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Should Christians call themselves Calvinists?

Should Christians call themselves Calvinists or Arminians?

  • No, 1st Corinthians has clear teaching against it

    Votes: 2 8.7%
  • No, there is no need to use these terms

    Votes: 10 43.5%
  • Yes, confusion arises unless you use these words

    Votes: 2 8.7%
  • Yes, it's just being practical to use these terms

    Votes: 12 52.2%

  • Total voters
    23

CF1

New Member
Should Christians call themselves Calvinists?

The verses below seem to give very strong support to call one's theology something other than "Calvinism"

What do others think?

1 Corinthians 1
10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you.
12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ."
13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

1 Corinthians 3
3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?
4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not mere men?
5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.
 

annsni

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I do not label myself a Calvinist but instead a Christian the majority of the time. However, if someone asks me what I believe about baptism, I'll say that I'm a Baptist and that will help explain my beliefs without having to go into a dissertation about them. In the same way, when it comes to the doctrines of election and salvation, it's easier and well understood to say that I'm Calvinist without having to go explain the full beliefs when "Calvinist" is an easy explanation. It's like saying I'm from NY when I'm actually specifically from Northport, North Shore, Long Island, New York. It's just a shortcut that many people understand. But to the unsaved, I'd never say I was a Calvinist because they have no clue what that means. So instead, I'll talk with them and explain what it means in the context of what we are speaking of.
 

jbh28

Active Member
Should Christians call themselves Calvinists?

The verses below seem to give very strong support to call one's theology something other than "Calvinism"

What do others think?

1 Corinthians 1
10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you.
12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ."
13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

1 Corinthians 3
3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?
4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not mere men?
5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.

Calvinist are not followers of John Calvin. It's just a title given to show what their theology is. No different from one calling themselves a baptist.
 

Havensdad

New Member
Calvinist are not followers of John Calvin. It's just a title given to show what their theology is. No different from one calling themselves a baptist.

That verse is about personalities and popularity, not doctrinal distinctives. Of course it is perfectly acceptable to term yourself "Calvinist" "Arminian" "Dispensational" "Covenantal" etc.
 

SRBooe

New Member
If you feel the need to label yourself, go ahead.

I have no such need.

Using labels on this forum has caused anger, hurt feelings, and confusion. It is not because a label exists; it is because labels don't mean the same thing to everyone.
 

HankD

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
If you feel the need to label yourself, go ahead.

I have no such need.

Using labels on this forum has caused anger, hurt feelings, and confusion. It is not because a label exists; it is because labels don't mean the same thing to everyone.

AMEN brother!

"brother"/"sister" are acceptable to me because they are scriptural.

HankD
 

Jarthur001

Active Member
If you feel the need to label yourself, go ahead.

I have no such need.

Using labels on this forum has caused anger, hurt feelings, and confusion. It is not because a label exists; it is because labels don't mean the same thing to everyone.
Pacifism is well intentioned, but in the end is ultimately immoral.

If you are a pastor and you hide from a label because it sits you apart, and, you skip over passages where people will KNOW what you believe and there by label you, you are telling your people they are FOOLS when 10 years later they must pin you down for a answer.

If you are a Baptist even if your church name does not say you are Baptist, let others know it, because you are wasting their time if they disagree with you. If you are Calvinist, let them know. This does not mean you have to say the word each Sunday. To hide from a label when you are in fact that label is immoral.
 

Havensdad

New Member
Pacifism is well intentioned, but in the end is ultimately immoral.

If you are a pastor and you hide from a label because it sits you apart, and, you skip over passages where people will KNOW what you believe and there by label you, you are telling your people they are FOOLS when 10 years later they must pin you down for a answer.

If you are a Baptist even if your church name does not say you are Baptist, let others know it, because you are wasting their time if they disagree with you. If you are Calvinist, let them know. This does not mean you have to say the word each Sunday. To hide from a label when you are in fact that label is immoral.

Amen, bro. Willfully hiding what you believe is absolutely immoral, especially if you are a pastor!
 

Jerome

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Yes, and the so-called Founders site instructs Calvinist pastors who want to "Reform" their Southern Baptist churches to:

Avoid terms such as Calvinism, reformed, doctrines of grace, particular redemption, etc.
 

Havensdad

New Member
Yes, and the so-called Founders site instructs Calvinist pastors who want to "Reform" their Southern Baptist churches to:

If they are talking about being called to a new church, then I would disagree with them. But I think they are talking about Reform in the broader scope, i.e. changing church government. Calvinism is not logically tied to an elder led church government.

