If a Christian is one who follows Christ, and
a Buddhist is one who follows Buddha, and
a Confucianist is one who follows Confucius, and
a Taoist is one who follows the Tao, and
Mohammedan is one who follows Mohamed, then
No matter how many times you and others have been corrected you still repeat your mantra.
Calvinism is a convenient nickname for true bible doctrine which emphasizes the doctrines of grace.
Calvinists do not foww John Calvin -- they follow the Bible. However, we are appreciative of the godly efforts of John Calvin to open up the Word of God for us down through the centuries. We are also grateful for the work of countless other men that the Lord has raised up throughout Church History.
You put forth a false antithesis when you say we follow Calvin instead of Christ. Shame on you.
Not a hagiography. The author was very factual and dealt with primary sources.
Besides,a lot of misrepresentation,distortions and just plain ole' lies have been said about the man of Geneva. It was time to set the record staight.
The same things happen on the Bible Verses/translations forum. Some misguided fliks in their zeal for the TR (and smetimes for the Majority Text) have it as their special mission to villify Westcott and Hort with all sorts of slanderous things. Fcts get in their way.
How is Dispensationalism an invention? Dr. Chafer does a pretty fair job of explaining what it means. Nor is it as new as Darby. Nor is it possible to be saved by any other method, in this Day of Salvation in this Age of Grace.
Can't you see the intercalation, billwald? That parenthesis which waits for the end of the gathering of the Church, before rushing on thru the Great Tribulation... as in the one in that passage Jesus read... "To preach the acceptable year of the Lord" which does not end there in Isaiah 61, but continues on with only a comma to separate it from the Tribulation itself... ? I promise you, the Lord Jesus did not simply get tired and sit down.
It can be very different, you ask me. I am a Calvinist an no one in this life can or dare deny my claim. Because I believe in Christ Jesus, and not in Calvin, and therefore am, a CALVINIST.
But this with you is just the same, DHK, as with the 'law' you so desperately chase after but that eludes you like your own shadow in the New Testament for a Christian to feast the Sabbath of the LORD _YOUR_ God .... immer _YOUR_ God, who not only goes before you, but follows you like a loyal dog --- as one of our greatest 'Calvinist' poets wrote....
You can side-step everyone; you cannot sidestep FAITH --- the FAITH of Jesus Christ and SOLA GRATIA, which is what 'Calvinism' is.
There is NO semblance between all those false religions and Calvinism you listed. The association or even just the comparison you are making between them is as good as LIBEL.
P.S.
That same poet - magnificent a poet was he - N.P. van Wyk Louw, he dared South Africa and the Calvinists in 3 inches big black letters on our 'main' Sunday Newspaper, that Sunday is not the Christian Sabbath.
I am a "recovering Calvinist," but I have to say, to use the name Calvinism does not mean you are following a man.
In my experience, instead of starting from scratch in every debate, and having to explain the plan of salvation, justification, etc., it is much easier to use the tag "Calvinism," since most people sorta understand what is meant by that term.
I'm just trying to clarify the issue. If you started a debate by saying I hold to synergism, or semi-Pelagianism, or just plain Pelagianism, most would wonder what you meant. If you say Calvinism, most people at least have a general idea of what they are dealing with.
Greetings, I am new here and would like to comment on this you stated: Yes, its convenient to use the term calvinist for the reason you stated, but its unfortunate that the opposer's will use that as an opportunity to classify you as an follower of a man, which I believe is very unjust and dishonest.
And I think its fit to warn those who do that, that its a serious matter before God, to ascribe to the man calvin, the doctrine that God has revealed..
I share your concern, but for the reasons stated, I have no objection to people using the term Calvinism, no more than Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, etc. None of those individuals would want their name associated with a movement, especially today. If Luther, or Wesley came back today, they would not recognize what is being taught in their name.
On the other hand, it is said that if an Orthodox Catholic Christian from the AD 300's was transported to 21st century Greek Orthodox Church worship service he would know he was in an Orthodox worship service, would know where he was in the liturgy and would know what comes next. Don't know if this is true.
You have to have more to offer than just that. I am not a Calvinist, but I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ also. Just because you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ does not make you a Calvinist. It makes you a non-Calvinist as much as a Calvinist.
If you are going to gain the respect of all on the board you can start with terms that all on the board are familiar with--particularly with TULIP. Usually that is what defines a Calvinist. If you go and look in the Baptist theology forum there is a thread on: "Are you a low, moderate, or high Calvinist?" Calvinists can be classified in different ways. Are you a hyper-Calvinist? John Gill thought that the Great Commission was totally irrelevant. He told believers to get out of God's way. Don't interrupt God in doing His work. The work of salvation was his work, and not ours. His beliefs concerning salvation led to antinomianism. Are you that type of Calvinist? Do you agree with all five points of Calvinism? Are you a determinist or hyper-determinist--attributing evil to God? Just what kind of Calvinist are you?
I don't either, but the Orthodox Church has many issues to deal with. I admit that the smells and bells and the inside of a truly Orthodox church is something to behold. But their doctrines....well, that's another story.
Firstly, why wouldn't people on a board that discusses theology not be familiar with those very common terms I referred to?
Secondly, I'm not trying to gain respect or the approval of man.
Finally, I'm not a Calvinist at all, as I clearly stated.
See Post 52. I don't like labels, but if I have to choose one, I'm ARMINIAN! Would you like me to post the 5 basic concepts of Arminianism?
You can post however you like as long as you follow the rules.
In post 52 you said: "I am a recovering Calvinist," so I took that to mean that you are a Calvinist.