ryan.the.calvinist

Living in St. Louis, in 2017, I hear a lot about racism and racial inequality and the like. I am convinced a lot of the talk is politically motivated, but, shocker, sin still exists. Racism, that disgusting sin of pride and hate still exists. But good news... I know the solution to racism... It is the fact that Jesus Christ, second person of the Triune God, fully God and fully man, was crucified for the forgiveness of sins & buried, is risen, ruling and reigning presently at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to again dwell with man on a renewed earth forever. He chooses men and women from every tribe, tongue, and nation to show his love and give new life, completely based not on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. Not based upon our efforts or works. Not based upon what I've done for God or how much better I am than "those other people". Based completely on a sovereign God who has chosen to show mercy to rebel s...

Question:  Would you join a local congregation knowing you would be excluded from holding either office of deacon or elder? I am asking this question from a complimentarian view.  That is, I am against "eldressess" or "pastrixes" and see no biblical support for women holding such roles.  While on the topic, I *do* see the capacity of women to hold the role of deaconess.  But that is not what I am referring to.  The issue is not one of gender requirements; it is one of belief or conviction. I am Reformed (NO! REALLY?!??!).  I am also a convinced credobaptist, wishing to bestow the visible sign of the New Covenant to those who are actually members of that covenant - namely those who repent of sin and place their trust in Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins.  Are there false converts? Yes.  Credobaptists baptize many many many who are not truly of the the New Covenant, though they profess to be.  This is due to our inability to kn...

I hope I don't tick off my Presbyterian brothers... esp. since I like their churches (as a whole) generally more than Reformed Baptist ones... In light of my diving into Covenant Infant Baptism arguments, I found this defense from Dr. James White regarding Hebrews 8 and the New Covenant to be useful. He asserts that the Old Covenant was a mixed covenant - that the covenant sign was correctly administered to those whose hearts were changed (like David) and those whose hearts remained corrupt (like Ahab). The New Covenant, however, is not a mixed covenant.  ALL in the New Covenant know the Lord.  The text looks not to a future fulfillment, but is speaking as a present reality.  The New Covenant is better now; It won't be better later, it is presently better, in a similar way that Christ is a better mediator now, and the sacrifice of Christ is better now than the sacrifices under the Old Covenant. I must say, this is what I keep coming back to in my focus on ...

While things have been fairly quiet on the blog here, thoughts have been racing through my head of late. Particularly, thoughts relating to the New Covenant ... what is is... what the benefits are... and especially who makes it up: Is it comprised of believers only?  Or are nonbelievers included in this New Covenant as well? The Evangelical Presbyterian Church emblem. Growing up from a slightly Pentecostal and then a standard evangelical background, I grew up recognizing that the New Covenant was comprised of believers.  I have no recollection of learning anything to the contrary.  However, while investigating churches in the O'Fallon / St. Peters / St. Charles, MO area, my wife and I have spent the last month or so at Mercy Road Fellowship, an Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) plant near Mid Rivers Mall in St. Peters.  Aside from a small Acts 29 church plant of maybe 15 people, this is by far the smallest congregation I've been involved in on any capac...

This continuing series is a look at C.S. Lewis’s views on Predestination and Free Will… The Arminian and Calvinist Positions Compared Having defined terms relevant to the discussion of Reformed Theology and Arminianism, one may now be able to approach how these two very distinct theologies contrast with one another on five major parts of contention between the two camps: human ability to obey God, the cause of an individual’s election, the scope and  intent of Christ’s atoning work, the efficacy of the grace of God, and whether or not a Christian can lose his salvation. These five areas of theology and soteriology [1] are the major reasons there is disagreement between the monergists and synergists. While the details of Calvinist and Arminian positions are greater than this paper allows for discussion, the following chart [2] offers a brief comparison between the major differences and the emphasis held by each position. Arminian Position Calvinist Position Human Abil...

This continuing series is a look at C.S. Lewis’s views on Predestination and Free Will… The History of the Discussion – Pelagius & Augustine While obviously connected to the Protestant Reformation, much of the framework for the Calvinist-Arminian debate, in terms of the freedom and nature of the will, had been laid by St. Augustine of Hippo in his dealings with the teachings of Pelagius – who was later condemned by the Church as a heretic for his teachings. Pelagius had taken great exception to a prayer in Augustine’s Confessions, which read: “Give what you command, command what you will.” [1] His objection was that God would never command something if man was utterly unable to accomplish that command. [2] What stemmed from this debate was a view that came to be known as Pelagianism . This position holds that man’s ability to obey God, indeed his very nature, was unaffected by the Fall of Adam. [3] An appropriate analogy for Pelagianism would be that human beings are all bor...

