Some Good Calvinist StereoTypes?

[tigersnare]

Hey guys, I'm a new believer in the Doctrines of Grace. You all have helped me very much, and I've learn a lot from you. I'm starting to get funny looks from people now when they ask me where I go to Church, and what we believe. It's a PCA Church, and of course we are reformed.

What are some of the StereoTypes of the Calvinist? Seems when people find out I am one, the first word that comes out next is....Ohhhhh Predestination.


P.S. By nature of this question, I would like to request that only Calvinst answer, as opposed to someone else coming in for a quick jab and upsetting anyone.

I had one evangelist at my campus say, "Oh Presbyterians, those guys are real theologians." That was actually a nice one.

 

[Imblessed]

Well, I'm new to Calvinism also, and I can give you the stereotype I had about Calvinist(what I thought they thought when I very first heard what they were about) I figured they didn't evangelize because what what the point? If a person is pre-destined to be christian or not, why does one have to go preach the gospel, and I figured they didn't!!

perhaps the dumbest thing I EVER thought about Calvinists, and now it's the VERY thing that's sure to get me riled up when I hear someone claiming we think that way!!!! LOL It's pretty ironic. I actually have a stronger sense of evangelism NOW then I did before.

 

[cygnusx1]

Most people think Calvinists don't have a sense of humour..................we will see.............

 

[cajunhillbilly]

Calvinists are seen as denying the joys of life, don't have fun, etc. But we do have fun.

 

[RobNJ]

The Three Sacrements:
Baptism
Communion
After Service Coffee

 

[Reformationist]

I often hear people say that Calvinists are elitists or prideful because of our belief that God has ordained whosoever shall be saved. Ironic, isn't it? If they knew the first thing about reformed theology they'd know that we claim no credit for being one of God's chosen and we know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that had He not chosen us we would happily wallow in our sin for the rest of our lives.

God bless

 

[Bulldog]

"Elitist"; "Frozen chosen" .....

 

[Imblessed]

Elitists?? Now that's ironic, isn't it? Arminians think they actually have control over whether they go to heaven or not, and they consider US elitists? At least we realize that God can change even the "worst" sinner!!

As Reformationist was pointing out on a topic he started in another room, everyone was claiming they were "more open to Jesus" or "searching harder for Jesus" or "it just sounded right" or whatever, as if they themselves were somehow 'better' because they somehow "got it" when others didn't. Of course they wouldn't come right out and admit that they were better, but that's certainly how it comes across. Now that seems more elitist to me!

 

[Imblessed]

Calvinists are seen as denying the joys of life, don't have fun, etc. But we do have fun.

How so? I've certainly not gotten that impression here...

 

[cajunhillbilly]

How so? I've certainly not gotten that impression here...

Well lets see. I love to dance I like to joke around I really love to poke fun at myself and others. I like to read a good novel, watch good movies, and so on. Just normal good clean fun.

 

[cygnusx1]

Well lets see. I love to dance I like to joke around I really love to poke fun at myself and others. I like to read a good novel, watch good movies, and so on. Just normal good clean fun.

your too normal are you sure you don't have 2 heads?
Your ruining our image!

 

[cajunhillbilly]

your too normal are you sure you don't have 2 heads?
Your ruining our image!

We can't have that, can we? We Calvinists must be stern, mean, cranky, and no fun at all. At least that is how others see us.

 

[Imblessed]

We can't have that, can we? We Calvinists must be stern, mean, cranky, and no fun at all. At least that is how others see us.

That's what I meant, how(why) are we seen as mean, cranky and no fun at all? I haven't met any mean, cranky or unfun Calvinists yet!!

 

[cygnusx1]

That's what I meant, how(why) are we seen as mean, cranky and no fun at all? I haven't met any mean, cranky or unfun Calvinists yet!!

are you sure!?

