REFORMED AND CALVINIST, ARE THEY ONE IN THE SAME?

I know that a full-fledged Calvinist adheres to the 5 points of Tulip.  While there are various shades to each petal, there is a general consensus, it seems to me among Calvinists.  Sometimes I read the word reformed and wonder what that means exactly.  But if I dig too deeply, I'm bound to find variances within that term, also.

For the purpose of this question, are all Calvinists reformed?

Comments

[Grosey]

MMM I would tend to say I am more reformed then calvinistic....
Sure I think Calvin was a good clear commentator, but it would be very rare for me to read his commentaries. I last read the Institutes in 1981.. and I think I read his commentaries in 1984..

The term reformed takes in a wider pedigree, where there are wider divergencies of opinion tolerated within a conservative evangelical framework.
The word "reformed" for me speaks more of kindness and breadth than warfare.
And so I tend to use that when I describe doctrines associated with election. My main self descriptor, however is conservative evangelical, because those things upon which we agree as conservative evangelicals are the things that are most at my heart.
Steve

[selahV]

hmmmn, indeed, dear Grosey. so, are you saying that not all "reformed" are Calvinists? selahV

[Grosey]

mmmm my dear henrietta :) I'd say those who use the term don't wish to be identified with a hard line faction.
Steve

[selahV]

ah hmmmmn, dear Grosey. You are so forthcoming and helpful.
By the way, my name isn't Henrietta. If ya want the real name it is Hariette. No "N" and no "etta". And no I'm not offended. It's the blight that came with the name I was given--which I abhor for more reasons than I can count. selahV

[Byroniac]

Hi SelahV:

Sorry I didn't respond to your questions (or Richard's) as I've been kind of busy.

I feel a certain kinship with you over rejecting one's given name. In my case, though, I was given a nickname as a very young child which stuck with me through adulthood. In the last couple of years, I've completely rejected it, because I never felt like it was part of my true identity (OK, sounds bonkers, I admit...) and I've gone to my actual and legal names instead. When asked why I want to change my name all of the sudden, I usually respond with something smart-alecky along the lines of, "Oh, well that's never been my name, and I'm just wanting to use my real name. Is that so bad?"

Some of my family and friends probably think I've flipped my lid so many times by now, they'll try to get me to stop on an even number so the top-half of my head will be screwed on upright.

[Byroniac]

I forgot the punchline to my joke! I'm "Reformed" in my self-identity, now. I'm Calvinist in theology, and I used to be "Calvinist" in my humor as well (sigh, I miss Calvin and Hobbes!).

[selahV]

Byroniac: I love a mystery. will the real reformed byroniac please stand up? :) selahV

[Grosey]

WOW I really love the large print :) I need that so much these days.. my apologies Hariette..
My daughters said to me a little while ago that there was one very good thing about our surname. They get to change it at marriage! :)
Steve

[selahV]

I'm glad I got my husband's name, too. didn't like my maiden name either. people nicknamed me Hedgehog because of it. C'est la vie. selahV

[Luke]

V,
Names? This trail has kind of morphed but since we are on the topic of names, you have NO IDEA how many times I have heard, "Use the force Luke, use the force!" OR "I'm your father Luke, search your feelings" OR "are you a DOCTOR?" makes me want to get one of those mail order thingys just to be able to say, "Why yes, I am a Doctor". And to top it all off, we have a Guideon coming to share with our church this Sunday AM(I'll still be preaching though) and his last name is Buzzard.

Byroniac...Dare I ask the name you refused?

Grosey...Kids say the darndest things huh? My mom new a young lady last name of Shortfield who married a man by the last name of Longacre.

Henrietta...oops...I mean hedgehog...oops... V, my uncle would not claim the title reformed so much as he would Calvinist, but for me here on the outside looking in, sometimes it is really hard to tell the difference and I mean that with all due respect. I'm sure others could say that about me as well.

[selahV]

Luke: Like I told ya, I don't mind rabbit trails. Very often they lead to deeper insights into the mind and heart of individuals. I particularly like the lightheartedness that they lend to comment threads, don't you?

I'm gonna devote an entire post to my name soon. I've been writing it off and on for about three weeks.

that is hilarious about Shortfield and Longacre!!

I'm so glad you are having Gideon's visit your church. A Gideon Bible in my hospital room back in 1975 was part of the process in which the Lord worked in me to bring me to Him.

Well, blessings be yours today. selahV

[Byroniac]

SelahV: wow. You've certainly been busy blogging: I see several entries since I last looked, and all of them look interesting. I don't suppose you have a pause button somewhere? :)

Well, the name I refused was "Curt" which is a shortened form of my middle name, Curtis. It's a great name, in and of itself, don't get me wrong. It just isn't me. In fact, a friend reinforced that for me.

(I'm paraphrasing very loosely) "Curt. Let's see, that basically means masculine and strong... That just isn't you."

Ouch (Prov 27:6)

Though he meant no harm by it. But it still smarts. So I settled on my real first name, Byron (it seems to fit me, strangely, being Germanic for "from the cottage" if I understand correctly. Perhaps in the common vernacular I would be termed "home boy" among friends).

[selahV]

A "pause" button? hmmmn, yeah. and I'm about to hit it. off to bed now. got soccer games to attend tomorrow morning. granddaughters. selahV