my real life adventures

what's that?

it seems that Calvinism has been coming up a lot more these days. last tuesday my sister-in-law was over and somehow we ended up talking about it. then thursday we get our copy of the Liberty Journal, a long term benefit of attending Liberty University and the featured story is about Hyper Calvinism. And while I'm not a huge fan of all of the views of the Falwell organization (if you know me well you might have even heard me say Jerry Far-as-is well - which was me trying to say you're better off being as far away from Jerry Falwell as you can) I often agree with the underlying principle they're addressing... it's how they "address" it that often offends me.

Anyway I ended up talking with Dan and Tim about it on Sunday, granted my understand of Calvinism is rudementary, one of the major points being that not all of us are selected/elect by God to be saved. The first thing that always pops into my mind is "wow, they've got some ego's". I mean, if I truely believed that God only chose selected people to be saved how on earth could I think that I was anywhere close to being chosen?! What kind of opinion would I have to have of myself to think that God Himself chose me over anyone else?!

I already know I don't deserve salvation but that's why God extends His Grace to us - for by grace are we saved through faith, and that not of ourselves lest any man should boast - and that while we were yet sinners He died for us. Not for some, but all! He is not willing that any should perish but that all should be saved. I know I've paraprased rather badly, but you get the idea.

It's funny, I always thought I came from a rather libral belief system, but I don't think of it as liberal anymore. I have definite beliefs like, I don't believe that you have to be baptized to be saved (though as followers of Christ we should follow his example and at some point, when it's right in our spiritual walk, should be baptised as part of our walk with Him), I believe we are all given the gift of salvation and that some don't take the gift. So, while I don't agree with Calvanists, or some Baptists, and I think it's sad that they think that way (we can't fathom God's Grace, why are they trying to limit it) I don't see much point getting mad about it. The bottom line for me is that ultimately we're not the ones that decide who's right and who's wrong, God is the Judge and our focus shouldn't be on someones particular interpretation of scripture, it should be on Him and His will for our lives.

That's my rant for now ;)

posted by Heather @ 9:03 PM