Originally posted by Andrew
I have 2 more questions for you humblejoe,
1. I can see that the title Calvinist means a lot to you, and you do feel that Calvinist are more right than other protestants and that it is your "duty" to 'bring back purity' to the gospel. how then do u reconcile these verses of trying to be diffrent/separate from other Christians:
1Co 1:12* Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
1Co 3:4* For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
The passages you refer to are talking about placing another man above Christ. I do not believe that they followed these individuals because of differing doctrine. I mean, just how much do you think the doctrines of Christ and Paul differed? I believe that they developed these different loyalties predominantly because of other characteristics, such as charisma, formal education, speaking skills, compassion, personal testimony, personality, etc. It's just like someone prefering one pastor to another. I'm sure you all have had your favorite pastors. I've seen people
leave a church because a favorite
youth pastor left. When you put the admiration of a single pastor above your loyalty to a church body, something is wrong.
I
do not worship Calvin. His name is used as a title because he most succinctly described the tenets of Reformed doctrine. I wasn't cleansed by the blood of Calvin; I was cleansed by the blood of Christ. In the words of Charles Spurgeon:
"It is a nickname to call it Calvinism; Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else."
I do not feel as though I am trying to seperate from other Christians, but rather, as you have said, "'bring back purity' to the gospel".
2. u said: "we are fighting against a wide spread "other gospel", or at least an extremely prevalent erred concept of the true gospel."
Isnt it God who confirms the preaching of his word with Spirit power, signs and miracles as we see in Acts? So if someone preaches a sermon on salvation, God's grace etc and there are souls saved (miracles nonetheless ) plus healings mircacles etc, are u going to say that what was preached was wrong becos it did not contain the 5 pts of Calvinism?
I would not say that it is ineffective, because God's regenerative grace is eternally sufficient, although I
would say that it may be somewhat lacking in doctrinal truth. Again, Charles Spurgeon puts it most precisely:
"I believe there are multitudes of men who cannot see these truths, or, at least, cannot see them in the way in which we put them, who nevertheless have received Christ as their Saviour, and are as dear to the heart of the God of grace as the soundest Calvinist in or out of Heaven."
As a parting note, let me leave you with this one more statement from Mr. Spurgeon. It embodies the spirit of the Calvinist and our love and compassion for
all our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Maybe you won't see him as such a bad guy after all.
"There is no soul living who holds more firmly to the doctrines of grace than I do, and if any man asks me whether I am ashamed to be called a Calvinist, I answerI wish to be called nothing but a Christian; but if you ask me, do I hold the doctrinal views which were held by John Calvin, I reply, I do in the main hold them, and rejoice to avow it. But far be it from me even to imagine that Zion contains none but Calvinistic Christians within her walls, or that there are none saved who do not hold our views."
Peace to you all,
YBIC, hj
