I just wanted to share why I became a Calvinist (Feel free to share!)

Gamecock · #41 9th March 2005, 07:49 AM

Originally Posted by rnmomof7

I was saved in 1976.
I had been confronted with the scriptures for the 1st time in my life.
So I was sitting in my bathtub and i asked God, who He was and who Jesus was.

I was suddenly overwhelmed with the sure knowledge that I was a terrible sinner and that Christ was my Savior.
I fell on my knees and gave my pathetic life to Christ.

WOW! Calvin was right when in the 1536 edition of The Institutes he wrote that "arrogance be cast down and confounded that, naked and empty-handed, they may flee to God's mercy, repose in it, hide within it, and seize upon it alone for rightousness and merit." (pp 35)

rnmomof7 · #42 10th March 2005, 04:34 PM

Only God would not be shocked at the sight of me then

That is an awesome quote, worthy of my saving it .

Thanks Mike

Puritan Idelette · #43 15th March 2005, 06:18 AM

Having been brought up in the Lutheran church (weekly church attending and sometime BIble reader) I became enamored with the occult in early adolescence. First the Ouija Board, then seances at slumber parties, then Tarot Cards in highschool. I was frightened though when I could not complete my ritual prayers at bedtime because of blasphemous thoughts. Somehow I traced it to the Tarot Cards and burned them. Unfortunately 6 months later I was tempted and bought them again. When I went to college the Lord placed me next to girls who were in the Navigators. I was offended that they witnessed to me but the Lord was working in my heart all the time. I prayed one night and asked the LORD to take over my life. Through a campus event sponsored by Campus Crusade I became involved in that ministry. As I grew in my faith the verses that discussed God choosing and calling us convinced me of HIS choosing me. Without understanding the Reformed faith I still was most enriched by books of that doctrine. My favorite book, Knowing God by J.I. Packer and Evnagelism and the Sovereignty of God also by Packer really solidified my grasp of central truths. Through many twists and turns of events and circumstances I finally was led to a Reformed church and had basically confirmed to me what I already believed.
I honestly think that those who react strongly against Calvinism are reacting to a caricature and not to the true doctrine itself. As I look back over my life I see the unfathomable sovereignty in God's hand in my life bringing circumstances, people and situations together that confimed HIS choosing me and calling me, then regenerating my heart of stone to a heart of flesh so I could call on His name, repent and believe. Also the fact that I in no way merited or asked for my salvation before my eyes were opened is so humbling and awe-producing.
Praise to HIM who accomplishes all things for us!

Imblessed · #44 15th March 2005, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by Puritan Idelette

Having been brought up in the Lutheran church (weekly church attending and sometime BIble reader) I became enamored with the occult in early adolescence. First the Ouija Board, then seances at slumber parties, then Tarot Cards in highschool. I was frightened though when I could not complete my ritual prayers at bedtime because of blasphemous thoughts. Somehow I traced it to the Tarot Cards and burned them. Unfortunately 6 months later I was tempted and bought them again. When I went to college the Lord placed me next to girls who were in the Navigators. I was offended that they witnessed to me but the Lord was working in my heart all the time. I prayed one night and asked the LORD to take over my life. Through a campus event sponsored by Campus Crusade I became involved in that ministry. As I grew in my faith the verses that discussed God choosing and calling us convinced me of HIS choosing me. Without understanding the Reformed faith I still was most enriched by books of that doctrine. My favorite book, Knowing God by J.I. Packer and Evnagelism and the Sovereignty of God also by Packer really solidified my grasp of central truths. Through many twists and turns of events and circumstances I finally was led to a Reformed church and had basically confirmed to me what I already believed.
I honestly think that those who react strongly against Calvinism are reacting to a caricature and not to the true doctrine itself. As I look back over my life I see the unfathomable sovereignty in God's hand in my life bringing circumstances, people and situations together that confimed HIS choosing me and calling me, then regenerating my heart of stone to a heart of flesh so I could call on His name, repent and believe. Also the fact that I in no way merited or asked for my salvation before my eyes were opened is so humbling and awe-producing.
Praise to HIM who accomplishes all things for us!

what a great testimony!

brightlights · #45 15th March 2005, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by rnmomof7

Welcome to the reformed community of believers.. When God wants you to hear, you do

God Bless

Indeed. I'd also like to add that, much like I hated Christianity when I was an agnostic about two years ago, I hated Calvinism when I first discovered what it was. It was not I that made my way there. If it was up to me, I wouldn't even be walking in the truth of Jesus Christ right now. Thankfully, GOD has got my back. Thankfully, HE is sovereign.

