History of Calvin

>When one is born again, all things become new, former things are passed away--a new creature in Christ.

True, but this is only known by God and you. There is not objective test for regeneration thus no denomination may logically claim a monopoly on "real" Christians.


>The Lord knows them that are His.

has morphed into "kill them all and let God sort them out."

 

I'll play!

They (mistakenly) hold that they can trace their hierarchy all the way back to John the Baptist via all the separatist groups that were not Roman Catholic (for starters).

Other than the fact that there were various groups that dissented from RC over the millennia, including the Protestants, this theory actually holds no real water, for there are no real ties between the groups and the various groups held all sorts of weird and heretical beliefs, some contra another, which makes the entire concept of an unbroken line of saints that can trace back to the time of Christ nothing more than a myth (in the way Landmark Movement people claim).

 

That is in no way "the totality" of Landmarkism. I've studied the doctrine as much as anyone else, and I know several Landmark pastors. We've had extensive discussions and they well understand that they "see things" in a way that may not coin out according to accurate history, but they persist because of the ideals of the doctrine.

You neglected to mention that Landmark churches see themselves as the ONLY church -- all others calling themselves churches are in error or heretical, including all the churches that stemmed from the Reformation.

You neglected to mention that Landmark churches hold to closed communion, because of the hierarchical issues, i.e., who handed down the church from whom, to prove that they are THE authentic church.

You neglected to mention that successionism is the way that Landmark churches make the claim that they are indeed the ONLY true church.

Further, you neglected to discuss the issue of the advent of Landmarkism, which arose as a response to Campbell and the Campbellite movement in the 19th century.

There is nothing ancient, nothing theologically necessary, and nothing biblically mandating Landmarkism, and to promulgate the practice as that of one congregation (for all others are not the true church!) over Christ's church, universal in scope, is an error of magnificent proportions.

 

You are as insincere as the day is long. You have called me a pathetic liar and a loser. That runs directly contrary to one of your signature lines.

I guess you have repudiated your quote from Elbert Hubbard:"If you can't answer a man's argument all is not lost you can still call him vile names."

 

From Herman Selderhuis

[Jacques ]Gruet was condemned to death on the grounds of blasphemy and of threatening the magistrate and pastors,and this punishment was administered on July 26,1547. Calvin had nothing to do with the affair and kept out of it. In a sense,Gruet's condemnation was nothing remarkablene who so openly threatened the civil order and the Christian faith would have received the death penalty elsewhere as well. (p.157)

 

Refusing to baptize infants was considered a threat to civil order by the holy see and the protestants, including Luther and Calvin. These are not real friends of true Baptists. When did this disparity change?

Infant baptism is still a major test of fellowship.

Now what?

Avoid tall buildings and nuclear power plants--probably hard to do in Japan--Korea too.
Peace,

Bro. James

 

From Herman Selderhuis :

Starting in 1549,Calvin preached twice every Sunday,and every other week preached no less than daily,which worked out to some 4,000 sermons. Three times a week he lectured on biblical exegisis. Each Friday he was an active participant in the Congregations. (p.222)​

 

The objective test: "...for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them." Eph. 2. This is not about weekly obligation, but rather a daily walk with the One who redeemed through His Grace.

More: the fruits of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit (Faith, Hope and Love).

Reproving, rebuking, exhorting in Love.

God cannot forgive us if we cannot forgive others.

Bless someone you do not like today. It will make your day--theirs too.

Peace,

Bro. James

P.S.

The morphology sounds like something from the adventures of the Jesuits in the Dark Ages. They too can be forgiven. "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do", Jesus, Golgotha, circa A.D. 33.

 

From A Pilgrim's Life

If one wonders how Calvin ever managed to turn a chaotic,politically volatile Geneva into a city that experienced rest and prosperity,and that exerted influence throughout Europe as an independent state,one need look no further than the sermon and the catechism. It is difficult to estimate the influence of the daily exposition of the Bible and the years of biblical teaching given to the youth in Calvin's Geneva. Instruction was given by well-trained pastors,strong ministers who knew the languages and the rules of rhetoric,and who could hold their own against church people and politicians. Their instruction formed the people of Geneva from childhood on,corrected them,gave them knowledge in the Scriptures,and instructed them in how the world fits together and how the church ought to fit together. In addition,this education that was given within the triangle of church,school and family was supported by a theology that taught that though humanity might well be completely corrupt,God's grace could completely change people,and God's Spirit could spur them on to great deeds of blessings and renewal. What Calvin did from 1541 on is proof that a society can be changed. It also attests to his conviction that simply leaving things as they are is completely un-Reformed. (p.211)

 

One then thinks of American cities like Detroit, New Orleans, etc., champions each of liberal free will values (rejecting all conservative values pertaining to God, church, soverignty, etc., by the political culture) and compares the end result to Geneva during Calvin's day.

 

From :A Pilgrim's Life

Drive

What drove Calvin to devote himself to his cause with such conviction...The answer has everything to do with his walk with God...In short,Calvin's motives were thanksgiving and obedience to God the Father.
He was further fully convinced that God had given him his office,and that he had to fulfill the duties of that office faithfully. He thought the same about making good on his promises. If Geneva had committed itself to a church order,that church order must be followed. If Calvin was to be hindered in the duties of his office,he would rather be forced to flee than to abandon it. (p.211,212)

 

I often wondered how men like Calvin and Luther would have responded to-day in our western culture. Political and social conditions are far different to-day.

Cheers,

Jim

 

From :A Pilgrim's Life

Calvin did not separate quickly from Rome,even after he had already been of evangelical conviction for several years.(p.25)

On May 4 [In 1534 --Rip]he renounced the income from his chaplaincy. This step was further necessiated by the requirements of canon law,according to which he would have to decide at age twenty-five whether he wanted to continue in the church and be ordained as a priest,or to give up his ecclesiastical career altogether. Calvin chose to end his ministerial service -- and yet did not: the chaplain did not become a priest but he did become a pastor. (p.27)

Until May 4,1534, Calvin was still an official member of the Roman Catholic clergy,and so during his stay in Angouleme,he was called several times to preach in Latin for the chapter. (p.40)

 

I'd suggest that you take a peek at those who are doing likewise in our generation, such as R. Albert Mohler, John MacAurther, and John Piper, to name but a couple, who's influence is great and reformational.