“…And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”  (Acts 11:26)

 

I am not ashamed to be known as a Calvinist but I do wish it were not necessary. I would rather be known as a Christ-ian. The trouble with being called a Christian today is that it means very little or rather it is not a title that lends itself to a single definition. Jehovah’s Witnesses (Those who take His Name in Vain) now allow themselves to be called Christian. If you were to attend the “Christian Church” you would find that they believe in baptismal regeneration, much like Apostolic Christians believe one must be baptized AND speak in tongues to be saved. So what is a Christian?

The Bible defines a Christian as one who follows The Lord Jesus Christ and believes the teachings that are found in the Holy Scriptures. A Christian is one who has repented of his/her sins and has believed in/on Jesus Christ as both Lord and Saviour. A Christian is one in whom the Holy Spirit dwells and grows His fruit. The Christian is one who is a partaker of the divine nature and has been blessed with all spiritual blessings. A Christian is one that prays to God, praises God, and worships God. A Christian views God as a Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, (3) three Persons, yet (1) One God. A Christian is one who believes Christ lived a holy life, died a sinners death in the stead of the sinner him/herself and rose again in (3) three days. A Christian believes that the holy life, the sinners death, and the resurrection is all imputed to the believing sinner, who is now a saint in the eyes of God. A Christian is one who loves, and trusts God and seeks to be like Christ. A Christian is one who shall rise to be with Christ at the time of death and his/her body shall be raised from the ground and united with the descending soul/spirit at Christ’s return and their bodies shall be glorified like unto Christ’s glorified and holy Body.

The above is the Biblical definition of a Christian. However, since the world and even some in the church are Biblically illiterate the word Christian can mean anything as we have already shown.

How shall we define a Calvinist (DV)?
A Calvinist is one who believes in the “Doctrines of Grace.” Another way one can define a Calvinist is one that subscribes to “Tulip.” Let me be clear, Calvinism, at least for me, has nothing to do with John Calvin, himself. we are not a John Calvinist as that would be borderline idolatry. Having said that, let me say this, the word Calvinism sums up the beliefs and views of that “system” of theology.

Allow us to define, “Tulip.” T=Total Depravity of man.  U=Unconditional Election.  L=Limited Atonement (I prefer Definite Atonement).  I=Irresistable Grace.  P= Perseverance of the saint. We will explain these as we move on.

The Doctrines of Grace:
The doctrines of grace include the following: Election, Justification, Sanctification, and Glorification. Each of the above doctrines have their sub-doctrines. Along with election there is foreknowledge and calling. Justification is a doctrine that brings great glory or rather draws our attention to God’s great glory. Justification speakes to the imputed righteousness of Christ and the exchange or sin for grace and grace for sin. Sanctification has much to teach us as there are different types of sanctification, different stages of sanctification as well as different time we have been sanctified. Surprisingly for some, predestination belongs to this doctrine and not to the doctrine of election. Glorification speaks to the glorified body that is to come, it speaks also to the fact that once God sets a decree into action it is finished in terms of destiny and God’s view of it but not finished in terms of time.

Since the first thing a person thinks about when they hear the term Calvinism or Calvinist is election or predestination let us address this Biblical doctrine. Prior to defining this doctrine let us share an observation. We have observed that when men study the Bible autodidactically (self teaching) or rather, along side the Spirit as teaching is one of His offices they understand Scripture in a calvinistic way. When men attend  a Bible school they view things with arminian colored glasses. We have also observed that when the school taught men go into the mission field they become calvinistic in doctrine or in other words, Bible believers. The definition of election is: God’s election of some to salvation while passing over others. Another definition, Some receive mercy as others receive judgement. A trait of election: Those that receice justice are those that deserve justice. Those that receive mercy are those deserving of justice but find mercy that is according to God’s will.

We will make a very bold statement hear. This statement is not meant to hurt anyone or to start a debate. This bold statement is simply a statement that is founded upon truth and can be proven to be true with open minds, and the Presence of the Holy Spirit. Here is my statement, Arminian believers are not Total Bible believers. Arminian believers believe as they have been told to believe and they believe what they have been told to believe. The same can be said of Calvinistic believers as well. Lest one believes in accordance to the Sprit’s teaching and guidance and has been persuaded by the Holy Spirit they are taught and persuaded according to man. Each man must be persuade by the Holy Spirit of God in all the teaching found in the Word of God.

