Calvinism--Not a dirty word ,
A Few common Misperceptions
Sometimes when you read or hear believers talk, who are not Calvinistic in beliefs, you feel that Calvinism is almost a dirty word to them. Not just because they can't reconcile how God can choose some unto salvation and others unto damnation, with their view of a God of love, yet seeming to forget He is also a God of justice and wrath, but because they have seen Calvinists behave badly, and unlovingly, and because there are many fables concerning the man who the name was given after.
Yet what is Calvinism? Reformed or Covenant Theology? It is THE system of Biblical doctrine that was unearthed and set abroad by the power of God after being buried for over a 1,000 years and hidden and concealed all that time under the tyranny, oppression and apostasy of the Popish church. Martin Luther was the man who often spoke the truth, But John Calvin with his fine learning was the man who wrote and put onto paper the systematized theology now known as Calvinism, yet was really only going back to the doctrine of the early church and the times of Augustine. He didn't invent it, the words inspired by God in the Holy Bible is the basis for true religion, i.e.. Calvinism. Anyone who calls oneself a Calvinist, is not following John Calvin as the founder of there faith. They are following the true teachings of Scripture, and if Calvin himself knew today that this system of theology was named after him, the man who lies in an unmarked grave out of a desire to not want his tomb being turned into a shrine of any kind, and therefore giving him some of the worship only entitled to by God, would very likely turn in that grave. Calvinism is Christianity in its purest, truest expression. And rather than man having any glory or power in his own salvation, we are utterly dependant upon God, not just for all providences in life, but including unto the power of salvation.
And unlike the picture that is sometimes painted of John Calvin and often Calvinists today, it is not an icy intellectualism, but it affects the heart, the mind and every part of man's being. And you cannot be a Calvinist without inwardly being changed. And it has nothing to do with John Calvin, but the power of the Sacred Writing of the Bible.
So yes, we all see believers of all kinds behaving badly at some time. Calvinists and none Calvinists alike. And I for one see my own shortfalls in these matters time and time again, as we are all sinners and weak. But anyone who bears the name of Calvinist, who openly and over a period of time, lacks, humility, meekness, lovingness, a seeking after Godliness and a whole hearted longing for piety, and general nobility that the name deserves, then I would keep the fact that you say you are a Calvinist to yourself. As the name has noble origins, and one that basically means, you are living the Christian life in its truest and purest expression, and how the lost and those perhaps weak in faith, view those who claim to know Christ as their Lord, will always make a difference, in not only how the term Calvinism is received, but in how much we as Christians are able to obey Jesus final words in the Great commission.
I think its almost a relief that the Outside the Camp Brigade put John Calvin in their hall of shame as unregenerate, as the hyper-Calvinist garbage that flows from there would be even more shameful if they extolled John Calvin and there fore took his name as a representative of there beliefs.
You can't actually sully the name of Calvinism, without also sullying the teachings of the Bible.
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