Featured Are forms other than Calvinism & Arminanism debate form to be C & A debate?

I think much of the Calvinistic resurgence is the result of a period of decline in doctrine within many churches. People who see a void will seek to fill that void (and there was a void).

That was my experience anyway (not how I became a Calvinist but what led me to seek an undergraduate degree in religion and continue on to seminary).

I started realizing that I held beliefs I truly had no right to hold. I learned what was taught, but didn't work out that doctrine and really could not defend it against other positions.

For me it started with doctrines like OSAS (a belief I still hold). I could give you the doctrine and supporting passages, but I could not defend it against other interpretations. This led me to transfer to another college and change my major from business to religion.

I believe this is why we saw the resurgence in Calvinism, and I believe it is why Calvinism has often become a stepping stone for many (as we now see a decline in, or revision of, Calvinism).

I don't know my professors background prior to teaching.

 

No, that isn't correct. History is full of Calvinists and non-Calvinists (even anti-Calvinists) whose love for God was manifest in their lives.

I tend to think that the love for God those 1st century Christians (non-Calvinists, BTW) had as they gave their lives for the gospel of Jesus Christ outshines the "love" shown by Calvinists (and non-Calvinists) who sit in the comfort of their homes damning any Christian who disagrees with their views.

 

They did understand the sovereignty of God, but they were far from Calvinists. Many of the questions Calvinism addresses (like the scope of the Atonement) were not asked until long after the 1st century.

You could say that they would have been Calvinists if they lived in another time, but such hypothetical claims are pretty useless.

Those Christians were too busy working for the kingdom, living and dying for the gospel of Jesus Christ, to sit around and ponder exactly for whom Christ died (they knew He died for them), if free-will existed (the mutual exclusiveness of divine will and man's will was not a part of their worldview as it is ours), etc.

In the heat of battle soldiers don't argue about the administrations overall plans. They are about the mission.

Unfortunately Christian theology is often too much about anything but the mission.

I wish our churches were filled with men and women who had a zeal for Christ, who would love their enemies, who would give all that some might be saved. Instead I believe far too many are content to stand by and watch people die, thinking "God will save them". Too many love their own comfort, their own wealth, their own lives.

And, before anybody tosses a stone in my direction, I grant that I am too often in this crowd.

There is simply something wrong when Christians look at D.L. Moody and think he lacked a love for God because he was not a Calvinist, or at George Müller and think he lacked love for God because he was a Calvinist.

 

I agree.

Theology seeks to answer questions contemporary to the people asking those questions.

For centuries nobody asked the questions Calvinism seeks to answer. They didn't ask specific questions addressed in the fuller doctrine of the Trinity (with persons and natures).

It doesn't mean newer views are wrong. Theology has developed over time.

 

I agree differences on views (those who advocate Calvinism, those who seek to reform Calvinism, and those who abandon Calvinism) has nothing to do with their love for God.

What do we think about our work? I guess it depends on our work. Are we like Paul, desiring to save men? He knew it is God who saves but still used that language to emphasize the necessity of our work (we were saved to do the work God has purposed for us to do).

 

Yes, I like "winning men" better as well. Like I said, Paul knows only God saves.

That does not mean we do not work towards "winning men".

 

I agree. We are called to make disciples, not to save souls. This includes sharing the gospel but goes beyond this initial step by including discipling those who are saved.