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Calvinism (Doctrines of Grace)


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#1 Gordy

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Posted 25 April 2014 - 11:57 AM

What is the stand of the CMA on the Doctrines of Grace?  Many People call this Calvinism.  Many people think that Calvinists do not believe in evangelism.  That is Hyper Calvinism.  These manage to have very small churches.

 

For me I am a "Calvinist"  I believe the five doctrines of grace:

 

My outline is as follows:

      I believe that man is Gravely Dead (Ephesians 2:1-10).

      I believe that God has Radically Chosen two peoples:

            Israel and the Church.

      I believe that Christ's death is The Atoning Sacrifice for the elect

      I believe that Christ's Call is effective.

      I believe that the Eternally Secure believer is preserved and is to persevere reaching out to those

            in the world to be saved.

 

Let's think about that, Amen.


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#2 Cog

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Posted 25 April 2014 - 07:34 PM

It's been my understanding that the C&MA doesn't necessarily teach Calvinistic doctrine, but it doesn't outright reject either. I think it holds Calvinism and Armenianism in tension. I grew up in the C&MA and TULIP was never expounded. This may differ between congregations, but I've never noticed Calvinistic tendencies in their theology.


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#3 Speilb

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Posted 29 April 2014 - 09:30 PM

I think the Alliance side-steps the issue.  I think they are also cautious about labels in part because many of them evolve (for example what it means to be a Democrat today is not what it meant 70 years ago, similarly "Methodist" rarely means John Wesley's theology, and we all know about "gay").  Furthermore, as was mentioned there is a lot of confusion about what "Calvinism" really is.  For many it is simply a word for "predestination" and again as you said for many that means "we don't need to go and preach the Gospel". 

 

Anyway I wanted to quote from the first chapter of "The Pursuit of God" so I typed in a few words I remembered and I found it.  The interesting thing is that where I happened to find it was on a page for the "Society of Evangelical Arminians".  Many of the Calvinists I read and listen to quote Tozer often...maybe the Arminians do as well...  Anyway below is the opening of "The Pursuit of God".   

 

Christian theology teaches the doctrine of prevenient grace, which briefly stated means this, that before a man can seek God, God must first have sought the man.

Before a sinful man can think a right thought of God, there must have been a work of enlightenment done within him; imperfect it may be, but a true work nonetheless, and the secret cause of all desiring and seeking and praying which may follow.

We pursue God because, and only because, He has first put an urge within us that spurs us to the pursuit. “No man can come to me,” said our Lord, “except the Father which hath sent me draw him,” and it is by this very prevenient drawing that God takes from us every vestige of credit for the act of coming. The impulse to pursue God originates with God, but the outworking of that impulse is our following hard after Him; and all the time we are pursuing Him we are already in His hand: “Thy right hand upholdeth me.”

In this divine “upholding” and human “following” there is no contradiction. All is of God, for as von Hegel teaches, God is always previous. In practice, however, (that is, where God’s previous working meets man’s present response) man must pursue God. On our part there must be positive reciprocation if this secret drawing of God is to eventuate in identifiable experience of the Divine. In the warm language of personal feeling this is stated in the Forty-second Psalm: “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” This is deep calling unto deep, and the longing heart will understand it.



#4 Speilb

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Posted 29 April 2014 - 09:49 PM

In my area of the country many Southern Baptist Churches are talking a lot about Calvinism right now.  Many are also feeling like the Calvinists are invading their churches.  I do think there is a growing Calvinist segment in the SBC but I really don't understand the alarm.  I was told one local church even split over it. 



#5 Speilb

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    I love seeing God in things like genetics, nature, and in the created order of things. I love my family and have a wonderful wife and two kids.
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Posted 30 April 2014 - 11:26 AM

Gordy, I had noticed your from Pensacola and I had heard about all the rain you had.  I pray you made it through all right.  We are only 3.5 to 4 hours away so if we can be useful please let us know.   



#6 Speilb

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    I love seeing God in things like genetics, nature, and in the created order of things. I love my family and have a wonderful wife and two kids.
  • Gender:Male
  • I am a Layperson

  • I attend an Alliance church
  • Burning Heart Christian Fellowship

Posted 30 April 2014 - 01:41 PM

I had also sent a private message to Gordy and he responded. They made it through fine.

#7 Gordy

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Posted 11 May 2014 - 04:18 PM

Yes, we were not hit by the Funnel Cloud.  WE had much rain and some flooding around. 

 

I appreciate your concern, but I would rather to discuss the topic on the "floor."



#8 joshsoto76

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Posted 17 May 2015 - 09:14 PM

Good question. And great response. 



#9 Big John

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Posted 18 May 2015 - 12:11 PM

Wow!  I don't know how I missed this thread earlier.  Oh!  Wait!  I guess I can.  Anyway.  The central idea that has been plagueing me, of late, is the "Cry for the living God".  I agree with Spielb (and with scripture) that the origin of any desire for Him comes from Him.  There is also an innate desire for God that is born in all men (call it the God shaped hole or whatever) but there is also something more.  I don't know what it is.  For me, I believe, it can be stimulated by someone else who is afire with a love for Him.  Someone who has come close enough to the fire to be scorched.  He is a consuming fire!!  If you have not been burned... you don't know Him.



#10 Billscudder

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Posted 14 February 2016 - 08:58 AM

I attended a CMA Bible school and never heard anything about Calvinism.  Went to a CMA church for over a year and never heard anything about Calvinism. In fact I never heard the Gospel peached. I am NOT a Calvinist. I don't think it is scriptural and is a hindrance to the gospel. I do believe in OSAS.



#11 Billscudder

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Posted 14 February 2016 - 08:59 AM

I now attend an Assembly of God church.