Young, Restless, and Reformed- A Review

Young, Restless, and Reformed:
A Journalist’s Journey with the New Calvinist
by
Colin Hansen

Summary:
Hansen sets out on an exploration into the rapidly growing reformed movement among younger evangelicals. He does so by looking at 6 independent movements around the country that are primary sources for the growth. He also has great interviews and conversations with people in each of these locations, which provide nice peaks at what this movement looks like at the ground level.

Chapters:
1- Born Again Again- Passion Conference, Atlanta, Georgia
2- Out of Bethlehem- Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota
3- Big Man on Campus- Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
4- Ground Zero- Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky
5- Drug-Induced Calvinism- Covenant Life Church, Gaithersburg, Maryland
6- Forget Reinvention- New Attitude Conference, Louisville, Kentucky
7- Missional Mindset- Mars Hill Church, Seattle, Washington

The first two chapters are essentially about the influence of John Piper and his book Desiring God among college-aged evangelicals. The third chapter shows how the rediscovery of the writings of Jonathan Edwards has had a profound impact on the return to the emphasis on the glory of God, which is vital to Piper’s vision. The fourth chapter is about the resurgence of Calvinism among Southern Baptists. Rightly titled, “Ground Zero” this chapter does a great job showing the complexity to the reformed resurgence in Southern Baptist life. The fifth and sixth chapters focus on the movements of Sovereign Grace pastors C.J. Mahaney and Joshua Harris with their church plantings movements and conference for 20 somethings. The final chapter is about Acts 29 founder and Mars Hill Church pastor, Mark Driscoll. Hansen shows how each represent a different strand of this broad movement.

Conclusion:
There are two large movements among young evangelicals today—the Emergent movement and the Reformed movement. These movements are both very powerful and are growing rapidly. It is very interesting that the almost all of the people that Hansen interviews and are major points of discussion are Baptistic. The New Reformed coalition that is forming looks quiet different than the old Presbyterianism that was isolated to Princeton and then to Westminster Seminary. This movement has grown up and expanded into a more diverse crowd as Hansen so aptly points out in this book.

One of the great strengths of this book is Hansen’s conversations and interviews that he has with laypeople and future pastors in the different locations. However, Hansen shows why I believe the Reformed movement is here to stay—diversity. If the men who are chronicled in this book were sat in a room together, they would have trouble picking a TV show to watch. However, they would not disagree on the most important aspect of life—the gospel.

About the Author:
Colin Hansen is editor-at-large for Christianity Today. His early response to the The Da Vinci Code is among the most-read articles in the history of Christianity Today International. He has also written for Books and Culture, Leadership, and Christian History & Biogrpahy, and he contributed to The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham.

Endorsement of the Book:
“This lively account is must reading for ministry leaders working with young adults. A wake up call to baby boomers to move beyond the superficial faith they taught their children and to grow with them in the knowledge and love of God.”
- Douglas A. Sweeny, Associate Professor of Church History, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School