What is hyper Calvinism?

[BBAS 64]

I have heard this thrown around in some circles in the debates around Calvinism.


Thank you,

BBAS

 

[II Paradox II]

I have heard this thrown around in some circles in the debates around Calvinism.

Like most terms, it does not mean the same thing to everyone. As it is an epithet no one likes to be labelled with it. That being the case, the term is usually redefined by every group that uses it to describe those more extreme than they are.

The following page has a decent explanation which most people would probably agree to, though as I said there is no one definition of the term.

http://www.gty.org/~phil/articles/hypercal.htm

ken

 

[Crazy Liz]

What is hyper Calvinism?

 

[eldermike]

Ken,

Thanks for the link!

 

[Higgaion]

The answer to your question is it depends on who you ask, because there is no standard text-book definition of hyper-calvinism. Some equate it with a denial of "common grace." Others say it's a denial of the free offer of the Gospel to all, elect and non-elect alike, the eschewing of a need and responsibility to evangelize, or even belief in Supralapsarianism (which deals with the order of God's decrees from eternity.)

As a Calvinist, I can tell you where I personally come down on these, sort of. As of right now, my definition of "hyper-calvinism" tends to be the one that says evangelization isn't necessary since God is sovereign and His elect will be saved no matter what we do, and, possibly, the denial of the free offer. I definitely do not call "hyper-calvinists" anyone who denies common grace or who holds to the Supralapsarian view, though I myself tend to waver back and forth on those issues.

 

[BBAS 64]

Liz, LOL

Great One !

BBAS

 

[Reformationist]

I have heard this thrown around in some circles in the debates around Calvinism.


Thank you,

BBAS

Hyper Calvinism is the belief that as God actively works in the hearts of His elect to create in them a new nature that desires to obey Him He also works a spirit of unbelief into the hearts of the reprobate.

The obvious problem with this belief is that it presupposes the need for God to work evil into the hearts of the reprobate to avoid them embracing the Truth of the Gospel. This is just plain unbiblical. Apart from the divine intervention of God in His monergistic work of regeneration man will naturally reject the Gospel and rebell. The biblical explanation of God's role in the lives of the reprobate is that He does not restrain them from this rebellion. His actions are passive in nature rather than active.

God bless

 

[BBAS 64]

Thank you all for your time and responses. The debates are located here:

http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/bible_answer_man/Archives.asp

December 16 &17.

BBAS