Hyper-Calvanism - what is it?

[AndOne]

Okay - okay - now I am really showing how much of a rookie I am into Reformed teachings...

I have heard the term "hyper-Calvanism" a few times now but have no clue what it means. Could someone enlighten me?

Thanks....

 

[Elderone]

Here is a primer on Hyper-Calvanism

http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/articles/hypercal.htm

 

[BBAS 64]

Good Day, Behe

Here is a hyper website, the authour has asked that he not be refered to as a Calvinist.

http://www.outsidethecamp.org/heterodoxy.htm


Peace to u,

Bill

 

[CoffeeSwirls]

http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/topic/bad_theology.html
There are many links to articles about hyper calvinism (among other bad systems of theology) here. The first link in that section has this checklist:

A hyper-Calvinist is someone who either:

1. Denies that the gospel call applies to all who hear, OR
2. Denies that faith is the duty of every sinner, OR
3. Denies that the gospel makes any "offer" of Christ, salvation, or mercy to the non-elect (or denies that the offer of divine mercy is free and universal), OR
4. Denies that there is such a thing as "common grace," OR
5. Denies that God has any sort of love for the non-elect.

 

[Beoga]

oh how i cannot stand outside the camp!!!! the guys there seemed to have cooled off as of late, but they were posting all over xanga, and it really got tiring

 

[AndOne]

Thanks all - now I am really confused - I suppose my biggest hang up here is the term "human responsibility" - which the posted article says hyper-calvanism denies. I thought that was what Calvanism denied. Human responsibility implies works-based salvation to me - hence it would be another form of Arminianism. What specifically is meant by the term "human responsibility"? My pastor even used it in church in his sermon last week. Surely the implication is not that we play any role in our salvation - is it?

I mean wouldn't Luther be considered a hyper-calvanist in light of his book "The Bondage of the Will?"

Could somebody help me out here - because I am bit confused now....

 

[Lockheed]

Thanks all - now I am really confused - I suppose my biggest hang up here is the term "human responsibility" - which the posted article says hyper-calvanism denies. I thought that was what Calvanism denied. Human responsibility implies works-based salvation to me - hence it would be another form of Arminianism. What specifically is meant by the term "human responsibility"?

Firstly, in case no one else has gotten on your case about it... it is CalVINism.

Now, to your questions. God commands, man rebels. Man is responsible for his sin, God is still Sovereign. Just because Total Depravity (inability) is true in no way negates man from his responsibility to 1) obey God or 2) believe in the Son. Remember, man is sinful not because God forces him to sin, but because he is a slave to sin through Adam's transgression.

My pastor even used it in church in his sermon last week. Surely the implication is not that we play any role in our salvation - is it?

Consider the following pattern:

"There is none righteous, no not one."

"God commands men everywhere to repent."

"It is by grace you are saved."

Salvation is totally by grace, man plays no role in salvation until he's been regenerated and then he produces the fruit of God's working in him. Salvation is not synergistic, but monergistic.

I mean wouldn't Luther be considered a hyper-calvanist in light of his book "The Bondage of the Will?"

Could somebody help me out here - because I am bit confused now....

No... Luther wouldn't even be considered a hypo-Calvinist.

Luther's classic "Bondage of the Will" is a treaty against the synergism of Erasmus and the Roman system. It in no way states that man is not responsible for sin. What is expressed in the book is the clear Biblical teaching that because of the fall, man is depravied and unable to do anything that pleases God apart from God sovereignly working in him.

 

[AndOne]

Lockheed - thanks for the correction on the spelling (I knew that...) .

Okay - I agree with you on this - I think what threw me for a loop was the term "human responsibility." In light of total depravity - man is really incapable of "responsibility" - right?

Even in the case of obediance - it would be God's power that actually enables us to be obediant - in other words - even in our obediance God is doing all of the work. Right?

 

[Lockheed]

Lockheed - thanks for the correction on the spelling (I knew that...) .

Okay - I agree with you on this - I think what threw me for a loop was the term "human responsibility." In light of total depravity - man is really incapable of "responsibility" - right?

No. Again, total depravity does not remove one's responsibility to obey the Law of God, either that they read in the commandments or that which God has impressed on their heart through creation. Their inability to keep God's Law is not because the Law is too hard, but because men are sinners through Adam.

Even in the case of obediance - it would be God's power that actually enables us to be obediant - in other words - even in our obediance God is doing all of the work. Right?

