questions

stargirl4ever88 said:

i'm not reformed or calvinist but i did attend a calvinist highschool. i wanted to know why calvinists seem to hate all other denominations sooooo much? what r the calvinists views on other denominations?

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Maybe you were around some bad Calvinsts or hyperCalvinists.

You are more than welcome to read all my posts. I am a solid Calvinist, but I've visited most every kind of Church -- Luthern, Episcopal, AofG, Charismatic, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, etc... . I disagree with them on points of Doctrine, but I do count them as Christians and Brethren. I was Baptised in the Roman Catholic Church and count that baptism as true.

I think you must have been around a bad group, there are some like that in every doctrinal group.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

stargirl4ever88 said:

i'm not reformed or calvinist but i did attend a calvinist highschool. i wanted to know why calvinists seem to hate all other denominations sooooo much? what r the calvinists views on other denominations?

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When I first learned about Calvnist, I had a problem with an attitude of a person who was a Calvinist. Calvinism as a doctrine is NOT the problem. The problem is those who called themselves "Calvnists" who showed no love while debating the doctrine.

However, keep in mind, Calvinists are NOT the only one. Legalists are as well as arminianists and others. The MAIN point is this: We cannot criticize other denominations for spiritual defects unless we are modeling Christlike living. The Church is not them, it is us. A local church is what its individual members are, no better and no worse.

I truly believe those Calvinists who understand how to be a "Christian" are really very loving and fun to be around.

i'm not reformed or calvinist but i did attend a calvinist highschool. i wanted to know why calvinists seem to hate all other denominations sooooo much? what r the calvinists views on other denominations?

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If I might come to the defense of my Calvinist brothers in faith...

Some Calvinists do seem a little bitter about other denominations to me- mostly Methodist (Wesleyan Arminian) and Baptist (Anabaptist Arminian). But I think this is mostly a reaction to the fact that Calvinists hve been dragged through the mud as having a damnable and hateful theology. If I faced that kind of scorn I'd be bitter about it, too.

stargirl4ever88 said:

i'm not reformed or calvinist but i did attend a calvinist highschool. i wanted to know why calvinists seem to hate all other denominations sooooo much? what r the calvinists views on other denominations?

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Disagreement isn’t hatred…

stargirl4ever88 said:

i'm not reformed or calvinist but i did attend a calvinist highschool. i wanted to know why calvinists seem to hate all other denominations sooooo much? what r the calvinists views on other denominations?

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Hi stargirl4ever88, and a belated welcome to Christian Forums. I don't wish to discount your genuine experiences with Calvinists, and I apologize that we often express ourselves in inappropriate ways or have doctrinal beliefs that many needlessly be associated with hate, or a stern God, or whatever.

Not all Calvinist churches or believers in Calvinistic doctrines are truly hate-filled. Many of us have an appreciation of Catholic, Charismatic, or Arminian denominations, etc., but certainly our teachings significantly contrast with theirs. One of the factors that tends to single out Calvinists (or most other strongly Reformed groups), is a certain clarity of Bible doctrine that lends itself to pride - in reasoning we've done the best job of working through the Scriptures in a consistent and cohesive manner. In other words, the systematic clarity of Calvinistic thinking lends itself to a consideration that we've got it all right and everyone who disagrees is wrong. We've been very apologetic in reasonably defending Bible teaching, and so we are perhaps naturally argumentative, by way of our theology.

In contrasting this with Charismatics, for example, there has often been a distinction made between itellectualism and emotionalism - with Charismatic denominations being unduly characterized as flighty, overly emotional, and illogical. Yet, in our championing of doctrinal and practical purity, we Calvinists have had a great tendency toward infighting and lack of unity among our own diverse membership. For what it's worth, many of us are of Celtic Scotch-Irish stock as well, where Calvinistic theology had a great stronghold and subsequent influence on American Calvinism. Some may take issue with ethnic stereotypes and profiling, but we Scotch-Irish are natural fighters, and probably would have made ourselves extinct if we had adopted a deep-felt and emotive Charismatic theology. (I don't know if you saw the animated film Over the Hedge, but I've thought that an Irish Charimatic would not be unsimmilar to giving Hammy (a hyperactive squirrel) a super-caffinated soda and watching the subsequent mayhem.)

