Mark--
how often fo you disagree with James White? Have you ever "called him out?" If so, on what topic?
It is no secret that I am a Paedo Baptist, and have made comments on that subject refuting Dr Whites position, even though I used to defend Believers only Baptism with as much zeal as he does!
I am not well liked by other Calvinists either and have banged heads with the likes of Gene Cook, Phil Johnson and have spoken against these guys publicly on certain issues, but with respect and admiration shown at the same time.
If you think I am this one eyed Calvinist who only agrees with Calvinists, then you would be quite wrong. Come and visit where I post and see for yourself!
It seems obvious that if I disagreed with most of what Steve G says it would be rather silly of me to continue listening to his teachings. And I still listen to R.C. and MacArthur occasionally because they are good challenging teachers. They dont always teach about calvinistic topics. even when they do, it sounds good. I just dont agree, although I used to.
Your point exactly?
i must admit I read these long posts on calvinism with a bit of wonder- i simply dont understand what the big deal is. Like Steve said, the great majority of the people who are in the Kingdom of God would have no idea what all this hubbub is about.
If you mean most Christians are quite ignorant of these issues, then I agree with you, but as far as these issues being unimportant, I would disagree most vehemently.
What other “issues” could possibly be more important than “Salvation, Atonement, Grace, Assurance, Soteriology, Evangelism, Eschatology- You name it, Calvinism deals in it!”.
Put it this way: how would your christian life change if you became convinced that calvinism was not correct?
It would be radical.
And knowing who and what I am by nature, such would leave me in a hopeless state. I certainly would have no good news to believe nor good news to share with this world. That’s how radical the change would be for me if I ever became convinced that Calvinism was not correct.
And by Calvinism, I mean by that, what Reformed teaching has put out there, and not what Non Calvinists think about Calvinism.
And vice-versa for the non-calvinists? When my views changed to a more arminian view, I can honestly say I hardly noticed, as a practical matter.
Well it is not for me to judge your perceptions, but I doubt the reformed distinctive ever really had a serious hold upon you to begin with.
There are many Calvinists today out there that are so far removed from an earlier more robust Calvinism, and I wonder why they even claim the name in any meaningful way but I am digressing.
You see, from my reformed perspective, it is impossible for me to believe that you or any other professing Calvinist who now embraces an Arminian perspective, ever was a real genuine bona fide reformed person.
The reason being, is that inherent to the reformed view, which is in itself a world view and not just a few doctrines, one cannot be truly reformed one day, and then depart from that the next day or the next week, month or year.
The catch cry of the reformation was "Semper Reformanda", meaning "Always reforming", and
that is true Calvinism and reformed thought.
One cannot embrace that thought and de-reform.
That is where we get the word "deform" from.
Mark
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