Imblessed · #46 15th March 2005, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by brightlights

Indeed. I'd also like to add that, much like I hated Christianity when I was an agnostic about two years ago, I hated Calvinism when I first discovered what it was. It was not I that made my way there. If it was up to me, I wouldn't even be walking in the truth of Jesus Christ right now. Thankfully, GOD has got my back. Thankfully, HE is sovereign.

My prayer is that God will do the same for my agnostic sister-in-law. God alone will change her heart. I pray everyday for it to happen...

Bulldog · #47 15th March 2005, 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by Imblessed

My prayer is that God will do the same for my agnostic sister-in-law. God alone will change her heart. I pray everyday for it to happen...

That is just the attitude that we should take, but unfortunatly it does not seem to be the attitude in much of modern Evangelicalism, since they don't believe that God alone is the one who brings salvation, and thus they have a flawed avenglistic view.

It's truly great to know that we have a God that does not just woo dead sinners to Him, and allow the clay's will to override His; and a Saviour that does not just provide a theoritical atonement, but truly saves those who the Father gives gives Him.

cygnusx1 · #48 27th May 2005, 07:33 AM

bump*

BBAS 64 · #49 29th November 2005, 09:42 AM

Good Day, All

I believe there was a thread in which we posted our journey to the Doctrines of Grace, I treid to no avail to locate that and bump it. I have noticed that there seems to be many new reformed folk here at CF.

I found that other thread to be very enlighting and what to give new CFer's the option to post thier story. I will repost mine once I get home from work as it is on my laptop at home.

I found this one on the web, and wanted to share it with you;

Jonathan Green at The SpiritusNaturae “Reformation”

Theological Journey (Calvinism vs. Open View)
At one point in time I was a fervent detractor of the system of theology known as Calvinism. My bias against the view was based on second and oft times third hand information. That is, my friend(s) or some respected teacher or apologist told me that Calvinism teaches…(insert detestable theology here) and I took that as fact. Never a good idea. The theological view I had found that agreed with and did not offend my ’sensibilities’ most was the Open View (also known as “Open Theism”). An obvious extreme opposite of Calvinism and Reformed/Classical Theology. I surrounded myself with the writings of Open View scholars and theologians, surfed their websites, and just generally immersed myself in a study of this new way of observing scripture and it’s methodology by which to understand the character of God. I also read a great deal of the opposing literature to the view, much of which was written by those of the Reformed faith. Problem was I had been bombarded with misinformation about Calvinism and its proponents and therefore readily dismissed the claims of anyone from that school of theology, especially, it seems, when it collided with my views on Openness Theology.

In recent years there has been a marked increase in publications, churches, pastors, and theologians who stand against the teachings of the Reformation and Calvinism specifically. Why such a clamor to silence and dissuade others from proclaiming or affirming Calvinism? As I studied further the Open View, I found myself with a great many questions that could not be answered or if they did recieve an answer it didn’t fare well in light of Scripture. During this period I was an expectant father and in the midst of a study of eschatology. Reading arguments from all sides of the issue, including the Reformed schools which were overwhelmingly amillennial, I began to see that Reformation theology was not quite what I had been led to believe. The case for amillenialism was quite convincing, so much so that I found myself holding to that eschatological viewpoint. I knew afterwards that I would need to objectively study what the Reformers taught. Even that big meanie, John Calvin, who I had for quite some time vilified and discouraged others from studying was now open for study and discernment. I had already read a large number of publications decrying the ‘evil’ that is Calvinism. Some even go so far as to call it a ‘heresy’. I knew I would need to read what the people within this group actually teach, firsthand not just from my peers information on the subject. In comparison to the view I held it was a real eye-opener.