“ My toaster doesn’t have a love button! ” “No! And neither does a robot!” [1] This exchange, neither written nor uttered by C.S. Lewis, certainly represents his theology concerning the notions of God’s sovereign decree in election and of man’s autonomous will to freely choose God. Discussions concerning the freedom of the will, and by contrast divine election, are visible throughout Lewis’ writings - from his fictional works to his BBC broadcast-inspired theological Mere Christianity. In his unpublished paper To Choose or Be Chosen: C.S. Lewis’ Contribution to Free Will and Predestination , Georgian pastor John Alexander attempted “to reconcile predestination and free will through Lewis’ works and examine Lewis’ impact on modern Christianity through this reconciliation.” [2] Such “reconciliation,” however, is not necessary to understand the impacts of both Reformed Theology and C.S. Lewis’ theology on Christendom as a whole. Lewis’ relevant writings clearly point to a synerg...

Here is an example of how irrational the followers of Ergan Butch Caner can be.   This is an exchange I partook in via Facebook with a student who, while claiming to be at least somewhat Reformed, attends Liberty University. I don’t know if I would believe this mess if I had not been involved in it directly… and even then I am bewildered.  You would think that, just because someone is a “Christian leader”, they get a free pass to lie and do anything they want – and NO ONE can question them when they are caught in their lies!  This is nuts and cult-like at the very least. (btw… the exchange ended because I was promptly removed from Leah’s friends list, making it impossible for me to reply.) This is nuts!

This is a chart I created for my paper on C.S. Lewis, Free Will, and Predestination, comparing the 5 Points of Calvinism to the 5 Points of Arminianism.   - Arminian Position - - Calvinist Position- Human Ability The Fall has damaged human nature, but not rendered it totally disabled. Human nature is not enslaved to sin, and is more or less sick. As a result, the unrepentant sinner’s ability to either freely choose or reject Christ is unaffected by the Fall. Total Depravity The Fall has not only damaged human nature, but has rendered it completely corrupted. Human nature is enslaved to sin, and even spiritually dead – unresponsive. This deadness makes him utterly unable and unwilling to ever choose God. Conditional Election God’s choice to save the sinner is based upon his knowledge of that sinner deciding to come to him, freely at a point in the future. The sinner’s choosing God does not depend on God’s first choosing him or her. Unconditional Election Go...

Recently I was catching up with a somewhat lost friend from my days at Larimore Elementary and Kirby Jr. High via email correspondence.  The conversation went fairly quickly from the likes of "how are you?  where you you working these days?" to "what are your thoughts/feelings about homosexuality and those who are practicing homosexuals?"  hah.  that's quite a jump.  But then again, as theologically minded as I am... I thought I’d give it a shot… and post my response here. Question:  “What are your feelings about gay people?” First, I think i should state what my views are not:  my views are NOT those of the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas... the rude "congregation" of "christians" who protest the funerals of dead service men and women and homosexuals holding signs that read "God Hates Fags."  Such a view/practice is very sad and unbalanced in its view of God's holiness AND his loving kindness/mercy/grace.  That church on...

Recently Vimeo user Puritan Reformed posted several videos giving an easy-to-understand look at the timelines involved in each of the four main eschatological systems:  Premillenarianism, Dispensational Premillenarianism, Postmillenarianism, and Amillenarianism.  They give a good basic look at each view, and I thought it would be beneficial to share. Premillenial Timeline Premillennial Timeline from Puritan Reformed on Vimeo . Dispensational Premillennial Timeline * Dispensational Premillennial Timeline from Puritan Reformed on Vimeo . Postmillennial Timeline Postmillennial Timeline from Puritan Reformed on Vimeo . Amillennial Timeline ** Amillennial Timeline from Puritan Reformed on Vimeo . I hope you found these insightful.  Thanks to Puritan Reformed for posting them!! *This is the view represented by Tim LaHaye and the Left Behind books/movies ** This is the view that I find to be the most biblical.  For a further look into Amil...

