New to "Reformed"

[caitlincares]

Only recently I learned of the term "Reformed" Christian.
I believe myself (and parents) are that we just did not know there was a term to explain ourselves.

I am doing research to fully understand it all.
There is a lot of terminology I need to learn.
I have found many good websites and have purchased a few books on it.

Please be kind with my questions and limited underestanding.

Here are my first questions:
Are all Calvinists Reformed?
Are all Reformed Calvinists?

I am thinking the answer is No and Yes.

 

[rmwilliamsll]

This question occurs often enough that we ought to write a FAQ on it.

Start with Calvin and his Institutes:

soteriology is what we have come to label TULIP

ecclesiology is four fold office, national churches, what becomes known as presbyterian form of govt., parish church ideal not believer's church. on church-state issues Calvin is more anti-Erastian then anything else.

early form of covenant theology, paedo-baptist without first communion or confirmation as rite of passage for believer's children,

within 100 years you have strong reformed churches that trace their roots to Calvin in Scotland, England, Holland, France, Hungary, Poland?, later in America

It isn't over soteriology that they differ but the issues of church govt and baptism/believer's church as these two issues get intertwined and rise to the top of the denomination formation heap.....

so you have reformed baptists- believer's church, baptism adults only by immersion, congregational govt.
and the truely reformed®- presbyterian, baptize children by sprinkling

but the underlying theology is still books 1-3 from institutes, it is division on the topics in book 4 that vary.(mostly, covenant vs dispensationalist is book 2)

 

[Turn'D-OuT-DiffurnT]

Here are my first questions:
Are all Calvinists Reformed?
Are all Reformed Calvinists?

I am thinking the answer is No and Yes.

Hi caitlin, that's great I'll keep it simple for now. In my view also the answer is No and Yes. Hope that helps. There is a lot of terminology and things to learn, and some of it is deep/complex, but hang in there.

 

[caitlincares]

Hi caitlin, that's great I'll keep it simple for now. In my view also the answer is No and Yes. Hope that helps. There is a lot of terminology and things to learn, and some of it is deep/complex, but hang in there.

Thank you.

 

[caitlincares]

Two new question as I learn all this new terminology:

What is "semper reformanda"?

What is solo ecclesia?
I know what the other five solos are.


Thanks for everyone's help.
I also have started my own "reformed" website as I go thru this journey.
If anyone is up to looking at it now and on occassion and making sure I do not stumble upon really bad links that would be wonderful.
It is at http://www.caitlincreations.com/reformed
Thanks in advance.

 

[Bulldog]

Two new question as I learn all this new terminology:

What is "semper reformanda"?

Semper Reformanda is Latin for "always reforming".

What is solo ecclesia?

Sola Ecclesia is Latin for "church alone", the belief that the church has the final authority in doctrinal, moral, and faith matters. We Reformed do not believe this, we believe in sola scriptura- the scriptures alone as the infallible rule of faith.

 

[caitlincares]

Semper Reformanda is Latin for "always reforming".

Sola Ecclesia is Latin for "church alone", the belief that the church has the final authority in doctrinal, moral, and faith matters. We Reformed do not believe this, we believe in sola scriptura- the scriptures alone as the infallible rule of faith.

Thank you for the clarification on sola ecclesia. I did see it mentioned on some reformed sites but without a clear explanation of what it was. One reference suggested it was the sixth solo!

 

[Donny_B]

The Reformed family also has standards of doctrine written down, which helps keep its theology relatively consistent as compared to some of the denominations that came later. These are the Westminster Standards and consists of the Westminster Confession of Faith, and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms.

 

[caitlincares]

The Reformed family also has standards of doctrine written down, which helps keep its theology relatively consistent as compared to some of the denominations that came later. These are the Westminster Standards and consists of the Westminster Confession of Faith, and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms.

Thanks Donny.
I do believe I have links to those items.
That might be a good place to continue my reading today.

 

[AndOne]

Catlincares -

Thanks for your questions - I too am new to the "Reformed" camp! I became a Christian 12 years ago and since then have developed "my own" theology from reading the Bible that pretty much lines up with the "Reformed" doctrine. I was quite amazed when I found out that "my own" theology has been in existance for hundreds of years. I wound up leaving the "Assembly of God" church over this doctrine btw...

 

[caitlincares]

Catlincares -

Thanks for your questions - I too am new to the "Reformed" camp! I became a Christian 12 years ago and since then have developed "my own" theology from reading the Bible that pretty much lines up with the "Reformed" doctrine. I was quite amazed when I found out that "my own" theology has been in existance for hundreds of years. I wound up leaving the "Assembly of God" church over this doctrine btw...

I finally feel that there are folks here that I can relate too.
Up to now I only felt comfortable talking to my mom about things that bothered me and did not seem to bother other Christians.