 

[Reformationist]

Elitists?? Now that's ironic, isn't it? Arminians think they actually have control over whether they go to heaven or not, and they consider US elitists? At least we realize that God can change even the "worst" sinner!!

As Reformationist was pointing out on a topic he started in another room, everyone was claiming they were "more open to Jesus" or "searching harder for Jesus" or "it just sounded right" or whatever, as if they themselves were somehow 'better' because they somehow "got it" when others didn't. Of course they wouldn't come right out and admit that they were better, but that's certainly how it comes across. Now that seems more elitist to me!

Well, it warms my heart that someone got the point I was making!!

God bless,
Don

 

[Imblessed]

are you sure!?

Well, I'm sure they are out there, I just haven't met any yet!!

 

[kyzar]

I hope Im not upsetting anyone, but I can't help myself... I personally am not a calvinist (at least... well i wont finish that) but I have grown up and went to school with many calvinistic people and hopefully understand Calvinistic stance better than a lot of people...

People like to overexaggerate a lot, and ive found that when people think "calvinist" they tend to think "hyper-calvinist," and instantly think 'whats the point of evagelising' etc... This makes me sad, because it happens to every denomination... When someone think 'baptist' they think about the most xtreme baptist teachings that i garauntee arent held by 99% of baptists, the same with catholics, other protestants and non-denominationalists churches...

This Should Not Be So...

We should find similarities between our denominations and celebrate them, not focus on how to make armenianism/calvinism/protestantism/catholocism, look bad from our perspective...

Sorry to barge in, ill go now...
Thanks for your time...

Any comments, email me... iarazmatazi1@hotmail.com

 

[Reformationist]

I hope Im not upsetting anyone, but I can't help myself... I personally am not a calvinist (at least... well i wont finish that) but I have grown up and went to school with many calvinistic people and hopefully understand Calvinistic stance better than a lot of people...

People like to overexaggerate a lot, and ive found that when people think "calvinist" they tend to think "hyper-calvinist," and instantly think 'whats the point of evagelising' etc... This makes me sad, because it happens to every denomination... When someone think 'baptist' they think about the most xtreme baptist teachings that i garauntee arent held by 99% of baptists, the same with catholics, other protestants and non-denominationalists churches...

This Should Not Be So...

We should find similarities between our denominations and celebrate them, not focus on how to make armenianism/calvinism/protestantism/catholocism, look bad from our perspective...

Sorry to barge in, ill go now...
Thanks for your time...

Any comments, email me... iarazmatazi1@hotmail.com

Thanks for your insight kyzar. I, too, have found that the common tendency of those who seek to denigrate the reformed view is to appeal to the belief that Calvinists submit to the unbiblical view of equal ultimacy. This is an unfortunate byproduct of relying so heavily upon the sovereignty of God, especially considering the fervent actions of so many reformed Christians who share the Gospel with all people trusting in God for the fruit of their efforts. It is ironic, to me, that we are labeled in this way considering that the very thing we put our faith in, i.e., the sovereign government of God, is the only reason any of us can have any faith that spreading the Word will be of value. We know that the Word of God will have its intended effect because we know the Lord is able.

It seems unfortunate that our pronouced faith in the eternal plan of God should be the target for so much unfounded criticism.

God bless

 

[Acceptance]

I'm not Calvinist...gulp...so I hope I can post this, but when I think of Calvinist stereotypes I think of "well versed in the Scripture". Every Christian Reformed friend I have (and I have a lot) is VERY well versed. Awesome!

 

[Reformationist]

I'm not Calvinist...gulp...so I hope I can post this, but when I think of Calvinist stereotypes I think of "well versed in the Scripture". Every Christian Reformed friend I have (and I have a lot) is VERY well versed. Awesome!

Well, we can deal with those types of stereotypes...

That is very kind of you and I think I speak for all my reformed brethren when I say, "You may come in this forum and lavish us with compliments anytime."

However, if you see us getting bigheaded then smack us back down off our self-built pedestal.

God bless,
Don