New Calvinist theologian John Pieper
(source: Micah Chiang,Flickr).
New Calvinism, known for its impact on the wider evangelical world in the early 2000s, has retreated to more internal concerns, primarily serving its own community, writes social forecaster Aaron Renn in his Substack newsletter (March 7). The movement generated a considerable number of institutions, spokesmen, and old and new media and publishing outlets compared to other evangelical subcultures. From Tim Keller and the Gospel Coalition to John Piper and Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church, new Calvinism was often viewed as the most aggressive theological and social force among conservative Christians, shaping evangelical ideas about politics, gender, and engaging culture. “Today, nearly two decades later, the founding superstars are all but gone from new Calvinism,” Renn writes. “They are either dead (Tim Keller), departed (John MacArthur, a peripheral figure to the movement), disgraced (James MacDonald), or retired (John Piper). Quite a number of key figures had scandals. The net result today is that the movement is largely post-superstar. There are plenty of talented leaders with big churches. But they don’t have the reach or sway of say John Piper.”
Renn notes that it was the internet, with its videos, blogs, and podcasts, that both united the movement and drew new people in. But the growth of social media and the way Google has prioritized major media pages “basically destroyed the original blog sphere,” negatively affecting new Calvinist websites. “The net result of passing through the hype cycle, entering a post-superstar world, changes in the social media landscape, and generational change mean that New Calvinism’s ability to project influence over the evangelical field has radically diminished…They probably also won’t be able to sustain their position as self-appointed guardians of traditional orthodoxy, particularly if they cross the Rubicon and embrace women’s ordination.” But Renn adds that the movement and its institutions retain considerable vitality. The Gospel Coalition still draws crowds to its conferences. New Calvinism will remain resonant among people from “select demographics—educated strivers in urban centers, college towns, and professional class suburbs.” Even if some of them voted for Donald Trump, they are “certainly not Trumpists…They are more simpatico with urban progressive culture than the median red state MAGA culture. They are overwhelmingly college educated and want more intellectually substantive fare.”
