Revised: Six Reasons New Calvinism is Appealing
This is an excerpt from this post. Also see this post.
1. It enables people to deflect the negative emotions of life and trade them for joy by disconnecting from the physical world. This idea is sanctified by eradicating all value of earthly things (and people) for Christ.
2. It gives a simplistic answer for everything. All events in life are to either glorify God or show us our worthlessness.
3. Escape from responsibility and accountability. “I sinned? Well duh, that’s what sinners do.”
4. We already know what every verse in the Scripture is about, and by meditating on that, we can have a subjective result of our own choosing.
5. It eliminates the hard work of studying and wrestling with truth. Every verse is about Jesus, and the results are automatic. Also, hard work in spiritual matters is works salvation. As Calvin and Luther believed, sanctification is represented by the Sabbath rest. If you work, you die; hence, no work is more good news!
6. The Reformed, “power of the keys.” This is the idea that whatever Reformed elders bind on earth will be bound in heaven whether right or wrong. Hence, by merely staying in the good graces of your local neighborhood elders, you’re guaranteed to be in the graces of God. You’re in because the elders say you’re in. This is best accomplished by keeping your mouth shut and doing what you’re told.
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
Reblogged this on Clearcreek Chapel Watch.
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Nice list:
1. It enables people to deflect the negative emotions of life and trade them for joy by disconnecting from the physical world. This idea is sanctified by eradicating all value of earthly things (and people) for Christ.
Calvin’s novocaine. Remove emotion. Physical doesn’t matter. Christ alone. Now evil is good. Sit back, you won’t feel a thing. This is the solution for unjust suffering or religious persecution ala Calvin. Calvin saw to it that Servetus was burned to death for understanding the Bible differently than he did. If we were to witness Servetus’ arrest, trial, & execution today in our city, I wonder how many would go drive back to their homes proclaiming Calvin is a righteous, Godly man. Not possible if you believe freedom of religion is a God-given right.
2. It gives a simplistic answer for everything. All events in life are to either glorify God or show us our worthlessness.
Again, emotion, feeling, intellect is stripped away. I don’t buy it’s a religion for intellectuals, BTW. It’s a religion that attracts people who are hurting or want answers for why God allows hurt. Calvin’s answer is simple, that’s what glorifies God, what God wants, & He’s in control. Calvin definitely provides his clear answer for this, albeit it’s the wrong answer. Free-will for each to do good or bad, with like consequences, is the answer.
3. Escape from responsibility and accountability. “I sinned? Well duh, that’s what sinners do.”
Yeah, evil-doers love Calvin. God will change them, God’s in control of everything. In the meantime get out of their evil way, they’re en-route to do more evil. If you get hurt blame God for allowing it, it’s not their fault.
4. We already know what every verse in the Scripture is about, and by meditating on that, we can have a subjective result of our own choosing.
Well, the Bible is the only thing needed for living, they say. A classic Calvinist teaching. I’m not sure about that. What about wisdom? God mentions her a lot in the Bible, Proverbs right? We need wisdom. What about our conscience? What about the Holy Spirit? What about using our brains? What about love? What about surgery for a broken bone? There are many people throughout history that have never set eyes or heard that many Bible verses before. They may know the path to salvation but that’s it. God has given us, blessed us with more than the Bible.
Once they narrow you down to just the Bible, the issue is interpretation, & that’s debatable forever. They don’t want you to call upon wisdom, brains, conscience, Holy Spirit, love, common sense, etc. This is why crazy beliefs look crazy to the world, but not to
5. It eliminates the hard work of studying and wrestling with truth. Every verse is about Jesus, and the results are automatic. Also, hard work in spiritual matters is works salvation. As Calvin and Luther believed, sanctification is represented by the Sabbath rest. If you work, you die; hence, no work is more good news!
This is where evil really gets a foothold. The law isn’t necessary for the righteous. They will do right without a law or consequence. The law keeps wrong-doers in check. Think about it.
6. The Reformed, “power of the keys.” This is the idea that whatever Reformed elders bind on earth will be bound in heaven whether right or wrong. Hence, by merely staying in the good graces of your local neighborhood elders, you’re guaranteed to be in the graces of God. You’re in because the elders say you’re in. This is best accomplished by keeping your mouth shut and doing what you’re told.
This nicely sets them up with power. And you think it’s not about power and control….
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The rest of the answer to #4: This is why crazy beliefs look crazy to the world, but not to Calvinist religious fanatics. Where bizarre and crazy beliefs come from.
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Well, I think the quote from Mockingbird blog pretty much says it all right from the horses mouth. Like you say, a total detachment. Though eradicating self completely sounds spiritual, it leads to that ultimate conclusion.
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Start paying attention to the big names and what they do and say. They don’t APPLY Calvinism to their lives. It is all talk. And why don’t they? Because Calvinism is impossible to live out practically. They do not eradicate themselves at all. That is for you, the peasant that follows them.
Think about it. Take the example of a high profile Calvinist that gets sick. God foreordained the sickness. Then God foreordained the surgery. God foreordained he would be rich enough to be able to pay for it. God foreordained the surgery worked. There is nothing THEY do that is not foreordained. Unless they get caught protecting pedophiles or protecting those that protect pedophiles.
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“I sinned? Well duh, that’s what sinners do.” The news today sounded like the new pope is going start using that one too. And why not? I guess ole Francis could learn a thing or two from the Protestant popes.
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That is foreordained as well. Kids are nothing more than a speed bump to careen right over. They’re still en-route to their own coronation. Nothing will stop them. Unless the common folk speak up. We need more people to care & speak up. Their voices make a difference.
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Huh? Have you ever read Calvin’s Institutes? Or even any of the Confessions of the Reformation? Ironically, when you can’t even be bothered to engage in the actual arguments and beliefs of Calvinism beyond a caricature or straw man, you make them look good by comparison. People who truly struggle over theological questions quickly see through this and think Calvinism must truly be onto something when its opponents are so poor.
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Homer,
Listen you stinking dork, I have forgotten more about what I have read in the Calvin Institutes, the Heidelberg Disputation (which I have almost memorized), and other Reformed writings than you will ever know. I seriously doubt the past 6 years of your life has been committed to full-time study of such. Don’t throw that talking point in my face you mindless Kool-Aid drinker.
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“Stinking dork”? “Heidelberg Disputation [sic]”? “Mindless Kool-Aid drinker”?
“You shall recognize them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16). “But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing” (James 3:8-10). “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Sir, you obviously have a different spirit.
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Homer,
Thou art have spoken. Now go away. You will give account for the false gospel you so love.
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