I just thought of an interesting coincidence with regard to my blogging. I first started blogging after I saw Moses Flores’ blog. Moses is a Calvinist whom I was debating on the doctrine of total depravity at the time. His blog brought me to the demonic Blogspot (or ‘blogger’ as so many call it). I stuck with that for a little while until I came across Jeff Downs’ blog. Jeff is another Calvinist whom I was familiar with from his Countercult Apologetics Journal as well as his affiliation with James White’s ministry. Interestingly enough, I had contacted him about contributing to the journal long before I ever got into blogging, but I digress. In any event, his blog brought me out of the darkness of Blogspot and into the light of WordPress. How interesting it is that two Calvinists played such pivotal roles in my blogging.
B”H
Do you consider Calvinism to be “liberal?” I was talking with an Arminian Baptist pastor here in Malaysia who told me that he had been reading some Calvinist theology lately and was afraid that he was becoming liberal. Since most of my theological friends are Reformed, none of us see ourselves as “liberal,” but since you’re Arminian what do you think?
Ranger: I’ve yet to read a Calvinist author who I thought was liberal. I’ve certainly never spoken to any liberal Calvinists. Then again, I have spoken to some mainline Presbyterians and I suppose that Presbyterians are Calvinists, aren’t they? But in speaking to these guys I’d never know that they were Calvinists.
There is hope yet, brother. I know you are already family with Calvinism, but let me recommend a book to you: Living For God’s Glory: An Introduction to Calvinism. It cover a broad area, not simply TULIP (there is more Calvinism that this flower). :)
Yeah, I thought it was weird, because I generally think of Calvinists as conservative, and some definitely as fundamentalist. The guy has a fundamental Baptist upbringing though which demonizes Calvinism, so that might be part of it.
Jeff: Thanks. I think you brought this to my attention a while back, right? When I get back into that area of study I’ll make sure to put this on my ‘to read’ list.
Ranger: Definitely weird, but I guess from a FB position Calvinism would seem a bit liberal. I tend to associate Calvinism with conservatism as well, both religious and political.
Ahhhh, Blogspot, I remember it well. The good ole’ days when if I got 10 views in one day I was ecstatic. I still keep a blog over there, but I applaud anyone who makes the move. I’m not quite the evangelist you are, I only have one convert so far, but keep up the good work.
Peter: I keep a couple over there as well, although one is completely unnecessary. Oh, and I’m working on two or three more potential converts right now!
Now, Nick, you will have to become Lutheran, which is neither Calvinist nor Arminian. LOL
I must say that after only a few days converted from blogspot to wordpress, I am far more impressed with wordpress!
Jason
Rich: If only I could figure out that consubstantiation…
Jason: I knew you would be! And trust me, that glitch will be fixed sooner than later. They always are.
Hi Nick,
I’ve thought about switching over to WP too. It’s just a pain to make everyone update their bookmarks. If I do, I’ll make sure to give you the credit. :)
I too owe Calvinists deeply for my interest in blogging. Re liberal Calvinists – maybe Peter Enns? Apparently the folks at WTS thought he was one. The thing is that when C’s go “liberal” they often don’t refer to themselves as C’s anymore.
“If only I could figure out that consubstantiation…“
Part of the problem is that term is a label given to the Lutheran position, but Lutherans never use or refer to that term. It doesn’t describe what Lutherans believe regarding the Lord’s Supper.
Kevin: Trust me, it’s not too much of a hassle to cut and paste a new link. Make the move! Is Enns really liberal though? Maybe compared to a fundamentalist he is, but as compared to those I’d consider liberal I think he’s rather conservative.
Rich: Even more confusion!
if anything calvinist tend to be hunkering down and tightening their paradigms…. taking stronger stands on inerrancy, translations, ministry issues, women pastors, and the like.
It seems to me that when formerly Calvinist groups begin to get more liberal (in the sense of abandoning Sola Scriptura, as seems to keep groups conservative!) they tend to abandon the points of Calvinism slowly. PCUSA is the liberal branch of Presbyterians and from what I’ve heard they have mostly abandoned the five points.
However, I am not in a Presbyterian church and I don’t really have much to say without looking uninformed. :)
Ranger–your friend may have meant that, in reaction against Calvinism, he decided to become a liberal!
I use to be with blogger or blogspot. It’s more like a sore spot.
Nick, not all Calvinists are bad!
Brian: You think they’re stricter now than they’ve been in the past?
Jake: Sounds about right but I’m just a Pentecostal so what do I know?
TC: I’d never suggest that they were!
@Nick Norelli: Well I am Baptist (although deviating from my church in that I am reformed), but I’ve been reading on the Puritan Board forum, which is what I’m basing it on (a lot of conservative Presbyterians are on there).
Nick, jus’ playin’
Jake: You’re in a better position to know than me.
TC: I know. ;-)