by J. Todd Billings

So why does TULIP–a relatively recent creation that was never intended as a summary of Reformed doctrine–get so much press? A number of sociological reasons could explain this, but a central one is that Reformed and non-Reformed alike frequently share a basic misunderstanding about the Reformed tradition itself: that predestination is the “center” of Reformed theology, from which all else flows. Although scholars of the Reformation have repudiated this account of early Reformed theology for years, it is still a common perception. Predestination is indeed important in the Reformed tradition, because the Bible–given by God for our edification–speaks about predestination. Pastorally, Reformed teaching seeks to use this doctrine to encourage humility and gratitude to God for salvation.But predestination is not the theological center of the Reformed confessions, from which all other doctrines are deduced. It is one among many teachings that rises and falls on scriptural exegesis. While Reformed positions on predestination and related issues will have ripple effects for other Christian teachings, they do not form “the center” of the Reformed tradition which could be summarized by TULIP.