Two Calvinist-themed articles were posted today @ the Christian Science Monitor.  I will copy and paste the first... and then link to the 2nd tomorrow with some of my favorite quotes. // From total depravity to grace, the tenets of a theology undergoing a revival of Calvinism in America's Christian faith. By Josh Burek / March 27, 2010 Calvinism generally refers to five doctrinal points – Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, and Perseverance of the saints (or TULIP) – that were established after John Calvin died. Scholar Allen Guelzo, putting his interpretation on TULIP, says the doctrines explain the most basic questions any theology or philosophy can ask:   •Why are people the way they are? Total depravity – you're fully corrupted by sin. •How can people ever change? Unconditional election – God ch...

The more and more I try to like the TNIV, the more and more I find that I dislike it.  And the more I discover I dislike it, the more I realize that my disdain is not limited merely to the TNIV… but extends to the Evangelical’s favored version: the NIV. A while back, I published a brief article on one of the many reasons someone should avoid (or rather use with caution) Today’s New International Version.  After I hit the PUBLISH button, I thought I should double-check and see if the same translation error made in the TNIV was present in the NIV.  It was.  So today when I encountered yet another translation biff, I decided to check in advance.  And guess what – it was poorly translated both in the TNIV and NIV.  At least I know in advance.  Now once again, I am not accusing anyone who uses the NIV (or even the TNIV) of being a heretic.  It is, after all, a translation of God’s Word.  Neither the NIV nor the TNIV are among the absolute WORST...

I can remember my first real exposure to podcasting.  It was back in 2005 if I am remembering correctly -- for some reason I was with my brother in his van (at the time), driving.... somewhere in Florissant.  And I remembered my brother was playing his iPod over the stereo system via tape-deck adapter.  I was listening to someone talking about Dan Brown's book The DaVinci Code, which was being released as a major motion picture right around that time.  I inquired what we were listening to (I don't remember if I made it seem like I was bored in doing so - I would have rather been listening to music at the time, but I became interested the more I listened) and my brother described what I would later realize as being a podcast. Ah... podcasting.  No, your iPod (or Zune) is not JUST for listening to music on.  Personally, I have grown in the faith and in maturity QUITE A BIT due to teachings I've heard from podcasts.  Theological shows and sermons alike ha...

Would you think God as more gracious if you knew that babies who die in infancy go to Heaven ? Would you think him less gracious if that they went to Hell ? Does not God deserve our glory and honor and praise either way? Whatever God decides to do in this case, it is just and good because God is just and good .

Reason #213 why use great discretion when using the TNIV (Today’s New International Version): Though it may clarify some passages, it muddies up others, and attempts to draw a distinction where one need not be in the original Greek. Specifically, see 1 Peter 1:2 and 1:20 in the TNIV (and NIV). Christians are said to have “ been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father .”  Fair enough translation.  Yet when the same meaning is conveyed to be speaking of Christ a few verses later, the translators opted to use “ chosen ” only, and leave out “ foreknowledge “… even though the actual word in Greek both instances is explicitly foreknowledge ! Understand… I am not quibbling that the TNIV (or any other version) is taking words OUT of the Bible… as many KJV Onlyists do.  I recognize that difficulties in translating between Hebrew and English and Greek and English exist.  The problem is that the meaning of the text itself seems...

I recently received a series of questions from a good friend dealing with some issues/objections she had with Calvinism/Reformed Theology. I truly appreciated the opportunity to share what I explicitly believe in the realm of the Doctrines of Grace with her, and humbled she came to me to know how a Calvinist deals with each of these questions. This is a continuation of this series. Because these questions are quite common inquires into Reformed Theology, I figured it would be profitable to the body of Christ for me to post my answers here as well. Perhaps I will continue on beyond her questions in writing on/replying to other objections common to Calvinism. Again, I hope this is useful to all who read this. Question #4: Who would be more loving - someone who chooses to be with you because that person loves you, or someone who is forced to be with you? I am fairly familiar with this question, though in a different way: the "divine rapist" argument. I would st...

I recently received a series of questions from a good friend dealing with some issues/objections she had with Calvinism/Reformed Theology.  I truly appreciated the opportunity to share what I explicitly believe in the realm of the Doctrines of Grace with her, and humbled she came to me to know how a Calvinist deals with each of these questions.  This is a continuation of this series. Because these questions are quite common inquires into Reformed Theology, I figured it would be profitable to the body of Christ for me to post my answers here as well.  Perhaps I will continue on beyond her questions in writing on/replying to other objections common to Calvinism.  Again, I hope this is useful to all who read this. Question #3: How does this affect your approach to ministry (ie: the homeless guy sitting on the side of the road)? It gives me a great boldness in the presentation of the gospel.  I can firmly proclaim the truth, unwatered ...