The "arrogant" calvinist

As long as I recall, I've tended to take a middle road with people, to try and keep the peace, avoid unneccessary confrontation or disagreement. Even when one lot of friends turned against others in an online forum, it was the road I took, to try and keep the peace and avoid fall outs and hurting feelings. That went so wrong it was probably the first time it occurred to me this wasn't neeccessarily the right thing to do.

Tonite during a telephone conversation, my Biblical convictions which are purely from the Word of God, came under scrutiny from a friend. Because I see the Regulative Principle of Worship as the only Biblical worship and what God desires and commands of us to do, I was left feeling that somehow I had commited the biggest sin against Christendom that anyone had ever known. Also because I am not a mature Christian, though the words not used, the implication of arrogance for having this opinion and being a lone voice amongst Christians in my local circle was plain, when mature, Godly people didn't see this as Biblical truths. I did ask them if I was supposed to take the word of men or the Word of God as my rule of faith. But they also said that me not celebrating Christmas, or thinking hymn singing was wrong, was a depressive outlook. From how they spoke they had me sat here for hour or upon hour only thinking of what I can't do to please God and having no joy in Him. Which when I spoke to another believing friend here, who I see more often said was quite ridiculous. My life is mostly barren, and bare, owing to how this illness affects me, most natural comforts have been taken, the one joy I do have is in the Lord. But this first friend was concerned for my state of mine and how extremist my views are. I kept my counsel as in not getting upset or mad, there was no point. But its not fair that folks will have you as this or that, just for trying to be pleasing to God and doing as He requires of us. They said I was like a monk who sat in a cell whipping themselves, to try and please God. The conversation was awkward after that. The conversation went much deeper into this stuff. And they wouldn't discuss the theology issues as debating theology is not their thing. But as John Knox said:

"For as I depend not upon the determinations of men, so I think my cause no weaker, albeit their authority is denied unto me; provided that God by his revealed will, and manifest word, stands plain and evident on my side" [John Knox from First Blast of The Trumpet]

"I've got better things to do than argue with every wrong-headed crackpot with an ignorant opinion! Im a busy (wo)man! I say, either agree with me or take a hike! Im right, period! End of discussion!" [Calvin and Hobbes] |