He [an elder] must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. (Titus 1:9-11)

First, I agree with Dr. Masters’ observations and stand with him in my distaste for “worldly, sensation-stirring, high-decibel, rhythmic music.”

His criticism is threefold: music, lifestyle and historical accuracy of Hansen’s analysis of American Calvinism. All three are deficient, with this I agree.

But notice the words of Apostle Paul above to Titus. He was to refute the “circumcision group” on the basis of their teaching, not their music, dress or historical accuracy. And the “young, restless, and reformed” folks are getting the teaching right! I rejoice that 21,000 young people at a Passion conference are hearing the doctrines of grace. Do I enjoy their music? Emphatically no! Will I adopt their lifestyle and dress? Absolutely not. But it almost sounds like Dr. Masters would prefer that these young people were hearing the heresies of the Mormons, or listening to Joel Osteen’s platitudes rather than Reformed teaching.

Later he lists four positions of the neo-Reformed (as they are called elsewhere) and refers to a “poor stand of these preachers on these crucial issues”:

1. They have no problem with contemporary charismatic-ethos worship, including extreme, heavy-metal forms.
2. They are soft on separation from worldliness [see endnote 2].
3. They reject the concern for the personal guidance of God in the major decisions of Christians (true sovereignty), thereby striking a death-blow to wholehearted consecration.
4. They hold anti-fourth-commandment views, taking a low view of the Lord’s Day, and so inflicting another blow at a consecrated lifestyle.

Can he say with certainty that a contemporary worship style—which appears to be his main criticism of the young, restless and reformed—leads inevitably to worldliness? Can he be sure that they “reject the concern for the personal guidance of God…”?

I don't dispute the fact that the young, restless and reformed need to be instructed in godly living and follow the example of more mature men and women in the faith. And so do I at age 55!

Now, before your keyboards start smoking I want to assure you that I agree with Dr. Master’s observations--although not his conclusions--and admire his acumen, maturity in the faith, and zeal for soundness of doctrine. The church desperately needs more men like him. And the church desperately needs men with the gift of discernment like Dr. Masters whom God uses to challenge error in doctrine and conduct. But to sound the alarm that “…the ministry of warning is killed off, so that every error of the new scene may race ahead unchecked” on the basis of a conference where C.J. Mahaney spoke is taking his concern a bit too far. Every error? I can think of a lot of errors that the new Calvinists have not embraced.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians that, “The former [those who preach with impure motives] preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. (Phil. 1:17-18) Similarly, I can rejoice that Calvinism is being preached albeit with impure motives, loud music blaring between messages, and the preacher wearing a Jesus T-shirt.