I'll frankly admit I grew up in a Calvinistic church that reflected a very strong (which was really weakness) US/THEM philosophy and practice of faith. I'm still very strongly Calvinistic, even to the point of hyper-Calvinism (by some standards), and I agree that purity of Bible teaching is a salient matter worthy of defending, but peaceableness has become for me an equal pillar to purity. The truly challenging task is championing both, and trying to lovingly correct error (still believing Calvinism is the purist form of Biblical expression), wihout being seen as "intolerant" and "hateful" of other denominations.

It's very difficult to work through any betrayal from friends or pastoral leadership, but this is part and parcel to many Calvinists in ways similar to what Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons feel. We often view ourselves as misunderstood and even persecuted by others, and we don't tend to be the greatest diplomats or purveyors of political niceties. We'd too often just as soon punch you in the face, or hack you up with our Biblical claymore (sword) of precise theology, as listen to a bunch of glossolalia (speaking in tongues) and coddle you with friendly persuasion. It's a glaring fault that some of us are earnestly working on, (sort of like leaving the toilet seat down for our wives), but we don't take kindly to garbledygook and love wrestling too much to abandon it in favor of kniting.

Don't ask me how the Scots got stuck wearing skirts.

stargirl4ever88 said:

to start with thank you to everyone who has commented. i still have my stance on what i believe and i'm still not extremely comfortable with visiting calvinist or christian reformed churches because how i've been treated.
in response to your quote. i said hatred not disagreeement. i was told by thousands of people including the highschool and christian reformed churches that my basically my views r wrong without ever being asked what i believe. they said what is your denomination when i respond with assembly of God i get the worst faces ever. i was also told on a daily basis if your not dutch your not much. (the school was a majority dutch christian reformed kids). my best friend's mom told her not to hang out with me because i wasn't christian reformed so there must be something wrong with me. now i'm not judging or at least trying really hard not to judge calvinism as a whole but i'm not talking about a disagreement here i'm talking about complete hatred and not from a couple people or families a couple thousand people.
once again thank you for your comments.

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To say the least, you were in a very, very unfriendly environment. You will NOT find any of that here.

stargirl4ever88 said:

to start with thank you to everyone who has commented. i still have my stance on what i believe and i'm still not extremely comfortable with visiting calvinist or christian reformed churches because how i've been treated.
in response to your quote. i said hatred not disagreeement. i was told by thousands of people including the highschool and christian reformed churches that my basically my views r wrong without ever being asked what i believe. they said what is your denomination when i respond with assembly of God i get the worst faces ever. i was also told on a daily basis if your not dutch your not much. (the school was a majority dutch christian reformed kids). my best friend's mom told her not to hang out with me because i wasn't christian reformed so there must be something wrong with me. now i'm not judging or at least trying really hard not to judge calvinism as a whole but i'm not talking about a disagreement here i'm talking about complete hatred and not from a couple people or families a couple thousand people.
once again thank you for your comments.

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Wow, it really sounds like you were in a bad environment. I understand how difficult it must be/will be for you to ever separate those people from your concept of Calvinism. You should have heard my pastor's ( a Reformed Baptist) sermon on cathlicity (notice the small c in catholic) a few months ago. I must say that despite my doctrinal agreements with some of the other denominations out there, I have a love for them. . .Christians are so scarce at school and at work that whenever I find one, I just love them to death! One of my very dear friends at work is Charismatic/Penecostal (or at least was, I believe) and though we have our doctrinal differences, there is one thing that links us together--our mutual love for Christ and we enjoy sweet fellowship in eachothers company.

stargirl4ever88 said:

to start with thank you to everyone who has commented. i still have my stance on what i believe and i'm still not extremely comfortable with visiting calvinist or christian reformed churches because how i've been treated.

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Well, to start with from me, I also attended a Calvinist high school with dramatically different results. And the kids had much more to worry about from a secular philosophy enthusiast who -- while expressing some kinda belief -- didn't even attend a church.

