Featured Christians and the perception of others

I have a clue, but you will not like it and call me arrogant. If you had a clue what I am referring to, you would fall on your knees and repent.

 

Mine.... Christ of course

 

I see a lot of generalized assertions, but not too many examples of people on this board behaving in a hateful way. Lets go over a few:

1) Addressing the poster and not the post. Questioning the opponent of Calvinism's qualifications and character is a common practice.

2) Pretending to ask a question, but really implying the opponent holds heretical views.

3) Misrepresenting the views of anti-Calvinists.

In the Light ends many of his posts with a list of common Calvinist behaviors, 1 through 5 if memory serves.
I think the reason for so many going with this "hateful" playbook is their doctrine cannot be defended biblically.

 

There's a huge difference between "I'm better than you because I chose to be and you have no excuse". And I'm better than you because God chose me to be against my will and you have my sympathies.

 

No, Christians of all levels of maturity behave in ways that are in-Christlike at various stages in these debates.

I do believe those who hold to the doctrines of grace see a greater importance in getting doctrine right, especially as it relates to glorifying God.

peace to you

 

As a former Calvinist, I denounce Calvinism as a major heresy, but I would not say that Calvinists are more hateful than others. All "beliefs", even the right ones (sometimes especially the right ones), have proponents who are hateful. Do some beliefs lean in more into a particular sin than others? Sure. But I don't think "hate" is the one that is salient in Calvinism. From my experience, it's a scarcely bearable sanctimonious pride (and no, not all Calvinists are proud). And it's an especially subtil form a pride because:
A) it comes in a garb of great humility, such humility whereof one often boasts (ex: "unlike you, IIIIIII don't think that IIII had anything to do with my salvation").
B) Calvinists believe and state (just check the threads) that they were elect in eternity past for a unknown reason which is apart from Jesus Christ. So Jesus Christ is not so much the cause of their ultimate salvation as he is simply the means of it. So deep inside, deep, deep inside, they believe there was something special about them - apart from Christ - that caused God to elect them, although they'll never say it and simply stick with "we don't know what is the criterion of election", because, after all, they're too humble to say anything such as that.

 

Wow, you got a freaking problem coming outa your mouth don’t you? And the problem rests with you and your own arrogance and opinions.... opinions are like.....

 

This as a reply to a post wherein I clearly said that Calvinists are not more hateful than others Christians and that not all Calvinists are proud, and wherein I stated that I was answering from my own experience...
well, I guess your reply goes toward answering the OP.

 

Try this one on for size Dave, I’m no better than you....

 

Only if I were a Calvinist... which I’ve never been, unlike you.

 

Then that goes to answering the OP too, as well as confirming what I wrote: "All 'beliefs', even the right ones (sometimes especially the right ones), have proponents who are hateful."

And why are you so upset given that a Calvinist had just said "I'm a better than you" - which I hadn't even read when I wrote my post...

 

How are Calvinist identified?
Do they self-identify?
Is the title assigned to them based on their theology - understood or misunderstood by a third party?
Does the title mean that Calvinist adhere to all of the teaching, doctrinal positions of John Calvin?
Can a believer adhere to the TULIP acronym without being Calvinist?

 

No, because the Majority of Calvinist might appear silent here.

You got to take into account 75 million or so Presbyterians. Vs the 40 million baptist who are only possibly Calvinist infiltrated.

We get some Presbyterians to voice their view its a little more of universal invitation, that is if you have faith in Jesus, you will be saved. And you are encourage to seek God.

They can tell you God Loves you. and their own child for that matter.

The Calvinist we get here or from Carm..... totally different. Its Might makes right.

 

I consider the right ones “Christianity” found in the Bible. True Christianity isn’t hateful. see the Sermon on the Mount.

I’m not upset, I was just suggesting a correction to Dave.

 

Interesting analysis. Wish you had fleshed it out more.

 

I was talking about your replies to me.

 

Excuse me.... but back those statements up please. 1. Presbyterians are far from Universalists. 2) Carm (might makes right)! Baloney!!!

 

Yea, so am I.

So let me ask you this.... what doctrines do you hold to?

 

No. Most Calvinists are nothing like the internet Calvinists.