...WOULD FILL A THIMBLE. If knowledge was an acre of pinto beans, I might have one bean to plant in the ground. Therefore, I do not, nor will not, debate Calvinism.
Until 2006, I didn't even know what Calvinism was, and when someone shared something in the comment streams I frequented, I had to look up nearly every single term used. I was so dumb. Totally ignorant. Tulips were flowers to me. Points were the sharp steel tips on the end of my son's arrows. Who was this Calvin guy? Why did some Baptists say they didn't agree with Calvin on this or that, yet they considered themselves Calvinist? Why did Baptists say they were reformed? Was that a new word for born-again? Why did people fling, "You are an Arminian," like it was some kind of insult?" Who was Arminius? I did not know. Why were Christians fighting about them?
As I began to dip my toes into the blog-streams of discussions, I found myself wrapped in the seaweed of retaliatory questions. I couldn't get answers to my questions. I got links. Read this. Read that. Read something else. I did some reading, but whenever I read something which provoked a question in my mind--that didn't seem to go along with what I understood in relation to my own faith--I'd go back and bring up the question, only to be given more rhetorical questions and links. Lots of links. Finally, I gave up trying.
I decided to simply read what folks had to say about Calvinism and non-Calvinism. I watched for those Calvies who were gentle and kind in their remarks to one another. I watched for non-Calvies who responded to the gentleness and kindness with their own kindness and gentleness. I overlooked a lot of sarcasm, tit-for-tat stuff because I began to see that many who did that actually knew one another. I met some great fellas and a couple of ladies who were Calvies. They were super nice and I count them as dear dear friends in Christ today. I met some funny hot-shot logical thinkers who loved playing games with words and questions; they reveled in turning a phrase and asking confounding questions--rather than giving straight answers and clear statements. I watched battle after battle--some I understood. Others are still being waged.
Now, here I am making a confession of sorts. I still don't know much more about Calvinism. But I've discovered, most Calvinists do not know a lot about Calvinism. They know some facts, they know what others say about Calvin, but Calvin is dead. He's been dead a very long time. He did not write any of the books in the Bible. He wrote about his views and understanding of the books in the Bible. He did not create his own theology and name it Calvinism. People did. As I read more, I noticed that even the Calvies disagree with one another over Calvinistic terms and the definitions of those terms. Some agreed with some points, but not all points, or some of one point, but not all of some point. So even Calvies are at odds on how they relate to another's terms within the theology of the master Calvin. Yet, each and every one of those I have corresponded with believe in Jesus. All of them. It goes without saying they trust in Him for their salvation.
I saw a comment by a Calvinist friend of mine the other day. He was one who came to my rescue in my early blogging days (when I was severely attacked on Founders Blog for daring to ask questions while exposing my ignorance). For a while Greg and I chatted back and forth via email. The comment Greg made on a comment stream said that he must be ready to give an answer for his faith and then he cited 1 Peter 3:15.
I like that reference because I had just published another post on that verse regarding quarreling amongst us. 1 Peter 3:15 doesn't actually say to be ready to give an answer for the "faith" that is within us, but rather "the reason for the hope that is within" us. My Hope that is within me is Jesus. Jesus Christ. My Savior. My Redeemer. My Lord. He is the Hope--the only hope I have. Granted Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." But I have not seen Jesus, and I have not seen the gates of heaven, or the mansion Jesus is preparing for me. But I have the "hope". That hope lives inside of me. It is as real to me as knowing I will see my two little granddaughters if I get in my car this morning and drive over to my daughter's house five miles away.
A lot of folks take this verse and use it as their license to argue about the nuances, the bits and pieces and slices and dices of doctrine, theology, and differences one holds about their faith in Christ. I think that is why Peter added the caveat at the end of that verse--"yet do it with gentleness and respect." Christians who share the gospel with bold arrogance, belligerence and self-righteousness belie a divisive spirit within, and exemplify a behavior that is the antithesis of the very gospel that Peter told them to be ready to share. Read again:
"And in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15 ESV
Bluntness, insensitivity, rudeness, unseemliness, intolerance, impatience, and self-righteousness are at odds with the above descriptors of respect and gentleness. Those belligerent attitudes carry abusive bullying techniques with them. That in my opinion is counter-productive to sharing "the reason for the hope that is within us." If we can't get the ground rules right, then we may as well not start a discussion.
Of course, to me, the reason for the hope that is within me is Jesus Christ living in me because when He stood at the door and knocked, I was sitting inside, a virtual mess of sin-filled actions, thoughts, and moral depravation. But when I heard His voice, I opened the door. He came in and He poured out Himself to me like living water and I couldn't drink enough of Him. He fed me through His Word. That is an act of my faith but certainly not the reason for the hope. The reason for the hope is the multiple scriptures that tell me I am a blood-bought, redeemed, sanctified, justified child of the Living God. It's knowing the Holy Spirit has sealed me unto the day of salvation where I will be glorified in Him. It's the promise of Philippians 1:6 that assures me Christ will continue working on me for the day of completion when I'll bow down before Him and praise His holy name for saving my wretched self-centered soul. What a hope! Amazing hope! He says:
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." Rev 3:19-21
What I know about doctrines, Calvinism, Arminianism, and all the other "isms" would fit in a thimble. The only "ism" I know is Him. Jesus, the only begotten Son of God.
I heard. I opened. Jesus came in. He is my hope. And "if any man hears" His voice and opens the door, He will come in to him, too. selahV