Is Calvinism good? Or is "reformed theology" good? Can a faulty theological system produce anything positive? I think so. If one is to survive in the theological world one must adopt some form of theological triage, as Albert Mohler has called it (link below). I simply mean that not all doctrine has the same level of priority and importance. Generally people would want to have 1st, 2nd, and 3rd order doctrine. A 1st order doctrine is part of the core teaching of Christianity that one must believe in order to be a Christian, what C.S. Lewis referred to as "Mere Christianity." A 2nd order doctrine would be things that genuine Christians disagree about but make it difficult to be in the same church. One example would be baptism. While Presbyterians and Baptists may get along just fine, one must either baptize a baby or not baptize a baby, and for the health of the congregation leadership must be on the same page on such issues. Finally, third order doctrines would be those issues that people even in the same church can disagree about. The timing of the rapture for example would be considered by most, to be such a doctrine.
To put my cards on the table I would say Calvinism is somewhere between 2nd and 3rd order. I think it depends on the situation how much separation is either needed or allowed. I say all this about triage in order to justify why I think one can be gravely mistaken about a doctrine and still do great good for God. I have often said that a man's relationship with God transcends his theology. In other words the most important thing about someone is not their systematic theology but rather their communion with the living God. In that sense a man hold to or inherit a false system of doctrine but be a powerful preacher of God because he knows the living God.
Moving on then, what good is there in Calvinism and what has it produced? I have often remarked how it is the Calvinists producing meaningful cultural criticism and engagement. What do I mean? There seems to be in Calvinism more theological antibodies to various theological and worldview diseases. One example would be in the area of psychology and counseling. In the 20th century new fads developed in psychology that not long after influenced the church as well. Soon sin was redefined as a disorder and a great deal of common sense was no longer common. There arose a "biblical counseling" movement starting in the late 60's to challenge the church and "called pastors and seminaries back to the primacy of Scripture as the basis for thoughtful and effective pastoral care and counseling."
This is one example, there are many, of people in the reformed theological community issuing a clarion call to go back to the Bible while the rest of the church drifts into cultural compromise. Thus, I wholeheartedly endorse the following and could not say it better myself;
Calvinism has for centuries represented a vital tradition of piety that is intellectually and morally serious. Calvinists have set a standard for scholarship and cultural engagement that evangelicals of other traditions can readily admire and emulate. Scholars in the broadly Reformed tradition have developed distinct approaches to matters ranging from epistemology (the theory of knowledge) to political theory and cultural criticism that do not necessarily hinge on the aspects of Calvinism we will criticize.
http://www.albertmohler.com/2005/07/12/a-call-for-theological-triage-and-christian-maturity/
