How should calvinism affect politics?

So what political topics does a Calvinist look for that a non-calvinist would not be concerned with or vice versa?

 

Good question.

Globally speaking, I have no idea. Reformed churches don't generally encourage their members to vote a given way; many of us are so dedicated to the idea that state has no place in worship that we won't allow state or national flags in the worship area.

Personally, my beliefs lead me to vote for candidates who oppose the death penalty, do not think the state has any place in determining marital rights, are concerned for social justice in the world more than they are interested in imposing a political ideology on said world, are sensitive to environmental issues, and don't think that the only path to righteousness is federally imposed.

But, as I said, I can't speak for all Calvinists any more than I can speak for all Christians.

 

Why?

Joseph Botwinick

 

Actually, the protection was from the Church of England.

Historically speaking, most churches which grew out of the Reformation held on to the idea of an established Christendom; Calvin tried to make Geneva a model city for Reformed Christianity. In Scotland, the Presbyterian Church was established after the French Catholic church was driven out.

It should be noted that the originators of the idea of freedom of religion, the Pilgrims, were in fact Puritans, who held to a Reformed theology.

 

==You have totally missed the point I was trying to make. The Bible makes statements that clearly "support" those who are Calvinistic (to different degrees, of course). There is no need to redefine terms (etc). All you have to do to "find calvinism" in the Bible is take verses "like" John 6 "literally" or "normally". Are there Arminian points in the Bible? Yes, general atonement.

==Well first you must place all terminology in its context. For example. If I ask you to get the football out of the trunk, what am I talking about? The back of a car, a box, or the nose of an elephant? Of course the context will determine the answer. The same is true with any word. While I do not hold to "limited" or "particular" atonement I do believe saying that, "world means world and whosoever means just that", is dangerous since it does not consider the grammatical (or cultural) context. We must always be very careful to consider the context of each and every verse and each and every word. Yea, that is hard work.

==Well then you just threw out everything the Bible says about "election" and that is certainly not a middle position. The position you just presented is historically known as Semipelagianism. Since this is the politics board, and not the theology board, I don't know that this is the correct place to discuss these doctrinal points. However the Bible is very clear that it is only those that the Father gives to the Son who come to Jesus and recieve eternal life (Jn 6:37, 17:1-3).

 

Why do you pray that I am a five point Christian? Are you doubting my Christianity. BTW, this is a serious question and I won't get in a huff and cry about you breaking the rules if this is what you are implying. I would actually like to explore this idea with you.

Joseph Botwinick

 

There is only one kind of salvation, the eternal kind. This business about being saved into the millinium through works is not Biblical.

It has always been about the sinner's faith. Do you accept the scripture:


Act 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

God is the source of salvation, the only source. Two stories in the Bible illustrate the need for a person to accept Christ as his Lord and Savior, the story of the rich young ruler (who wouldn't do that because he loved his wealth too much) and the story of Nicodemus, who complety changed his life when he met the Master.

 

My allegiance is to God and his Word, which happens to teach the five points of Calvinism. I do not worship Calvin. I worship God. I even disagree with Calvin on some issues. For you to imply otherwise is very disingenuous and mean spirited.

Joseph Botwinick

 

Start in verse 9 and you see the foundation of Calvinist teaching which is the spiritual state of man without the regenerating power of Christ:

Link

Joseph Botwinick

 

Well, I said my piece, so it's kind of up to y'all.

 

1. Arminianism is wrong theology. The truth is not mean. It is what it is.

2. Please quote for me where you see me saying that I don't pray for you. Did I really say that or did you just make that up to have a good rhetorical speech to make yourself look better?

3. You say that you are praying for me to submit to God himself. Tell me, from your free will arminian POV, what are you expecting God to do in response to your prayers?

Joseph Botwinick