Yes... and no. Obedience of the believer does come from God, but they physical obedience itself in no way fulfills the commands of God, rather, as long as we live in our corrupted fleshly bodies our obedience is always partial and we are always in need of a Savior.

Christ didn't come to give us new laws, easier laws, or harder laws, He came to reiterate the Law of God as it stands condemning all men everywhere of sin and then to die a propitiatory sacrifice under the condemnation of that Law as so to redeem us from the curse therein.

So as a believer it is certainly God who works in us to will and work as He so pleases, but our flesh will always be there (until it is redeemed) to trip us up... according to the will of God.

Obedience to the Law, therefore, was completed by Christ on our behalf and by our faith in Him we receive all the benefits of one who has fulfilled the Law.

 

[BBAS 64]

Thanks all - now I am really confused - I suppose my biggest hang up here is the term "human responsibility" - which the posted article says hyper-calvanism denies. I thought that was what Calvanism denied. Human responsibility implies works-based salvation to me - hence it would be another form of Arminianism. What specifically is meant by the term "human responsibility"? My pastor even used it in church in his sermon last week. Surely the implication is not that we play any role in our salvation - is it?

I mean wouldn't Luther be considered a hyper-calvanist in light of his book "The Bondage of the Will?"

Could somebody help me out here - because I am bit confused now....

Good Day, Behe

I just finished a book, on the Hyper Calvinism issue by Ian Murray. Not so sure I learned that much from it you may wish to pick it up, maybe you will get more from it then I did.

I also read a thread on an other Board called duty Faith staerted by a hyper and will pm you that link.

You may want to read this exchange:

http://aomin.org/HyperCalv.html

Peace to u,

Bill

 

[AndOne]

Hi Lockheed -

Yes - I completely agreee with the context that you are using "Human Responsibility" in. And there was nothing in your latest post that I disagree with. I was making the same point as you. By saying that man is incapable of responsibility - and I agree because of sin not because it is to hard.

I think what confused me was that I was taking the terminology wrong and out of context. I was thinking of human responsibility in regards to merit playing a role in slavation - which is not how the terminology was being used at all - but if it were - it would definately be a problem.

Just to clarify - I never said that man is capable of total obediance - but what obediance he does do is by and through the power of the Holy Spirit alone.

 

[Terri]

You silly people.

Hyper-Calvinism is what a Calvinist has when he has had too much caffeine.

 

[AndOne]

You silly people.

Hyper-Calvinism is what a Calvinist has when he has had too much caffeine.

So what does that make me if I haven't had enough caffeine?

 

[Terri]

So what does that make me if I haven't had enough caffeine?

One six pack of these is all you need and you will be a hyper-Calvinist before you know it Behe!!

Jolt cola

[Disclaimer: I do not endorse the consumption of this cola unless you are desperate to become a hyper-Calvinist.[/disclaimer]

 

[CoffeeSwirls]

Too much caffeine... What a joke!!!

I'm not called CoffeeSwirls for nuthin'

 

[Terri]

Too much caffeine... What a joke!!!

I'm not called CoffeeSwirls for nuthin'

Well, I do believe that it is theoretically possible to have too much caffeine. Though this theory has never been proven. And believe me, I have tried to prove it!

 

[cygnusx1]

Hyper Calvinism is a disposition , it is basically fatalism and a denial of the importance of secondary causes , it basically shows itself in a coldness towards the lost , and an attempt at hiding ones short comings behind God's sovereignty .......... some say you cannot preach predestination without making men hypers or fatalists but the opposite is more often the case!!

I know , I recently read some paragraph from a Calvinist writer who witnesses to Mormons at their big gatherings .Now most surrounding Church pastors and Christians have said "what is the point , they are a lost cause , they are to hard to reach because of Mormonism, but the retort from the Calvinist Pastor is that God is Sovereign and that The Elect are most lkely in there!!!
And he has seen results!

So often the Arminians are the Biggest 'Hyper Calvinists' out there , they just don't realise it yet!

 

[Imblessed]

Cyg's Back!!! Whoo Hoo!!!!

 

[cygnusx1]

Cyg's Back!!! Whoo Hoo!!!!

thanks Sister , so nice to see a friendly face ............ I have had ISP troubles and still haven't got it quite sorted .....


I do hope you are well , and that your Pastor Tim is pressing forwrd in wisdom , so many times Christians can fragnate , it is just wonderful when they have real Love and kindness and patience . Please keep us informed .


Love Cygnus