A letter to which I'd like to hear your reasonable answer and I ask for your pastoral sensitivity.
Dear Scot,
We met a few years ago when I was youth pastor. Now I am at a church plant in Minnesota. I know that you are up to speed with the post modern church. Thatâs really good.
The main reason I am writing is to see if you know anything a person can do in response to hyper-calvinism. Around these parts, we are getting killed by very vocal, self-righteous hyper-calvinists, especially those who are connected with Piperâs church. He has a very strong following around here. They always use the same language and have the same condescending attitude toward everyone else. This stripe also seems to revere Bob Dewaay, Kirk Cameron, and Lighthouse trails research. They turn up their nose at Rick Warren and Bill Hybels.
The problem is that they just are relentless. Absolutely no discussion or compromise. I have had the life kicked out of me at my church this past year by some of these people. For them, it just isnât good enough to be a solid evangelical who really loves Jesus and wants to serve him. It has to be all about reformed theology.
With regards to these dear folks at my church â the proud Calvinists â my approach has always been exactly what you were suggesting. I went out of my way time and again to be friends with them â the number of hours spent over coffee and lunch (funny thing, it was always on my dime!) was incalculable. The tool that I had leaned on for so many years in youth ministry, namely loving relationships, failed me. They were just too stuck in their theology to see anything else. We couldnât ever just agree to disagree and leave it at that.
Which is why it is such a stretch for these people to find a home in our church. We deliberately say that we will not divide over theological issues like this. We are centered on the cross, on walking with Jesus. They just seemed like they were always picking a fight.
So, any thoughts, ideas, or suggestions?
In Christ,
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HOW TO IDENTIFY SIGNS OF CALVINISM
Codewords for Calvinism:
1. Sovereign Grace
2. Reformed
3. Desiring God
4. The true gospel
5. The pure gospel
6. Correct exegesis
7. The true church
8. Orthodox
9. The true defenders of the faith
Signs of Calvinism:
1. Any exaltation of man
2. Any overt signs of narcissism
3. Any overt signs of legalism
4. Any overt signs of elitism
5. Any overt signs of religious boasting
6. Any overt signs of condescending behavior
7. Promises to make the Christian holier or more advanced or more biblical
8. Making excuses for those who have murdered Christians claiming to be doing God’s service.
9. Church members who exhibit a cult-like dependency upon a pastor or who exhibit signs of pastor-worship may be a sign of a pastor surreptitiously promoting Calvinism without his flock being aware of his strategy to turn them into a “reformed” church.
10. Ministries who keep their members “boxed in tightly” and use fear to keep their members from looking outside the box.
NOTE:
Calvinist promoters exhibit the highest form of air-brushing-themselves known to any Christian group.
This is one of the first signs to look for. Signs of body posture are characteristically chest puffed out, nose up.
Typical Calvinist groups:
1. Calvinists are working overtime to Jehad Baptist churches
2. Presbyterian
3. Dutch reformed
4. Any group which contains in its label the words "reformed" or "sovereign"
5. Be wary also of groups which use the word "grace" in their label
NOTE:
Calvinist churches intent upon expansion may keep their Calvinism as "insider information" in order to gain converts.
The Calvinist's primary preoccupation:
1. Keeping the outside of the cup clean
2. Riding the high horse
3. Adding cubits to ones stature
4. Advancing Calvinism
NOTE:
Evangelism, for the Calvinist, is 99% the recruiting of non-Calvinist Christians into their flocks
I really like what Alice Faye said, and it is just so true.
My problem with Calvinism is exactly that. They think they know, but they really have no idea. I don't know how many times I have sat with a Calvinist and talked about God, and their beliefs. It feels like we don't even serve the same God. I don't know whats up with these guys, because they proclaim their interpretation of scripture as divine truth. 'You will know them by the fruits of the spirit; love, peace, patience, kindness, self-control...' ect. if that is what I know a christian by then is it possible many of the Calvinists I have seen probably couldn't be Christians?
I worry about these people but they tell me I am the one in danger, and I don't know the true God. Yet some of them don't even believe that the Holy Spirit is at work today, and they don't believe in healing and raising the dead!
With that being said, I know a few Calvinists who DO show the fruits of the spirit, and I am so deeply encouraged when I spend time with them over coffee or just having a chat. It is so fulfilling talking with them. I don't think it is because of their Calvinism though, although we do talk about it and different perspectives, but I think it is because they are TRULY Christians, showing the fruits of the spirit.
Anyways my 2 cents. :)
God Bless
Brother D wrote:
HOW TO IDENTIFY SIGNS OF CALVINISM
Codewords for Calvinism:
1. Sovereign Grace
2. Reformed
3. Desiring God
4. The true gospel
5. The pure gospel
6. Correct exegesis
7. The true church
8. Orthodox
9. The true defenders of the faith
Wow, praise God for:
1. God's sovereign grace - He is all powerful and sovereign
2. The reformation. I'm assuming you think that Bunyan, Owen, Spurgeon, Whitefield, Edwards, etc were all solid Christians? And all believed in Election? How awful......
3. Desiring God? How terrible is that?
4. The true gospel? Do you want a false one?
5. The pure gospel? Better than one that is tainted correct?
6. Correct exegesis? You're kidding right? You want incorrect?
7. The true church? Where you got this from I don't know. There's only one true church made up of all true Christians in the world.
8. Orthodox? Meaning holding to the truth of scripture? And.....
9. The true defenders of the faith? All christians should be defenders of the faith..
I think you should call yourself a hyper "Calvinist critic"........
Hi,
Regarding comment #253...
I am questioning your characterization of what I THINK you mean as "Calvinists" being "HYPER-Calvinists".
It seems in my experience, that when one is taking issue with the Calvinistic point of view, the term "hyper" is usually used. While I do believe there ARE "hypers" out there, the ones you are referring to (from Piper's Church...having read much of his writings) do not fit that label whatsoever.
A Hyper Calvinist takes good and proper theology (for the most part) then draws the conclusion that mission and evangelism efforts need not be. THAT is what I understand to be "Hyper-Calvinism". Again, I did not see anything in comment #253 that lead me to think these undesirables had that mindset, and certainly I cannot believe Piper or his Church people in the main hold such error. "I'm just saying..." :)
Blessings to you all
Jack
Brother D, I feel that your comments are unbelivebly biased and bigoted, you in fact appear to be exhibiting many of the signs that you unjustifiedly attributed to Calvinists. We are all sinners and we all have places we can improve. Stop trying to cause arguments and persecution within the Church there is enough of that coming from elsewhere!
Regards,
James
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