This is not a post to debate 5 point Calvinism or Arminianism or anything in between the two. I could probably argue both sides with relative success. I’ve written papers for school arguing both sides, but only because it was assigned…..I find no real point in it.
The basis for this post is how you portray yourself to the world, believing John Calvin or not.
That name, along with Arminian beliefs are huge topics in Christian circles…..at least in circles I’m familiar with. In some of these circles, I’m pretty familiar with the people doing the arguing…meaning I see or hear them in life outside of their arguing. It makes me sad. Whether you believe that once you’re saved, you’re always saved, or you believe that you can fall in and out of being saved…..How about acting like you have a clue what being saved is??
I mean if you believe that you cannot fall in and out of grace, you probably believe that if your actions are “unGodly”, you were never truly saved to begin with. And if you believe in conditional election, that’s not an excuse to flop in and out of Christianity like a fish out of water.
I see people who will argue the 5 points of Calvinism until they are blue in the face, but when they find themselves one-on-one with another Christian who they “assume” has the same beliefs, they’re the most gossip-happy, stab-ya-in-the-back, care about only me people I’ve ever met. I mean WOW…..I always come away from these times feeling much better about myself cuz MAN, I thought I was bad. Well, if that’s the standard for salvation, I’m good to go!
The worst of it is that they seem oblivious to this and really believe that people don’t see it. Matthew 28:19. I’m not sure this is what He had in mind cuz people do see you and some are affected by how you act….especially young people. The arrogance and all-about-me attitude is obvious and you’re not bringing anyone closer to Christ…..you’re just teaching them that it’s ok to be that way. I am guilty of letting myself fall into that trap and it’s a tough one to get out of.
The answer is a rather simple one to type, so I won’t cuz I know all too well how difficult it is to actually make changes. It all leads back to LifeChange for me and this is the largest area of change for me. NOT surrounding myself with this negative crap. I LOVE a good debate and it is difficult for me to keep my mouth shut when an opportunity to argue arises, but if it’s not furthering the Kingdom, it serves no purpose for me. Therefore, I have to surround myself with “likewise-thinking” people. This may leave me alone a lot of the time, but I’m perfectly comfortable with that. I can carryout Matthew 28:19 on my own, but it’s so much more enjoyable when others join you.
So, Calvin or not, I really don’t care…..Take one side…..take the other…….take both sides…..Do whatever you’d like, but
