Student minister, James G. McCarthy, who’s served on five university campuses (including Berkeley) has authored four books, the last of which is his first novel, John Calvin Goes to Berkeley. Being the first in the University Christian Fellowship Series, this volume was published by City Christian Press, San Jose, California, 2010.
The plot centers around five students who are a part of the University Christian Fellowship Bible studies. Peace reigns in the fellowship until the inevitable issue surfaces concerning predestination. Then, division becomes deeply embedded, and the only solution is to solve the mystery which has stumped theologians for centuries—the paradox starring man’s free will and God’s sovereignty.
I found the dialog between the students wrestling with the issue quite familiar but nonetheless highly accurate, gauged by my own experiences. McCarthy does well in polarizing the theological notions which divide Calvinists from non-Calvinists, especially free will vs. God’s sovereignty and evangelism vs. non-evangelism (i.e. hyper-Calvinism).
If you’re looking for a pleasant break from wading through technical theological jargon, you would benefit from McCarthy’s book. In addition, college ministers and student pastors would gain an accurate inside scoop about what’s hot on university campuses. The author even offers a helpful study guide for small group studies on John Calvin Goes to Berkeley.
With that, I am…
Peter