lead a discussion on his theological journey with the theme of “Why the Young, Restless and Reformed will Save Evangelicalism in the Next Few Decades.” He will briefly explain what he means by this theme and how he has come to believe this proposition. There’s a pretty healthy diversity of people who attend the pub, and this topic will likely stimulate a healthy discussion. I only wish that David Fitch could attend.

Save the date if you’re in the area, and let me know you’re coming. It will be good to see you there.