Comments on: A Calvinist-Methodist’s Response to Two Cheers for the Resurgence of Calvinism http://christcentred.org/2008/04/29/a-calvinist-methodists-response-to-two-cheers-for-the-resurgence-of-calvinism/ Helping Ordinary People Keep Christ Central Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:35:14 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Tim Wilson http://christcentred.org/2008/04/29/a-calvinist-methodists-response-to-two-cheers-for-the-resurgence-of-calvinism/#comment-158 Tim Wilson Mon, 26 May 2008 19:39:55 +0000 http://christcentred.wordpress.com/?p=63#comment-158 Dear Anthony Thank you for your insight, I hope that is indeed the case! As you probably know, Methodism did start off meaning pretty much the same thing as Evangelical does today, Bible based Christians within the Church not necessarily a denomination. I think the tide is indeed turning for Calvinism and it would be great if that were so in Methodism. I agree with you Arminianism isn't something to break fellowship over. Piper once said that the doors to church membership should be wide and eldership should be narrow. Anyone who trusts in Jesus for salvation should be a member, but one who is an elder should agree with the Church's views. I think that's a helpful model. Thank you for your challenging comments! In Christ Tim Dear Anthony

Thank you for your insight, I hope that is indeed the case! As you probably know, Methodism did start off meaning pretty much the same thing as Evangelical does today, Bible based Christians within the Church not necessarily a denomination. I think the tide is indeed turning for Calvinism and it would be great if that were so in Methodism.

I agree with you Arminianism isn’t something to break fellowship over. Piper once said that the doors to church membership should be wide and eldership should be narrow. Anyone who trusts in Jesus for salvation should be a member, but one who is an elder should agree with the Church’s views. I think that’s a helpful model.

Thank you for your challenging comments!

In Christ
Tim

]]> By: Anthony http://christcentred.org/2008/04/29/a-calvinist-methodists-response-to-two-cheers-for-the-resurgence-of-calvinism/#comment-157 Anthony Mon, 26 May 2008 18:32:34 +0000 http://christcentred.wordpress.com/?p=63#comment-157 Hi Tim- Thanks for offering this blog. I just wanted to insert an observation I have had. Briefly, I was born, baptised and raised Roman Catholic. After God revealed his love and grace for me through Scripture, I have for some time attended a Methodist church, but my theological viewpoints are very much so Calvinistic. In fact, if it wasnt for my love for this congregation in particular, God may have me worshipping in a more Calvinistic denomination. However, as I digress, my point is simply this; I think there are many more "Calvinists" in modern Methodist churches than maybe we are aware of. For instance, the woman leading our bible study has a very Calvanistic viewpoint, etc. To be honest, I would maybe guess if you asked 100 Methodists if they were Armenian or Calvnistic, i'm not sure you would get a ton of non-blank stares. I can't remember where I read it, but i remember one particular Chirsitan discussing the things that should or should not split up the body of Christ. Of course, the thing that needs to be discered are the great echoes of the reformation, of course, primarily salvation by grace alone. However, I agree with this Christian that perhaps disagreements over pre-destination and the Lord's Supper/Eucharist, to name a couple, should not be enough to tear apart the Body of Christ. However, I agree completely, it is extraordinarily important to try to teach exactly as the Bible teaches, and, while I (and others) worship in a Methodist Church, we do believe in most parallel with Calvinistic views, and I think that its ok to worship next to Armenians, as we both know true believers and trusters in the one true God all, despite these differences, are part of the body of Christ. Nonetheless, thank you to you both for creating dialogue over truly important matters, as we all benefit when we understand God's will, of course revealed to us in the Bible, better and more completely. Grace, Anthony Hi Tim-
Thanks for offering this blog. I just wanted to insert an observation I have had. Briefly, I was born, baptised and raised Roman Catholic. After God revealed his love and grace for me through Scripture, I have for some time attended a Methodist church, but my theological viewpoints are very much so Calvinistic. In fact, if it wasnt for my love for this congregation in particular, God may have me worshipping in a more Calvinistic denomination. However, as I digress, my point is simply this; I think there are many more “Calvinists” in modern Methodist churches than maybe we are aware of. For instance, the woman leading our bible study has a very Calvanistic viewpoint, etc. To be honest, I would maybe guess if you asked 100 Methodists if they were Armenian or Calvnistic, i’m not sure you would get a ton of non-blank stares.
I can’t remember where I read it, but i remember one particular Chirsitan discussing the things that should or should not split up the body of Christ. Of course, the thing that needs to be discered are the great echoes of the reformation, of course, primarily salvation by grace alone. However, I agree with this Christian that perhaps disagreements over pre-destination and the Lord’s Supper/Eucharist, to name a couple, should not be enough to tear apart the Body of Christ. However, I agree completely, it is extraordinarily important to try to teach exactly as the Bible teaches, and, while I (and others) worship in a Methodist Church, we do believe in most parallel with Calvinistic views, and I think that its ok to worship next to Armenians, as we both know true believers and trusters in the one true God all, despite these differences, are part of the body of Christ. Nonetheless, thank you to you both for creating dialogue over truly important matters, as we all benefit when we understand God’s will, of course revealed to us in the Bible, better and more completely.

Grace, Anthony

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