I think that throughout most of my walk with Christ I was a ‘free-will theist’. Perhaps not so much an adherent to the Open View and it’s specifics, but certainly close enough. In some circles Free Will theology is simply another name for the Openness View. I am pretty sure that was a portion of the reason that I found this theology appealing.

Anyway, the final nail in the coffin, so to speak, for my no longer adhering to the Open View was the answer given to the problem of suffering. This was not the only reason mind you, but the final reason that I decided to abandon this particular theology. The leading theologians and philosophers on the subject shared similar views in regards to the existence and purpose of suffering. John Sanders (whom I have long admired along with Greg Boyd) in his book “The God Who Risks”, which in my mind is the closest thing to a systematic of Open View Theology you can get in under 300 pages, tells us that “at least some evil is pointless” and “God does not have a specific divine purpose for each and every occurrence of evil.” Greg Boyd in his book “God of the Possible” also concedes this point, “It is true that according to the open view things can happen in our lives that God didn’t plan or even foreknow with certainty (though he always foreknew they were possible). This means that in the open view things can happen to us that have no overarching divine purpose.” What a horrible world we find ourselves in if the Openness theory were correct. The suffering of my fellow Christians rendered pointless?

In the Open View God has perfect present knowledge and perfect past knowledge, knowing fully the thoughts and intent of a person’s heart and mind. The evil a ‘free-agent’ intends to do would be fully known by God, but because the Openness understanding of God holds libertarian ‘free-will’ in such a distorted high regard He does not intercede, even though the occurence would serve no purpose to His will or the being in question. There is no Scriptural support for this understanding. We see frequently suffering in Scripture referred to as having a point and purpose, although it may not be abundantly clear to us immediately what that point is. We have confidence, however, that our suffering and loss is not in vain, ultimately. In the ‘Classical’ view, there is a point and purpose to all occurences, no matter how tragic and seemingly pointless to us they may be.

All of this brought me to the realization that perhaps I needed to learn what the other side truly taught, instead of taking someone elses word for it. Having never really studied what the Reformers taught, once I got down to actually reading what they put forth, in particular John Owen, John Calvin and Thomas Watson (especially his study of Paul’s teaching in Romans 8:28), I was surprised to say the least. I was surprised because I could honestly say that I was mislead by some trusted teachers. In particular, Dave Hunt, who published a book lambasting the Calvinist position on Soteriology. I had gleaned quite a bit of useful information and teaching from Mr. Hunt over the years and so anything he taught as fact in reference to Calvinism and the Reformation, I bought. That was highly irresponsible on my part and was a great lesson. While Mr. Hunt does a great deal in the way of apologetics and ‘keeping watch’ on the aberrations that can often occur within modern day evangelical Christianity, I believe he has done a great disservice to the body of Christ as a whole with his poorly executed and researched, “What Love Is This? Calvinism’s Misrepresentation of God”. The websites and letters dedicated to the refutation of his work are numerous and any contribution of mine to that end would be futile.

Essentially, Mr. Hunt’s broadside against Reformed theology (soteriology specifically) had failed it’s purpose miserably, at least with me. As I write this my hope and prayer is that I am not the only believer with which the attempted discouragement has failed and that the Lord is using the book to acheive the opposite of it’s intended purpose. Upon first reading the book, I found my own misgivings about Calvinism re-enforced but then thought I’d give a listen to Mr. Hunt’s “debate” with a certain Dr. James White. That changed everything. I purchased a CD of the exchange between the two men from “The Berean Call”, where it was labeled, “Debate: Is Calvinism Biblical?” Dr. White was guest hosting for the Marty Minto show on WPXQ-AM in Phoenix and he had Mr. Hunt on as his guest to discuss a then recent issue of the Berean Call (August 2000) in which a reader writes in with a question concerning Calvinism: “It seems that Calvinism is gaining in influence and as a result is causing controversy and even division in some churches. I think this is an important subject and I don’t recall you ever giving your opinion. Would you please do so in the Q & A section? ” In the reply Dave lays into Calvinism as depicting God as unloving and even cruel. The questions which Dr. White brought up really pricked my conscience as he admonished Dave for not, “knowing what the Reformed position teaches”. Dave’s arguments were based entirely on emotion and not sound readings of the texts in question or in a firm understanding of Calvinism and Reformation theology, just like me. In fact, Dave was much like myself; his arguments rife with emotionalism, he came across as shrill and uninformed. I’m not sure why the Berean Call offers this in their catalog as Dave is clearly not at his best in the exchange and Dr.White seems to have ’stumped’ Mr. Hunt’s allegation that Calvinism “misrepresents the Gospel”. They would do better to not offer the selection.

