John Calvin
Walt Kallestad, the Community of Joy (ELCA, now ex-ELCA) pastor, promoted the term "Entertainment Evangelism" in The Lutheran magazine. Can anyone picture him starring in "One Foot in Heaven" - the classic movie about a real-life Methodist minister? That movie ends with the minister playing "The Church's One Foundation" on the new organ in the new church, the whole town gathering to hear the music.
Walt got rid of the organ in favor of pop music; hymns are not his style.
Mandatory Chicanery question - Have you been to a Community of Joy service? Answer - yes. I have also attended a Willow Crick Seeker Service. Did they get their Seeker Service concept from WELS, or--oh my--I just realized--WELS kelmed it from WC!
Entertainment Evangelism comes from Calvinism. Once we realize the Calvinistic concept of the Word, everything becomes clear. For Calvin, the Word itself had no power. The sovereign Holy Spirit (not bound to the Word, in spite of what the Word of God says) may drop in on a sermon or He may not. The Holy Spirit may give power to the Lord's Supper or He may not. Still, the Lord's Supper does not convey forgiveness and does not offer the Real Presence of Christ. Calvin mocked the Real Presence in his Institutes, and that style of mockery is mentioned in the Book of Concord. Has anyone at Chicanery headquarters read Calvin or the Book of Concord? Not likely.
Holy Baptism, for Calvinists, is a witness to others, not a sacrament. Once Zwingli (earlier, cruder, died on the battlefield) took the Holy Spirit from baptism, the Anabaptists promoted "believers' baptism," which had to be adult baptism in their minds. Has anyone at Chicanery headquarters studied the Radical Reformation, where this developed? I took a doctoral course from the late John Howard Yoder, Mennonite scholar.
Entertainment Evangelism is Calvinistic - The Reformed believe they must make the Word of God attractive, reasonable, and germane. In contrast, the Biblical doctrine of the Word places the emphasis upon the Holy Spirit's power. As Jacobs explained in his doctrinal book, the power of the Word is directly related to its purity. The more men dilute the Word with man's wisdom, the less power it has - as we see today.
The influence of Pietism is so great that the Shrinkers (Reformed and faux-Lutheran alike) try to generate outward signs of sanctification among their listeners. If they do not see the results they demand from God and their flocks, they frantically look for better methods.
Andy Stanley denying his Babtist heritage should remind everyone of Mark Jeske avoiding any hint of being Lutheran. Jeske and I agree about one thing - we are both ashamed he is Lutheran.
Whenever I have listened to an Enthusiasm program, I have heard constant murmurs of approval from the audience. Some applaud the leader constantly, but others oo and ah and chortle from all practical wisdom and stand-up comedy offered. The formula is fairly obvious.
1. Obscure historical presentation, often focusing on a Biblical figure rather than Christ.
2. Self-help advice on being calmer, more successful, and happier. The minister often offers himself or herself as a bad example because people enjoy the fake intimacy of entertainment.
Calvin began and ended with the Law. Modern Calvinists do the same. The Law bears no fruit, so no one should be shocked that the Shrinker movement is barren.
