Reformed?

[Dead Man Walking]

What does it mean to be Reformed?

 

[JM]

If I may offer...

Reformed means you belong to the Body of Christ, reformed to the standards of Scripture.

It also denotes a theological system.

 

[Cajun Huguenot]

I will see if I can say a little bit about the Reformed Faith. This is the views of The Christian espoused by the many of the Protestant Reformers, the French Huguenots, the Scottish Covenanters/ Presbyterians, and English Puritans and the Dutch , Hungarian and Germain Reformed Churches. This was also the dominant understanding of the Christian faith that was held by the great majority of early American Christians until well after the War for Independence.

Some major componants of The Reformed Faith are a believe in the absolute Sovereignty of God, including the famous five points and covenant theology (i.e. That God deals with His people covenantally). This means (in part) that the Lord deals with his people not simply as individuals but in a federal way. This is why we believe that believers and the children of believers are to be baptised.

There are "Reformed Baptist" they are Calvinistic Baptist. I am more than happy to use the term "Reformed" if they so like, but I don’t really think it applies to my Calvinistic Baptist brethren.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

 

[JM]

So true about Baptists, some hold only to the doctrines of Grace and this we hold in common with Reformed believers. A Calvinistic Baptist would probably be a dispensationalist and this would be a more fitting name. (Historically Dispensationalists have been Calvinists.)

I admitt, as time goes on and I study the word I see the Reformed point very clearly and rejoice for we are brothers and sisters of a mighty God.

 

[Knight]

Let's not draw the line at infant baptism.

Reformed Theology, for the most part, simply refers to a system of soteriology called Calvinism.

There are plenty of debates within reformed circles on methods and modes of baptism as well as eschatology. Never to these debates contradict the basic doctrine of grace.

 

[Iosias]

Reformed Theology, for the most part, simply refers to a system of soteriology called Calvinism.

Someone beat me to it... this is usually distinguished by the anacronym (spl?) of TULIP which stands for: Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistable grace and Perseverence of the Saints. Because I adhere to TULIP I would call myself a Calvinist.

 

[cajunhillbilly]

All Reformed Christians are Calvinists. Not all Calvinists are Reformed. Reformed theology tends to be covenental in theology, as opposed to dispensational. However as long as we can put aside our differences, I have no problem fellowshipping with dispensationalists. Its when they act like I'm some kind of heretic just because I don't get excited about the current events in Israel. I have the same view as most Reformed- The church is the true Israel of God, but have leaned not to press the point with anyone. There seems to be a kneejerk reaction in dispensationalist to anyone who holds to that view.

 

[Cajun Huguenot]

I agree. I think the title "reformed" doesn't rightly apply to our Baptist brethren who claim it. I don't mind using it if they prefer, but I have to always add that I don't think it really fits. Reformed involves Covenant theology and you can't really hold to Reformed/Covenant theology if you deny paedobaptism.

Dispensationalist are not Reformed even though they have Calvinistic and Presbyterian roots here in the USA. Scofield, Chaffer and J. Vernon McGee were Presbyterians who denied Covenant Theology and the Reformed Confessions.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

 

[Knight]

Semantics.....

Let's not get too bogged down with labels.

Reformed Theology does not mandate Covenant theology. I'd challenge you to Biblically prove the contrary but I'm leaving for the weekend pretty soon.

 

[Ebb]

I agree that Reformed Theology is Covenantal, which is historically proven from the Westminster Confessions. Even the later Baptist version of the Westminster Confession was Covenantal. Dispensationalism came about 2 centuries later and is a departure from these historic confessions.

 

[cajunhillbilly]

The question is What has the term "Reformed" historically referred to? It has referred to those groups who accept the Refomed Cofessions and are thus covenantal in theology. It does not mean that we have problems with fellowshipping with dispensationalits. My dad is a dispy and we get along great, as long as we don't discuss eschatology.

 

[Iosias]

The question is What has the term "Reformed" historically referred to? It has referred to those groups who accept the Refomed Cofessions and are thus covenantal in theology. It does not mean that we have problems with fellowshipping with dispensationalits. My dad is a dispy and we get along great, as long as we don't discuss eschatology.

LOL but is it not true that Calvinism is more soteriological in orientation rather than eschatological in orientation? Hence one can be both "Reformed" and "Dispensational".I do not see covenantalism as a prerequisite for being Reformed even if that has been the case historically. Although many early dispensationalists were Reformed even if recently the TULIP has lost some of its petals within certain dispensational circles (myself not included)

 

[Cajun Huguenot]

Semantics.....

Let's not get too bogged down with labels.

Reformed Theology does not mandate Covenant theology. I'd challenge you to Biblically prove the contrary but I'm leaving for the weekend pretty soon.

Reformed Theology is the theology of the Reformation, especially the theology of those Reformers in line with Calvin (in general). This would include Bucer, Knox, Cranmer, etc... Covenant theology is the view of those that followed the above mentioned Reformers.

I can not prove any of that biblically. We can discuss whether or not Reformed/Covenant theology is biblical. Dispensationalist don't think the distinctive of Reformed/Covenant theology or biblical and Reformed Christians believe the distinctives of Dispensationalism are unbiblical.

Those are debatable points. But I don't think Reformed = Covenant theology is debatable.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

 

[Cajun Huguenot]

LOL but is it not true that Calvinism is more soteriological in orientation rather than eschatological in orientation? Hence one can be both "Reformed" and "Dispensational".

All Reformed are Calvinists, but not all Calvinists and Reformed. Calvinism is concerned with soteriology and God's sovereignty etc.., but Reformed theology is much broader than that. Calvin was not just a Calvinist, he was Reformed. HE was a paedobaptist. he had a covenantal view of God's dealing with man and His Church. He saw the Church as the Israel of God etc... These are all part of Reformed thought.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

 

[rmwilliamsll]

it is an interesting question Calvin vs Reformed, that i have tried to tackle several times in the Sunday school class.

at this point, i think that adherence to the soteriology presented by Calvin in Institutes book III, (more accurately books i-iii) is required to self-label as calvinist, all the real divisions within the reformed community are over issues developed in book IV, primarily baptism but significant differences in church govt exist. but this is in the english speaking world, i am almost completely unaware of hungarian or polish reformed tradition.

btw covenant theology is crucial and is the middle 1/3 of book II. Calvin placed great emphasis on the continuity of the covenants/testaments.

 

[JM]

I see Covenant theology coupled with the doctrines of Grace being reformed theology.

 

[CCWoody]

So true about Baptists, some hold only to the doctrines of Grace and this we hold in common with Reformed believers. A Calvinistic Baptist would probably be a dispensationalist and this would be a more fitting name. (Historically Dispensationalists have been Calvinists.)

I admitt, as time goes on and I study the word I see the Reformed point very clearly and rejoice for we are brothers and sisters of a mighty God.

Interesting! Despite our seeming adversarial positions on the slain in the spirit thread we might have more in common than you think.

Baptistic,
strongly continuationist,....

I've been called CCWoody, the Continuationist Calvinist (or Charismatic Calvinist) in the past.

 

[JM]

Interesting! Despite our seeming adversarial positions on the slain in the spirit thread we might have more in common than you think.

Baptistic,
strongly continuationist,....

I've been called CCWoody, the Continuationist Calvinist (or Charismatic Calvinist) in the past.

I'm sorry, I've never posted in any slain in the spirit thread...

 

[CCWoody]

I'm sorry, I've never posted in any slain in the spirit thread...

My bad. I must have mixed you up with someone else.

 

[JM]

My bad. I must have mixed you up with someone else.

All of us dispey fundie's post alike...isn't that postie profiling?