I’ve had tremendous anxiety all because of an article I read by a Calvinist.
Hello Blaise, in this case
(unlike the members of the Synod of Dort) the author of most of the Crossway article
(Pastor Kevin DeYoung) is still alive. Why not email him, explain to him that something he said upset you and why
(be sure to mention your OCD, of course), and then ask him to explain what he meant, specifically
(and ask him if there is any reason .. at all .. for you to be concerned).
Here is his contact information at the church where he is senior pastor
(interestingly, he is also a professor of systematic theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC).
Even better, you could read the book of Pastor DeYoung's that Crossway pulled excerpts from to compose their article before you contact him
(it typically helps to see the context whenever statements don't seem to make sense/don't seem quite "right" to us, especially when they come from a source/person who is typically known for believing and teaching things that fall well within the realm of orthodox Christian thought). Then, if you still have questions, you can email them directly to the author
Here's the book:
Grace Defined and Defended: What a 400-Year-Old Confession Teaches Us about Sin, Salvation, and the Sovereignty of God | Crossway
One of the reasons that the Synod of Dort was convened
(if memory serves) was to address a number of false accusations
(lies that were being promulgated) against the teachings, doctrines and confessions, of the Reformed churches in the Netherlands more than 400 years ago. It also sought to accurately define the 5 points of the Reformed soteriology known as the "
Doctrines of Grace" or "TULIP"
(as it specifically addressed articles from the Arminian Remonstrance as well).
So
(to sum up), the warning that is upsetting you was
(specifically) directed at those in the Netherlands who were lying/making false accusations about what was being taught by the Reformed churches of the day, NOT against people who did not/do not hold to Reformed soteriology
(in general). BTW, I believe that the warning about the "judgment of God" concerns the sin of bearing false witness
(in this case), not the loss of one's salvation
(which seems obvious enough since Reformed theology teaches against the possibility of someone losing their salvation in the 5th point of TULIP/the Perseverance of the Saints).
I have a few questions for any Calvinists out there:
1.)Since I have OCD, and struggle to feel love for God, have unwanted doubts, and fear I’m not one of his elect, does that mean I’m not one of his elect?
2.) Does following Arminian theology make me a heretic and an apostate?
3.)Do I have to be a Calvinist to be saved?
4.) are Martin Luther's teachings correct, because I know they lead the e reformation.
5.)This is a big one, I constantly doubt if I’m an elect and fear God doesn’t love me, Does God love me?
I was hardly a Calvinist when I came to saving faith. Rather, I was an outspoken Arminian during my first 10+ years as a believer. So "no", you do not need to be a Calvinist to be saved.
Secondly, we cannot know if someone is "elect" before they come to true, saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. IOW, when we are sure that someone is "born again and saved", we also know that they are part of God's "elect" (and not before).
Finally, your "big" question above is hardly a question for Calvinists alone. The question should never be "am I elect", rather, the important question, the one that we are commanded to make sure that we know the answer to is, "am I saved"
(and by inference, "how do I know that I am saved") .. e.g. 2 Corinthians 13:5
If you'd like to talk about how to do that
(about how you can have assurance of your salvation), just let me/us know and we will do so.
Praying for you!
God bless you!!
--David
p.s. - here are a couple of things that the Lord Jesus said concerning salvation/eternal life. You need to consciously decide to believe/trust the truth that He tells you while, at the same time, REFUSING to believe the lies and half-truths that your feelings, your OCD, and/or Satan are telling you instead!! IOW, always choose to trust God/choose to take Him at His word, no matter what
John 3
16 “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
John 5
24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”
.