B57 is a Hyper-Calvinist manqué as some of his views are outside even the Hyper-Calvinist camp.
Why do men become Hyper-Calvinists? Drawing from C. Daniel's The History And Theology Of Calvinism, the answer takes several forms. Many turn Hyper because they have over-reacted against Arminianism. Many were once Arminians themselves. Then they became Reformed. They soon looked askance at Arminianism and Arminians. Most Hyper-Calvinists do not think that Arminians are true Christians at all (Gadsby felt Wesley died unsaved). Therefore they have backed into Hyper-Calvinism out of over-reaction. But most mainstream Calvinists accept Evangelical Arminians as brothers - perhaps confused brothers, but still brothers.
Together with this, in their love for the doctrines of grace some new Calvinists ("cage-stage" Calvinists) get the notion that the higher one goes in Calvinism, the better. To them, Hyper-Calvinism is Super-Calvinism, the best there is. Actually,’ hyper’ and ‘super’ are related in etymology they fail to heed the warnings of more mature Calvinists, such as the Puritans, who warned against being too high.
To change the metaphor, Hyper-Calvinists are “high” on their excesses; they are intoxicated on an imbalance and consider it the pinnacle of spirituality. But their critics know better. It is obvious that the Hyper-Calvinist’s ‘spirituality’ is dry and moribund. As someone said, “They go down deep, stay down long, come up dry. But they never go out to bring anyone in to the Kingdom of God.” Most Hypers are evangelistically dead.
This is related to what I call “the spirit of Hyper-Calvinism.” One can be a Hyper-Calvinist in spirit though not in letter. One can believe in free offers, but if he does not give them, he has the spirit of Hyper-Calvinism. This crops up in an overly passive approach to evangelism and prayer. Like the lazy man who says, “Let George do it”, the Christian bitten by the Hyper bug offers this excuse: “Let God do it.” But God commands us to preach the Gospel to every creature for it is by these ordinary means that His children are brought into the Kingdom of Heaven. If we do not, we are practical Antinomians with the Great Commission. Worse than that, we have the blood of sinners on our hands and invite God’s chastening.
At root, Hyperists over-emphasize the sovereignty of God over the responsibility of Man. Since our responsibility is based oh divine holiness, this means that they have an imbalanced doctrine of God - sovereignty is more important than holiness. They likewise exalt sovereignty over divine love, as when they deny all common grace to men as creatures. Further, they exalt the secret will over the revealed will, which they virtually abolish, contrary to Deut. 29:29.
Thankfully, Hyper-Calvinism is a distinct minority. No more than one-percent of Calvinists have been Hyper-Calvinists. They are not the cream of Calvinism. The best Calvinists are those who keep the beautiful balance within the Godhead and the divine attributes. They balance the revealed and the secret wills of God. And they live true Christian lives in that balance versus Hyper-Calvinism's stupefying effects which stunt their spiritual growth.
It is an ongoing trifle of mine in dealing with the backdraft of Hyper-Calvinists as they are very vocal with vitriolic rhetoric around discussion forums. Persons not well informed about Reformed thinking, immediately assume this vocal minority represents all of Calvinists. Er, no. :AMR:
AMR
B57 is a Hyper-Calvinist manqué as some of his views are outside even the Hyper-Calvinist camp.
Why do men become Hyper-Calvinists? Drawing from C. Daniel's The History And Theology Of Calvinism, the answer takes several forms. Many turn Hyper because they have over-reacted against Arminianism. Many were once Arminians themselves. Then they became Reformed. They soon looked askance at Arminianism and Arminians. Most Hyper-Calvinists do not think that Arminians are true Christians at all (Gadsby felt Wesley died unsaved). Therefore they have backed into Hyper-Calvinism out of over-reaction. But most mainstream Calvinists accept Evangelical Arminians as brothers - perhaps confused brothers, but still brothers.
Together with this, in their love for the doctrines of grace some new Calvinists ("cage-stage" Calvinists) get the notion that the higher one goes in Calvinism, the better. To them, Hyper-Calvinism is Super-Calvinism, the best there is. Actually,’ hyper’ and ‘super’ are related in etymology they fail to heed the warnings of more mature Calvinists, such as the Puritans, who warned against being too high.
To change the metaphor, Hyper-Calvinists are “high” on their excesses; they are intoxicated on an imbalance and consider it the pinnacle of spirituality. But their critics know better. It is obvious that the Hyper-Calvinist’s ‘spirituality’ is dry and moribund. As someone said, “They go down deep, stay down long, come up dry. But they never go out to bring anyone in to the Kingdom of God.” Most Hypers are evangelistically dead.
This is related to what I call “the spirit of Hyper-Calvinism.” One can be a Hyper-Calvinist in spirit though not in letter. One can believe in free offers, but if he does not give them, he has the spirit of Hyper-Calvinism. This crops up in an overly passive approach to evangelism and prayer. Like the lazy man who says, “Let George do it”, the Christian bitten by the Hyper bug offers this excuse: “Let God do it.” But God commands us to preach the Gospel to every creature for it is by these ordinary means that His children are brought into the Kingdom of Heaven. If we do not, we are practical Antinomians with the Great Commission. Worse than that, we have the blood of sinners on our hands and invite God’s chastening.
At root, Hyperists over-emphasize the sovereignty of God over the responsibility of Man. Since our responsibility is based oh divine holiness, this means that they have an imbalanced doctrine of God - sovereignty is more important than holiness. They likewise exalt sovereignty over divine love, as when they deny all common grace to men as creatures. Further, they exalt the secret will over the revealed will, which they virtually abolish, contrary to Deut. 29:29.
Thankfully, Hyper-Calvinism is a distinct minority. No more than one-percent of Calvinists have been Hyper-Calvinists. They are not the cream of Calvinism. The best Calvinists are those who keep the beautiful balance within the Godhead and the divine attributes. They balance the revealed and the secret wills of God. And they live true Christian lives in that balance versus Hyper-Calvinism's stupefying effects which stunt their spiritual growth.
It is an ongoing trifle of mine in dealing with the backdraft of Hyper-Calvinists as they are very vocal with vitriolic rhetoric around discussion forums. Persons not well informed about Reformed thinking, immediately assume this vocal minority represents all of Calvinists. Er, no. :AMR:
AMR
Bet you do. She is the only one who listens to your drivel.
All are not saved, so atonement is limited no matter how you want to define it, Robert. Those are the plain facts. What remains to be said is how or why the limitation exists.