Even though I disagree with Calvinist ideas, I haven't noticed that Calvinists behave any differently. They send missions and practice social hospitality like other Christians. Some of the nicest people I ever met are Calvinists even though the theology believes that some people are not chosen and predestined to perdition. In fact, I considered joining a nearby Reformed church regardless of the theology. No church is perfect, and a theologically perfect church may not have a nice pastor and congregation.
Do you think Calvinist theology affects behavior in any way?
The thought comes to me that atheists have claimed their morals and their lives and behavior are no worse --maybe even better-- than the lives of many Christians. I'm not sure why you would expect Calvinists to be better people than others who have been born again.
Now, one who holds to Calvinist theology may be fooling themselves just as anyone else may. Also, whether OSAS is valid or not, there are Calvinists (and many who are not) that use it for license and that does not demonstrate a regenerated heart.
Also, it might be worth mentioning that God shows himself in whatever way he chooses --allows people here to believe one thing, and there to believe differently-- perhaps according to what they need, and perhaps according to what he plans to use them for. No two people even within a church believe identically, even if they use the same words.
However, I can answer certain protests that I have heard concerning the motivation to obedience, of a Calvinist. My own mother wanted to know, if monergism holds throughout the life of the believer --and is not just about salvation-- then what is the believer's motivation to obey, and seek God's face, etc etc? For myself alone I could tell her that the love of the God I have come to know compels me all the more. I KNOW that no matter how I fail, I have not undone anything he planned for me. I can get up. And I cannot help getting up, because he is in me. The Spirit of God is our motivator. But I am saying this very poorly, I see.
There is much more, to my mind, that is different, as far as MY behavior compared to what it would otherwise be-- even what it used to be --and not so much compared to other believers, as that is not my job. Like the earlier paragraph, it is all about the confidence and the motivation. 'Apart from me you can do nothing' is daily driven into my mind, that in me, I can attest to the fact, there dwells no good thing --that is, in and of myself.
My daylong conversation with God has taken a hard turn to his sufficiency, and his delight with the work of his hands. No longer is Heaven with its rewards and hopes and plans the significant motivation it used to be (though, in fact, it appears more beautiful and desirable than it did before), nor the escape from the Lake of Fire, but the overwhelming expectation of SEEING HIM AS HE IS. My performance as a Christian is no longer the focus of my day, but to watch God do the things he does all day long.
THIS Glorious God, who from first to last owns and produces exactly what he set out to do from the beginning, who is more than pleased with the work of his hands, whose wisdom is beyond amazement, whose kindness and gentleness is demonstrative of his GREAT power, who deserves altogether every praise of his unworthy creatures, and for pure love has chosen a people whom he will raise up even above the Angels of Heaven --the Bride of Christ-- THIS God is the one I am coming to know and trust.
My life no longer depends on me.
