What I would like to know, in particular from the Calvinist side (from where the accusations seem to all come), do you believe those you label as heretics are damned, or do you only use the term as a put-down on those with whom you disagree about a matter of opinion?
If you truly believe that persons with whom you disagree over doctrine are damned, you ought to have scriptural proof that this is the case. We must be careful, It is the Lord's prerogative to judge, and His alone.
In Mark 16:16 (New King James Version) Jesus said "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." We ought to be very concerned just what it is that we must believe. Is it Calvinist doctrine? How God relates to time? The exact nature of relations within the Trinity?
The following scriptures would seem to inform us of the answer:
Matthew 16:16-17 (King James Version)
16. And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
John 20:30-31 (New King James Version)
30. And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31. but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
Romans 10:8-9 (New King James Version)
8. But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9. that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
These passages inform us of some rather simple things that, being believed, save the person and enable one to be in Christ. I am not discussing here what might be better to believe, or best to believe, but
what must be believed in order to be saved. We are not required to believe Calvinism to be saved, or any other ism.
Who is your brother or sister in Christ? Is it not the one who believes these simple propositions and does their very best to follow Jesus as Lord? (on second thought, omit the "best" there, no one save Jesus ever has "done their best".) If there is one, in Christ, we disagree with over matters of opinion, we would do well to avoid the slur of "heretic". Somehow I do not think it pleases Jesus nor makes Him look good to unbelievers. Seems to me He said something about that somewhere.
