Does Calvinism require a higher spiritual intellect, spirituality, and...

Those of you who are writing tongue-in-cheek, be careful. Because some non-Cal will take you seriously.

To those who believe that one who embraces Calvinism may be vulnerable to becoming prideful, I suppose that's possible. But I believe that the opposite reaction is more likely. In fact, I submit that anyone who believes that salvation is by grace and understands that it is of God and God alone will be humbled.

But we to whom God has extended his grace need to be watchful. I'm reminded of the book The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis. Screwtape, the old demon, is instructing his nephew Wormwood how to undermine a believers effectiveness.

Screwtape told Wormwood not to directly attack a young Christian, but to persuade him that humility is good. Then, said Screwtape, get in his mind and convince him to be proud of his humility.

We Calvinists and non-Calvinists both believe we are right, and both sides believe that the scriptures drive what we believe, and that the Holy Spirit has illuminated our minds to spiritual truth. That being the case, there is no justification for pride in any of us. Gratitude is the proper attitude. And it ill behooves any of us to accuse anybody of being prideful because they believe they hold the truth and we don't.

Screwtape would be rubbing his hands in anticipation.

 

I just saw this thread and read the topic. I could not believe what I read. I think Luke would benefit from the pride thread :laugh::laugh::laugh:

 

To address the name of the thread...

NO..

Many smart people are Atheist as well as other beliefs.


Calvinism does take Bible study. That would be hard to deny.

 

I am reminded of the discussion between Simeon and Wesley:

 

Same here!

 

As Mr. Spurgeon purportedly once prayed, "Lord, save the elect and elect some more."

Like to think I am that kind of calvinist.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Any REAL theology requires a certain amount of theological and mental maturity to grasp.

As weird as I think Molinism is and as incorrect as it is, it requires a certain level of intellect to grasp.

Calvinism, I think, the most accurate and deep of all the theologies cannot be grasped by a fourth grader.

 

I think a more accurate statement would be that you did not understand what you read.

 

That's not true Brother Tom. It is very humble of you, but not accurate.

It DOES require an above average theological acumen which you OBVIOUSLY possess based on your posts.

A GOOD Arminian requires an intellect that is superior to the average theological intellect.

I went to Jackson yesterday and attended a debate between James White and the director of philosophy at Wesley College in Jackson.

The director's name escapes me for the moment, but he was thoroughly Arminian and pretty sharp.

Even Arminianism, in order to get a decent handle on it, requires an above average theological acumen.

I consider Calvinism to be much deeper and more accurate. Therefore, imo, it requires a certain amount of spiritual maturity and theological intellect to really get.

You can believe it by being raised a Calvinist. You can believe it by receiving the truth of it later in life. But to really get it- that requires someone who is significantly sharper than the average church goer in this culture.

 

I appreciate the humility but I've followed enough of both of your posts, you and Ann's, to know you are most certainly NOT dumb.

Please see my post to Tom above.

 

No, to "get it" you simply have to be brainwahed.
I once read a book by General Dean, the highest ranking POW during the Korean War. He was held over three years by a small group of soldiers. He was kept isolated from all other American soldiers at all times. Every day these soldiers were mandated to take several hours of political training, being taught the glories of communism. Eventually his captors allowed him to attend these classes, he was even allowed to ask questions and debate.
He found that no matter what objection to communism he might present, they always had a "pat" answer for it. These were often highly illogical arguments, but these answers had been drilled into them and they could not be shown their error.

Anyway, at the end of the book General Dean said that you can never convince a diehard communist through debate, their minds have been blinded through indoctrination.

He said the best you could do was take them into an American grocery store. One look at the row after row of fresh food would convince them of their error.

 

"It is said by some that children cannot understand the great mysteries of religion. . . . Away with such priestcraft! . . . I do hold that there is no doctrine of the Word of God which a child, if he be capable of salvation, is not capable of receiving. . . . He who receives things simply, as a child, will often have ideas which the man who is prone to make a syllogism of everything will never attain unto." —Charles Spurgeon, Autobiography

 

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: Amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Scripture From The HCSB

I disagree. There have been many of a Calvinistic-mindset who are not necessarily the sharpest knives in the drawer. I think an old black maid orcook spoke of Calvinistic Bible truths to Spurgeon even though she wasn't very educated in the typical sense. He later said she taught him more of the Lord than many others (or words to that effect --google the story).

I think the majority of most biblically-minded people in Church History were semi-literate,if that. Remember that God has chosen the foolish things of this world to shame the seemingly wise.

1 Cor.1:28-29 :"God has chosen the world's insignificant and despised things --the things viewed as nothing --so He might bring to nothing the things that are viewed as something,so that no one can boast in His presence."

Pardon me,but you have been boasting a great deal and that detracts from any truths which you may impart on the BB.

 

To get biblical Calvinism one has to be transformed by the renewing of their mind,so that they may be able to discern the good,pleasing and perfect will of God." (Ro.12:2b :A variation of the HCSB)

Your analogies are woefully deficient WM.

 

Hogwash, I wasnt raised in the Reformed church, I was a RC & taught by Jesuits & later Franciscans who all wanted me in the priesthood. I next went to a Presbyterian church but couldnt understand limited atonement. Further, they criticized me for having lived my life in sin with a woman I wasnt married to & fathering a child out of wedlock....when that child died I was told that I put him in hell because he wasnt baptized & we (his mother & I were sinners). Could anyone have hated Calvinists more than I? Truly they were Hyper-Calvinists & I denounced them. I was in the wilderness for a long time....over 12 years of hating until I began studying the Scriptures myself & seeing where it aligned up. At that point I went to a Regular Baptist Church & honestly they did not judge me & they helped me but they never taught doctrine....I was told to just believe Scripture but scripture was confusing & I had more questions than anyone could provide answers for....but you know what Reformed theology does. Aside from the Hyper-calvinists in my life who castigated me, Solid Reformed Theology & DoG took me to a higher level of understanding. So in closing, I was not indoctrinated but self taught. No higher learning or arrogance here. Just a sincere desire to know more & more & more.

 

But, were you drinking Calvin flavored Kool-Aid when you were reading it? :laugh:

 

How did anyone ever pick up Calvin in all of this. My mother-in-law who is Dutch Reformed never ever mentions Calvin but states that they are Reformed.