Difference between revisions of "Calvinism"
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'''Calvinism''' is a belief system held within parts of [[Christianity]], usually the Presbyterian and Reformed traditions. Calvinism is named after the sixteenth century reformer and theologian John Calvin, and was influential on the [[Puritan]] movements of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The five points of Calvinism are remembered using the mnenomic, TULIP: | '''Calvinism''' is a belief system held within parts of [[Christianity]], usually the Presbyterian and Reformed traditions. Calvinism is named after the sixteenth century reformer and theologian John Calvin, and was influential on the [[Puritan]] movements of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The five points of Calvinism are remembered using the mnenomic, TULIP: | ||
| − | * Total depravity. Every person is born with a [[sin]]ful nature, unable to serve [[God]]. Nor can anybody turn to God of their own will. | + | * ''Total depravity''. Every person is born with a [[sin]]ful nature, unable to serve [[God]]. Nor can anybody turn to God of their own will. |
| − | * Unconditional election. God has chosen a few select people whom he will bring to "salvation". These people were chosen by God to be saved from the beginning of time. Nobody can have any individual say in the matter. | + | |
| − | * Limited atonement. The crucifixion of [[Jesus]] was only to save those select few, not everybody. | + | This is false on the basis that sin is the transgression of the Law, and Paul was blameless as touching the Law. |
| − | * Irresistable grace. Those few whom God has chosen for salvation will turn to God and will be unable to resist his grace. | + | |
| − | * Perseverence of the saints. Those few who are converted to Christ will remain saved, and cannot lose their salvation because they were predestined by God to be saved. | + | * ''Unconditional election''. God has chosen a few select people whom he will bring to "salvation". These people were chosen by God to be saved from the beginning of time. Nobody can have any individual say in the matter. |
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| + | It makes a mockery of justice by totally eliminating man's role in his election or non-election. The saved are saved because they are saved in God's script. The damned are damned because they are damned in God's script. | ||
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| + | * ''Limited atonement''. The crucifixion of [[Jesus]] was only to save those select few, not everybody. | ||
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| + | This is false on the basis of 1 John 2:2 (Christ is propitiation for the whole world), as well as John 3:16 about God loving the whole world that he sent his Son, etc. | ||
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| + | * ''Irresistable grace''. Those few whom God has chosen for salvation will turn to God and will be unable to resist his grace. | ||
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| + | This is false on the basis of certain Pauline writings that one can fall from grace by relying on works of law. | ||
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| + | * ''Perseverence of the saints''. Those few who are converted to Christ will remain saved, and cannot lose their salvation because they were predestined by God to be saved. | ||
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| + | This is false on the basis of Paul's statement that he disciplined his own body lest he be rejected at the end of his race. | ||
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The Calvinist belief system is sometimes summed up as belief in [[predestination]]. | The Calvinist belief system is sometimes summed up as belief in [[predestination]]. | ||
Revision as of 03:41, 1 October 2008
Calvinism is a belief system held within parts of Christianity, usually the Presbyterian and Reformed traditions. Calvinism is named after the sixteenth century reformer and theologian John Calvin, and was influential on the Puritan movements of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The five points of Calvinism are remembered using the mnenomic, TULIP:
- Total depravity. Every person is born with a sinful nature, unable to serve God. Nor can anybody turn to God of their own will.
This is false on the basis that sin is the transgression of the Law, and Paul was blameless as touching the Law.
- Unconditional election. God has chosen a few select people whom he will bring to "salvation". These people were chosen by God to be saved from the beginning of time. Nobody can have any individual say in the matter.
It makes a mockery of justice by totally eliminating man's role in his election or non-election. The saved are saved because they are saved in God's script. The damned are damned because they are damned in God's script.
- Limited atonement. The crucifixion of Jesus was only to save those select few, not everybody.
This is false on the basis of 1 John 2:2 (Christ is propitiation for the whole world), as well as John 3:16 about God loving the whole world that he sent his Son, etc.
- Irresistable grace. Those few whom God has chosen for salvation will turn to God and will be unable to resist his grace.
This is false on the basis of certain Pauline writings that one can fall from grace by relying on works of law.
- Perseverence of the saints. Those few who are converted to Christ will remain saved, and cannot lose their salvation because they were predestined by God to be saved.
This is false on the basis of Paul's statement that he disciplined his own body lest he be rejected at the end of his race.
The Calvinist belief system is sometimes summed up as belief in predestination.
There are also some believers in Calvinism who take these five points to their logical conclusion. They are often called "Hyper-Calvinists". Hyper-Calvinists will typically refrain from any evangelistic attempts at converting "sinners", believing that only God will do the converting. More "moderate" Calvinists do believe in personal evangelism, believing that they can be God's instrument in reaching those he has chosen to be saved.
What this means in practical terms is all us filthy pagans, heathens, atheists, homosexuals, adulterers, drug users, masturbators, and other depraved sinners were predestined by God to be this way, and can never be "saved". This, of course, leads one to wonder why God would even bother with those that are not predestined.
Fred Phelps is known to subscribe to a particularly whacked variant of the Hyper-Calvinist belief system. He not only believes that filthy reprobates are predestined for hell, but also that God actively hates them and brings about their untimely deaths.