One statement in particular during their discussion sent me down an exploratory path. At the beginning of the show, Mr. Hunt makes a very telling statement and declares that he is, “very ignorant of the Reformers.” and that he had not even read any of their work. I had taken what this man represented as Calvinism to be true, without question, and realized what a tremendous error I had made. Rather than discover for myself what is taught I relied upon the ‘work’ of another. After hearing the dialogue and allowing it to digest, I went back to Dave’s book and back to the actual writings of the Reformers that he referred to. After realizing that Reformed theology was not the ‘evil, misrepresentation’ I and others had made it out to be, I found myself returning to all those works by Reformed authors refuting my own ’sacred cow’ of Open Theism. The works that I had previously dismissed because they represented a ‘deplorable theology’ and ‘a maligning of God’s character’ were now visible in a different light. All of this coupled with the imminent birth of my son ( some in the OV hold to the notion that not even the birth of an individual is known by God) and my ongoing study of eschatology, in which the only consistent system came from the Reformed camp (Amillennial, I plan on getting more in-depth regarding my eschatological delvings in a later blog entry) left me with an unquestionable unease about the Open View of God.

The Open View, upon closer inspection, is replete with inconsistencies. However, I will say it is certainly a consistent system of Arminianism to be sure. Once I really sat down and gave serious study to the lack of exegesis involving certain scriptures (John chapter 6 and Ephesians 1 for example) and the undeniable misgivings that were now deeply rooted within my mind, I could not allow myself to follow its teaching. When my will is placed in such a high regard that not even God Himself would dare ‘thwart or intervene’, something has gone terribly wrong with one’s theology. When sufferings and tribulations are rendered pointless something has gone terribly wrong with one’s theology. When all is said and done, I had tried to render God into an image which would appeal to my finite understanding. Rather than really take time to get to know Him through His revealed Word, to understand what He wants us to see and to know in regard to who He is and how He operates within His creation, I had made for myself an idol of sorts. A God that would not offend.

We are all of us to some extent “theologians”, whether we like the title or not. As such, we are responsible for learning and growing in the faith, not to simply arrive at a destination so to speak, but to study constantly and to renew our minds and in that study to be forthright and allow God to be who He is, no matter what.

For His Glory Alone!!

Bill

mlqurgw · #50 29th November 2005, 10:40 AM

My journey was of a different sort altogether. I was raised in Hyper-Calvinism( Primitive Baptist). I was taught that God saves His elect with or without the preaching of the Gospel. That is, the elect are saved whether they ever hear of Christ or not. Election was the subject of almost every sermon I heard growing up. Free-will was never a problem for me because I had it drilled into my thinking that man has no free-will from the earliest memory. Consequently, I took the view that if I am elect I didn't need to worry about whether or not I trusted Christ. I lived as though it didn't matter. When the Spirit began to cause me to question and seek to understand all that I had been taught I began to read my Bible. How I struggled with what is the preaching of the Gospel. After years of battling with what the Scriptures teach concerning it I was finally given to know that the preaching of the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to them that believe. Needless to say it affected everything else I had believed for so long. For so many years Christ was only the one who saved the elect, now He became the one who saved me. I still sometimes struggle with viewing Christ in the abstract as the Savior of the elect but I recover when I contemplate Him. I no longer view election as salvation nor the doctrines of grace as salvation. I now understand that the doctrines are beautiful on Christ but apart from Him they are lifeless. I think of them in this way; they are like a beautiful dress my wife wears. On her it is beautiful because she gives it beauty. Laying on the bed it is only a dress.