Non-Calvinists: Is God's glory most important?

[uhdum]

I have found myself reinterested in Calvinism after several years because one of my best friends has suddenly become a Calvinist in the last few months.

Honestly, the only preachers I ever hear him talk about anymore are John Piper and Paul Washer. (Actually, this is about all I hear him talk about). Anyways, that's for another topic. But I understand that Calvinists focus greatly on God's glory, more so than any other concept or attribute. I understand that God's glory plays a key role in Calvinism. As a friend I went to school with said, "God is glorified when a sinner is cast into hell." In fact, my friend stated that he has reached a point in his life where "it's no longer about getting to heaven." He said he would gladly go to hell if God would receive glory from it.

I am not a Calvinist, but I know there's numerous topics about God's glory and how it relates to Calvinism. I'm simply trying to understand some things because of my friend's situation (which came about, very, very suddenly after a mission trip to China). My question is this: For you non-Calvinists, is God's glory also the most important attribute in all of Christianity for you? If so, why? If not, what is it?

 

[Rippon]

I'm a Calvinist so non-Cals will have to speak for themselves . The answers could differ widely within that divergent group .

But I have known Non-Cals who did not put God's glory first . They insisted that soul-winning was #1 , discipling # 2 .

 

[Isaiah40:28]

I'm a Calvinist now, but perhaps I could answer based on how I was raised to think.
Non-Calvnism as a rule does not put God's glory first. It puts God's love for the world first. God loves us so much. Thankfully it's true, it's just not the most important thing.

 

[DeafPosttrib]

Did any non-calvinists saying that, we didn't put God in glory?

How you know?

By the way, I am not a calvinism. I disagree with them.

I do BELIEVE we give honor and exalt God in glory, amen. Praise the Lord.

In Christ
Rev. 22:20 -Amen!

 

[DeafPosttrib]

Rippon,

Romans 10:14 - "HOW then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and HOW shall they have not believed? and HOW shall they believe in him of whom they have NOT heard? and HOW shall they hear WITHOUT a preacher?"

In Christ
Rev. 22:20 -Amen!

 

[Rippon]

Rippon,

Romans 10:14 - "HOW then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and HOW shall they have not believed? and HOW shall they believe in him of whom they have NOT heard? and HOW shall they hear WITHOUT a preacher?"

In Christ
Rev. 22:20 -Amen!

I'm not quite sure what you are referencing in particular towards me . Are believers supposed to witness and be lovers of souls -- YES ! But my point was that that is not the top priority of Christians -- God's Glory is # 1 .

 

[swaimj]

The greatest command is to love God with all of your being. The second command is "like unto it" and it is to love your neighbor as yourself. I consider myself to be responsible to obey both of these at all times and in all situations. I consider this the proper lens with which to view life: responsibility to love God and my fellow man. I do not consider myself to be "God-centered" or "man-centered"; rather I am to look at life with both of these concepts in view and balance them. I believe this is the proper biblical perspective which permeates all of scriptural instruction.

 

[skypair]

Perhaps on a parallel line of reasoning...

... is this glory issue of Cavlinism the reason why church music has gone from traditional hymns to "praise" and "worship" songs? I find about the only things these songs do do is say good things, things we already know, about God.

But in heaven, who does that? The angels, right? "Holy, holy, holy."

What do the souls of men in earth and heaven do? They sing songs that cannot be sung by any other group including the angels. And when we look at those songs, they are testimonies of things the angels can only observe/"look into." See our song in Rev 5:9-10.

Question: Should our "worship" services exclusively go over to worship if that is the one highest priority with God?? Or is it God's highest priority "while it is still time" to reconcile and prepare men for eternal relationship with Himself, 2Cor 5:20-6:4.

I just wondered whether anyone else sees this praise and worship music as an influence of Calvinism like these "comforting" words at a loved one's funeral , "God willed it," are. Any insights on this??

skypair

 

[Rippon]

... is this glory issue of Cavlinism the reason why church music has gone from traditional hymns to "praise" and "worship" songs? I find about the only things these songs do do is say good things, things we already know, about God.




I just wondered whether anyone else sees this praise and worship music as an influence of Calvinism like these "comforting" words at a loved one's funeral , "God willed it," are. Any insights on this??

skypair

I guess that you are unaware that a great deal of traditional hymns were written by Calvinists . Even the bulk of Charles Wesley's hymns were certainly Calvinistic though he was almost as Arminian as his brother when sermonizing .

The great majority of CCM is most certainly not Calvinistic , that's for sure !

 

[MB]

I have found myself reinterested in Calvinism after several years because one of my best friends has suddenly become a Calvinist in the last few months.

Honestly, the only preachers I ever hear him talk about anymore are John Piper and Paul Washer. (Actually, this is about all I hear him talk about). Anyways, that's for another topic. But I understand that Calvinists focus greatly on God's glory, more so than any other concept or attribute. I understand that God's glory plays a key role in Calvinism. As a friend I went to school with said, "God is glorified when a sinner is cast into hell." In fact, my friend stated that he has reached a point in his life where "it's no longer about getting to heaven." He said he would gladly go to hell if God would receive glory from it.

I am not a Calvinist, but I know there's numerous topics about God's glory and how it relates to Calvinism. I'm simply trying to understand some things because of my friend's situation (which came about, very, very suddenly after a mission trip to China). My question is this: For you non-Calvinists, is God's glory also the most important attribute in all of Christianity for you? If so, why? If not, what is it?

Everything we do we should do for the glory of God whether it's a mission or teaching is still all for His glory even though it is really Him working through us.
MB