The kids there knew I was wrong, and yet they supported and sustained me through the separation and divorce of my parents.

One of the things my mentor and youth pastor told me pointblank at one point was, "Yeah, you're wrong. So what? Isn't the first principle of Calvinism, Total Inability? Believing in Total Inability doesn't make you right. It makes you wrong. It makes everyone wrong."

stargirl4ever88 said:

in response to your quote. i said hatred not disagreeement. i was told by thousands of people including the highschool and christian reformed churches that my basically my views r wrong without ever being asked what i believe.

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Yeah -- but they should've taken you to Starbucks after! =chuckle!= "Coffee -- isn't that the third sacrament of the Presbyterian church?"

stargirl4ever88 said:

they said what is your denomination when i respond with assembly of God i get the worst faces ever. i was also told on a daily basis if your not dutch your not much. (the school was a majority dutch christian reformed kids).

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I'm sorry, and I don't mean to make light of this. I've been there. My family moved countless times and I encountered some really unpleasant kids back in the late Jurassic when I was in high school.

I honestly do feel for you. Stupidity appears among every belief. Yes, there were stupid and belligerent people in my high school. Fortunately the people who weren't, found me.

stargirl4ever88 said:

my best friend's mom told her not to hang out with me because i wasn't christian reformed so there must be something wrong with me.

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Yes; I have walked away from such a group of people for a very different reason than theology. They weren't practicing what Christ preached. But frankly I know too many Calvinists who showed love -- while still being open about what they thought was wrong. I wouldn't identify these people who slammed into you with all Calvinists.

Doing such a thing would be prejudicial.

Here's the reason I would walk away from such people: Now me, I have a number of friends who are in Assembly of God churches. And let's get it straight, I probably hold to the same facts about this theology as your oppressive coeds do (ie, do they still require a spiritual gift be visible to consider people saved?). But you know, so what? There's no reason for an attitude. You're a son of God, a sister in Christ Jesus. This means nothing, for your faith shows you're saved, not your theology. Calvinism says so. So what's their stupidity? That they don't know their theology well enough to apply it.

If their theology doesn't get that right -- then they're not even Calvinists . And you can tell 'em Calvin told you so.

Here's what Calvin had to say -- and again, if they judge by more stringent rules, how can they call themselves Calvinist ...?

stargirl4ever88 said:

now i'm not judging or at least trying really hard not to judge calvinism as a whole but i'm not talking about a disagreement here i'm talking about complete hatred and not from a couple people or families a couple thousand people.
once again thank you for your comments.

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I understand, and it's horrific if not downright stupid of them.

A friend of mine experienced something similar in an evangelical school. That -- and more -- really messed him up.

I understand the Dutch Reformed heritage church has been insular in the past; that's helped it in some respects. In others, clearly it's hurt many churches' outlook on the world. Similarly, English Reformed churches have had their problems with separatists, too. I think we've learned alot since then. We've already been stupid like this, generations ago.

stargirl4ever88 said:

to start with thank you to everyone who has commented. i still have my stance on what i believe and i'm still not extremely comfortable with visiting calvinist or christian reformed churches because how i've been treated.
in response to your quote. i said hatred not disagreeement. i was told by thousands of people including the highschool and christian reformed churches that my basically my views r wrong without ever being asked what i believe. they said what is your denomination when i respond with assembly of God i get the worst faces ever. i was also told on a daily basis if your not dutch your not much. (the school was a majority dutch christian reformed kids). my best friend's mom told her not to hang out with me because i wasn't christian reformed so there must be something wrong with me. now i'm not judging or at least trying really hard not to judge calvinism as a whole but i'm not talking about a disagreement here i'm talking about complete hatred and not from a couple people or families a couple thousand people.
once again thank you for your comments.

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That is very unfortunate. Not only is it rude and hurtful but unbiblical. I hope you can take our word for it, but that goes against what most Calvinist churches teach and not all Calvinist behave that way. Anywho, hope you stick around the reformed section here so you can see that most Calvinist are friendly loving people.