 

[blessedbe]

Catlincares -

Thanks for your questions - I too am new to the "Reformed" camp! I became a Christian 12 years ago and since then have developed "my own" theology from reading the Bible that pretty much lines up with the "Reformed" doctrine. I was quite amazed when I found out that "my own" theology has been in existance for hundreds of years. I wound up leaving the "Assembly of God" church over this doctrine btw...

I understand completely Behe's Boy! Well, I haven't had to leave a church because of the dotrine(thank God for that), but I had developed "my own" theology that had also lined up with 'Calvinism'. It was a relief to realize that I wasn't totally "off" in my beliefs!!! There were many things that I grew up believing that I "had" to believe, but couldn't actually line it up biblically when I finally got "off my butt" and started really studying the bible on my own. I had just kind of put them away in the back of my head, figuring that I wasn't smart enough to see it properly.

It's wonderful to read posts by other Calvinists and say "YES!! I UNDERSTAND< AND AGREE!!"

 

[blessedbe]

I finally feel that there are folks here that I can relate too.
Up to now I only felt comfortable talking to my mom about things that bothered me and did not seem to bother other Christians.

ME TOO!! it's a wonderful thing isn't it????

 

[sakamuyo]

One of the good things about the Reformed church is the concept of semper reformada. Always reforming. That means the historical Reformed writings are subject to reform, themselves. There are quite a few in the Reformed camp who question Calvin, not out of any ill will, but out of a desire to be true to scripture. We may not be vocal in places like this, and we may not be welcome in places like this, but it is possible to be Reformed and not be Calvinist.

 

[caitlincares]

One of the good things about the Reformed church is the concept of semper reformada. Always reforming. That means the historical Reformed writings are subject to reform, themselves. There are quite a few in the Reformed camp who question Calvin, not out of any ill will, but out of a desire to be true to scripture. We may not be vocal in places like this, and we may not be welcome in places like this, but it is possible to be Reformed and not be Calvinist.

I think that is good and appropriate because we should always be in line with God's word NOT man's.

 

[rmwilliamsll]

One of the good things about the Reformed church is the concept of semper reformada. Always reforming. That means the historical Reformed writings are subject to reform, themselves. There are quite a few in the Reformed camp who question Calvin, not out of any ill will, but out of a desire to be true to scripture. We may not be vocal in places like this, and we may not be welcome in places like this, but it is possible to be Reformed and not be Calvinist.

Do you have a specific teaching in mind?
oftentimes this is a liberal lead in to the denial of miracles and the supernatural.
but not always.

 

[blessedbe]

I think I call myself Calvinist as a general identity thing. People who understand anything about this at all at least know where I'm coming from if I say I'm Calvinist as apposed to Reformed, but I'm still a "newbie" calvinist/reformed myself. I haven't read a whole lot of Calvin, but so far it still fits...

 

[sakamuyo]

Do you have a specific teaching in mind?
oftentimes this is a liberal lead in to the denial of miracles and the supernatural.
but not always.

Sorry. Been out of town or I would have responded sooner.

FWIW, I don't deny miracles or the supernatural. Quite the opposite, actually.

I do question Calvin's understanding of election and predestination. I think some of what he said was quite right. Some fell short. Just like any other man or woman. I mean nothing against the guy and am thinkful for all he has given the church.

More specifically, I think he gets it very much right when he says we, humans, don't know for certain who is or isn't going to be in the Kingdom. Only God knows that. I also believe God knew from the beginning who would ultimately choose him and who wouldn't. But, I do think there is some choice and free will on the part of individual men and women in there. God's knowing from the beginning who will return to Him doesn't necessarily mean he specifically picked which individuals would or wouldn't. Rather, I think God's choice would be that all would turn back to him, yet He knows that not all will.

Anyway, I'm not writing this to debate, only to clarify something I stated earlier. I'm happy to answer any specific questions you have, but won't try to persuade you or anyone else to think as I do. I do wish there was more room in here for members of Reformed churches who do not identify as Calvinists, though.

 

[cygnusx1]

Sorry. Been out of town or I would have responded sooner.

FWIW, I don't deny miracles or the supernatural. Quite the opposite, actually.

I do question Calvin's understanding of election and predestination. I think some of what he said was quite right. Some fell short. Just like any other man or woman. I mean nothing against the guy and am thinkful for all he has given the church.

More specifically, I think he gets it very much right when he says we, humans, don't know for certain who is or isn't going to be in the Kingdom. Only God knows that. I also believe God knew from the beginning who would ultimately choose him and who wouldn't. But, I do think there is some choice and free will on the part of individual men and women in there. God's knowing from the beginning who will return to Him doesn't necessarily mean he specifically picked which individuals would or wouldn't. Rather, I think God's choice would be that all would turn back to him, yet He knows that not all will.

Anyway, I'm not writing this to debate, only to clarify something I stated earlier. I'm happy to answer any specific questions you have, but won't try to persuade you or anyone else to think as I do.

I do wish there was more room in here for members of Reformed churches who do not identify as Calvinists, though.

That is going to be rather difficult as this is specifically a Reformed /Calvinist home, but welcome anyway