Naa.
Calvinism is a fantastic theology filled with all kinds of tasty delights, but, no, I don't believe in determinism.
Some Calvinists do, but the main body of Presbys in the US cannot be said to believe predestination. (I hope most Presbys
would say that bellieve in God and Jesus rather than belief in predestination.)
But there are two major strands of predestination. One was double predestination (TULIP) that was a scary,
rigid form of belief (but one can make a solid case for it ... I do not.)
My notion is mainly that it's god's foreknowlege of the events of a life and his (sic) gracious care of us on
the way.
The other guys believed that a baby could actually be among the unelect and could be not-saved.
The theology behind that is that it is only god who decides who is saved; never us. Calvin believed god is always
in charge and nothing can change that. It is called the sovereignty of god and god is gracious ...
but god still decides the ultimate destination of all of us. There's no way to argue with that other than
to suggest that god's desire to save me can be countered by my unwillingness to be saved. God is all-
powerful but not powerful enough to save me? I don't think so.
I think of it more like foreknowledge and grace -- predestination is too complicated and way to
(seemingly) impersonal.
But I've purty much given up on organized religion so, as with everyone who comments on like
things, I have only to be on the way and to give thanks.
Kiamichi wrote:mayhem wrote:millergrovesue wrote:Well, I'd differ in that I'd say Christians believe that we are saved by our faith in Jesus alone. No action is necessary beyond that. Doing good works is a reflection of God's love and a reflection of our salvation. Baptists..........at least those of us who are not Southern Baptists......... have the wonderful priesthood of the believer doctrine that puts the rest of our belief system in our hands through the grace of God, prayer, and study. I don't know if any other denominations share priesthood of the believer.
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A belief of Calvinism is that it is determined before you are born whether you are going to Heaven or Hell and that faith and works are irrelevant. Do you consider that a beautiful part of the faith?