The passages in Holy Writ regarding election are unassailable. Of course some men will twist them and  wrest them as they did paul’s teachings in the past, but if these passages are read and studied out with the Spirit’s guidance, one cannot doubt them nor can they believe otherwise.

How did we become “Calvinistic?”
We heard a sermon from a man that we respected greatly. We did not know he had calvinistic leanings and he did not bring it up. I noted some of the things he had said to be a bit different from what I had heard or learned before or had been told what to believe.

I began to study and meditate upon some of the verses he had used during the message. I found them to be saying that God chose some persons to salvation. This was frightening because i preached against this kind of thinking even though I did not understand them for myself, just as I had spoken evil of Billy Graham without ever reading Billy Graham.

The next step was to look into a concordance and look up any and all words relating to this doctrine of election. Once I completed that I was in a state of awe due to what the Bible had to say about election. The next step was to argue against the doctrine and see if I could be successful. Once I failed to win the argument, I shared these findings with others. Some doors were shut in my face, metaphorically speaking. Some began to see what I was seeing but held off crossing the line, my wife was not pleased and became angry at times with me. My mother-in-law simply said, “Well, it’s written right there, why not believe it.” Some pastors didn’t want to get into it. Finally, I called the evangelist that started it all and asked him if I am understanding things properly and he said, “Son, you are.” By the way, all the persons above, excepting the pastors, came to understand and believe the doctrine of election.

The fallout:
I began sharing this with my adult sunday school class. I didn’t ask them what they though about it as I did not want to push too quickly. Some caught onto it as they too studied it out. Some began to make it an issue and cause trouble for the pastor and the pastor had asked this person to leave. I felt obliged to leave as well as this person was removed due to my teachings from God’s Word. We began teaching out of our home and on different online sites for the next decade.

God is Good and man Is foolish:
(10) ten years or so, I crossed paths with the pastor of the church from the above paragraph. I saw him and I had a choice to make, avoid him as he did not see me or address him. I chose to address him.  We spoke for many minutes, agreed to meet for lunch and have become very good friends!!! We have luch often, we speak on the phone weekly, and I attend his Wednesday evening Bible study. We both have grown and have found that differing views do not an enemy make. I have preached at his church, have attended a few Sunday services and have been much blessed. We have made contact with church members we used to fellowship with and it has been great.

The Church is Lighthouse Church (baptist leaning). The services are held at Creekside Elementary School in Plainfield/Romeoville. The Phone number is 815-886-3909. The Pastor’s name is Ronald Ruben. They have Wednesday services at Rasmussen College of of Normantown Road and Weber Rd. along I-55. The music is a blend of older hymns and comtemporary. They do not have Sunday evening services. They have Sunday morning services for all ages.

The last (2) two paragraphs demonstrate why “my” calvinism is not problematic lest others make it so.

Other observations:
Those opposed to calvinism are calvinists in prayer. Those opposed to calvinism pray for loved ones to be saved. Readers, if loved ones wanted to be saved they would be saved according to the arminian view. So when an arminian prays for the salvation of a loved one He is acting God to save them against their will. Is this not what arminian accuse calvinists of believing?
Those opposed to calvinism go door to door wishing someoe will be saved. The calvinist is one who knows persons will be saved as God has ordained it (John 10:11,26; 16; Acts 13:48).
When one looks into Missions history, one finds that most are calvinists as they went to the field knowing God had persons selected for them to find.
When one peruses the books and authors that have survived for hundreds of years one finds a common denominator which is calvinism.
Even America is founded upon calvinistic principles, research the forefathers on calvinism. Our financial system is based on Calvinism.
The KJV, humanly speaking, owes it’s existence to Calvinism. The Geneva Bible was the first Bible to have notes. In these notes the people are taught that God’s law(s) over-ride Man’s law if they ever conflict one with the other. King James, upon reading this, authorized a new version to be produced.

My challenge to the opponents of calvinism: Get a concordance and look up and study each and every term related to the doctrine of election, prayerfully study them without bias and call upon the Holy Spirit for His guidance.

Please note one thing. No where in the above have I, at anytime, sought to or tried to turn anyone into a calvinist. That’s not my job or my goal. The Spirit of God, the Word of God, and a pure heart and an opened mind will do that.

Godspeed