I have my own opinion that there is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified, unless we preach what nowadays is called Calvinism. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism; Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else.
-Charles H. Spurgeon

I had no idea what a divisive issue birthing was until Becky was pregnant with our first. This friend lobbied for at-home birth with a dula, and praise and worship music in place of drugs. Another recommended her doctor, the plush birthing rooms at the hospital down the street, and taking any drug offered.

When we were pregnant it seemed there were only two kinds of parents around: medicated and out-of-their-mind.

As if the totality of being a parent was in how our baby moved from inside to outside the womb.

Is this all that unlike the debate between “Arminianism” and “Calvinism”?

Did I choose God or did God choose me? Just one of the points these theological camps argue.

Chosen for what? I ask.

And regardless of the answer – forgiveness of sin, eternity in heaven, right standing with God – the question turns out to be, essentially, about conversion. It is a debate centered on birth. Not life.

I’ve been asked to publicly pick a side, to say what kind of Christian I am: Calvinist or Arminian.

I won’t do that.

Because what we believe about how we were born must never define us more than our shared belief that Jesus lives.

That is the center of the gospel.