Calvinism clearly errs from the teaching of the Word of God on all 5 points of it's TULIP. The logical conclusion of Calvinism is that God is an unfair respecter of persons who chooses people to salvation, not according to any standard that He established, but arbitrarily. This strikes at the love and justice of God, contradicts the fact that Christ gave his life for ALL, and rejects man's responsibility to choose and love his Creator.
Proverbs 24:23: "... It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment."
Acts 10:34-35: "... Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him."
John 6:28-29: "... What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? ... This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.
Ephesians 2:8: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."
Just a simple yes or no answer to my questions will suffice for me.
1. Have you ever read Calvin's Institutes cover to cover?
2.How about his commentaries? Have you read those cover to cover?
3. Do you have any books that you have written on systematic theology such as Calvin's that I can read so that I might compare your beliefs against his?
4. Do you know Latin and Greek? Such that you can read the original texts of scripture for your study?
5. Do you have any theological training of any kind?
6. Are you a teacher or have you ever taught the word of God formally in any setting?
I read all of your posts concerning the matter and I am still studying the matter out. This is why I would like to better understand who you are and what you believe.
Just a simple yes or no answer to my questions will suffice for me.
1. Have you ever read Calvin's Institutes cover to cover?
2.How about his commentaries? Have you read those cover to cover?
3. Do you have any books that you have written on systematic theology such as Calvin's that I can read so that I might compare your beliefs against his?
4. Do you know Latin and Greek? Such that you can read the original texts of scripture for your study?
5. Do you have any theological training of any kind?
6. Are you a teacher or have you ever taught the word of God formally in any setting?
I read all of your posts concerning the matter and I am still studying the matter out. This is why I would like to better understand who you are and what you believe.
I have read the Bible from cover to cover, thats all one needs. I dont agree with TULIP. I do agree with the word of God.
Im glad you are studying it out!! So am I ...the Bible that is. It doesnt matter who I am! All that matters is the Truth the Word of God.. I think when you continue to studying the word of God you continue to have inner revelations about it. Thats the Holy Spirit guiding you to the truth. Im happy to find this forum so I can discuss with other Christians! I have taken a theology class recently and read a few books however I dont enjoy reading someone elses opinion. We can never get enough of the Bible.
Would you personally say that Calvinism is a religion?
Would you personally say that Calvinism is a formal denomination?
Since Calvin himself didn't have "Calvinism" to refer back to, what did he study from? Where did he find his source material?
I am sure that you know that there are many who have written systematic theologies such as Calvin's Institutes for example: Hodge, Bavinck, Berkhoff, Grudem, etc. By your logic, should each of these appropriately be termed their own "ism" (i.e. Hodgism, Grudenism, etc.) If so, should anyone who draws the same conclusion as them from the Bible automatically be called a Bavinckist or a Berkhoffist, etc.?
Is everyone who reads the Bible and comes to a conclusion similar to that of Calvin, automatically guilty of something? If for example, someone concludes that the "doctrine of election" is taught in the Bible from their own study. Do you automatically label them a "Calvinist"?
Do you believe that Mary was a virgin? Does that automatically make you a Catholic?
Do you know of any instance where Calvin himself claimed to be anything other than a man? i.e. God, a god, etc. If not, then isn't it a given that his writing and teachings were that of a man?
"The logical conclusion of Calvinism is that God is an unfair respecter of persons who chooses people to salvation, not according to any standard that He established, but arbitrarily."
Maybe I am a total idiot, so bear with me if that is the case. Isn't that exactly what God (Yahweh) did in the O.T. with Israel?
Did he not choose hm/them out of all of the nations of the earth without respect to any established standard?
Regardless...people want to say they have freedom and the right to do as they please and completely forget that God has ALWAYS been in control and it will remain that way
Is it fair to take this "however I dont enjoy reading someone elses opinion" as an answer to my question about whether or not you have ever read any of John Calvin's books for yourself?
It looks like the answer is "NO" but I want to confirm that that is indeed the case.
If I were to write 1000 pages on the "principles of physics". Would it be fair for you to offer a critique without ever even reading my thesis? How can anyone who is intellectually honest accept that in principle?
How can you know what you are debating against without actually reading the author's own argument? In this example, my "Principles of Physics" book. Even if we could make that leap, that you could somehow miraculously do so, do you think that a single page of bullet points in refutation shows sufficient respect for anyone trying to understand both sides of the argument (yours and mine)? Such a notion, in my eyes, seems intellectually incompetent and just plain lazy.