And I can understand their perspective. Most people who use use Calvinism as a cuss word, are only parroting what they have heard. They do not actually understand the theology. I have heard people in my church that speak derogatorily about Calvinism "Amen!" as my pastor affirms each of the five points.

When we say it is dishonest to hide it, I know I at least am talking about people who actually know what it is. I would not tell my seven year old "I am a Calvinist" cause she would not understand. I would have to sit down and spend time detailing it out.
 

SRBooe

New Member
Pacifism is well intentioned, but in the end is ultimately immoral.

If you are a pastor and you hide from a label because it sits you apart, and, you skip over passages where people will KNOW what you believe and there by label you, you are telling your people they are FOOLS when 10 years later they must pin you down for a answer.

If you are a Baptist even if your church name does not say you are Baptist, let others know it, because you are wasting their time if they disagree with you. If you are Calvinist, let them know. This does not mean you have to say the word each Sunday. To hide from a label when you are in fact that label is immoral.

You jump from not needing labels to pacifism (cowardice)? You assume that a person who doesn't use labels is ashamed of himself?

There must be some other burr under your saddle for you to suddenly approach from that direction. Nobody has mentioned hiding his or her beliefs. I don't know of anyone who does.

Do you?
 

Amy.G

New Member
To hide from a label when you are in fact that label is immoral.

So if you're talking to an unsaved person about the Calvinist doctrine, do you tell them they may not be one of the elect? Do you tell them that they may just be one of the many that God has "passed over" for salvation?

If not then you are hiding your true beliefs and you are being immoral.
 

annsni

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
So if you're talking to an unsaved person about the Calvinist doctrine, do you tell them they may not be one of the elect? Do you tell them that they may just be one of the many that God has "passed over" for salvation?

If not then you are hiding your true beliefs and you are being immoral.

How do we know if they are elect or not? If I'm speaking to someone who is unsaved about the Calvinist doctrine (I've actually never had this because most unsaved don't know anything about it), if they asked me "Am I one of the non-elect?" I'd have to answer honestly "Only God knows." That is the honest answer. If they push and ask "COULD I be one of the non-elect?" I'd say "Absolutely".

But I've never had an unbeliever ask me about the doctrine of grace.
 

Amy.G

New Member
How do we know if they are elect or not? If I'm speaking to someone who is unsaved about the Calvinist doctrine (I've actually never had this because most unsaved don't know anything about it), if they asked me "Am I one of the non-elect?" I'd have to answer honestly "Only God knows." That is the honest answer. If they push and ask "COULD I be one of the non-elect?" I'd say "Absolutely".

But I've never had an unbeliever ask me about the doctrine of grace.

You don't know who's elect. That's not the point. Let's say an unbeliever is listening in on a conversation you're having with someone else about Cavinism. They ask you, "what does it mean to be elect".

There is not one word of the Bible or it's doctrines that I feel I need to hide from anyone, believer or unbeliever. But that cannot be true of a Calvinist. A Cal will not come out and pronounce their entire belief system. I have nothing to hide. Cals do.
 

annsni

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
You don't know who's elect. That's not the point. Let's say an unbeliever is listening in on a conversation you're having with someone else about Cavinism. They ask you, "what does it mean to be elect".

There is not one word of the Bible or it's doctrines that I feel I need to hide from anyone, believer or unbeliever. But that cannot be true of a Calvinist. A Cal will not come out and pronounce their entire belief system. I have nothing to hide. Cals do.

Who says that Calvinists have anything to hide? In the case that you mention, I'm more than happy to explain what "elect" means and show the Scriptural support for it. Amy, I do believe that you have some sort of animosity towards those of us who believe in the doctrine of grace and it seems to cloud your view of the truth.
 

Amy.G

New Member
Who says that Calvinists have anything to hide? In the case that you mention, I'm more than happy to explain what "elect" means and show the Scriptural support for it. Amy, I do believe that you have some sort of animosity towards those of us who believe in the doctrine of grace and it seems to cloud your view of the truth.

I do not have animosity toward any of you guys! It's the doctrine that I dislike. I love you. :flower:


I have asked this question many times on the BB and never gotten a straight answer.

If you were discussing Calvinism with someone and an unbeliever overheard you and asked about election, would you tell them that not everybody is elected? And that only those who are elected or chosen for salvation can come to Jesus? Would you tell them "you may not be chosen"? I was chosen but you may not be.
If that would be hard for you to do, then you should re-evaluate your belief in Calvinism.
 
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