Dear Lighthouse Trails:
I got the book Calvinism: None Dare Call It Heresy in Kindle (until hard copy arrives) form and a hard copy. I just had to start reading it ASAP and looking forward to the hard copy to write, highlight, and make notes on it (which has happened). Having been in a staunch Reformed, 5-point Calvinist church for over 10 years and never being able to embrace it (though I kept that to myself) and feeling guilty that something was wrong with me was very damaging. The joy of His salvation left me little by little with the paralyzing fear of not being a chosen one. My husband was Reformed until a few years ago. We left 20 yrs ago not for it being Reformed but other unconscionable things that the pastors thought were biblical actions. Because we did not submit to their authority, they excommunicated us. They put us through hell. None of our friends were allowed to have anything to do with us. My paralyzing fear of God throwing me away led me to develop severe anxiety and panic attacks that interrupted my daily function. Our three kids were very little at the time, and it was so difficult for me. By God’s grace, I did not walk away from my faith but just clung with every fiber of my being to the sliver of hope that God’s grace and gift of eternal life with Him was available to ALL who chose to trust and believe in Him. At times, it was almost impossible to believe it was that simple!
I often told my husband that I believed it was another gospel which put strain on our marriage as at the time he still fully embraced it. I’m sharing only a very small snippet of our experience, but I can tell you that many of our close friends walked away from the faith wounded, broken, and betrayed by that church and their legalism. That church fell apart a few years back, but the damage Calvinism/Reformed Theology had on many is tragic. Speaking for myself I think of it as “Calvinist Theology PTSD!” Just Sunday on our way to church a pastor on the radio said something that triggered that fear again, and it makes me mad and sad. For some of us, it changed us deep in our spirit in a damaging way, and what once was a beautiful and sweet joy of Christ’s Salvation turned into a lifelong limp.
All this to say, I’ve longed for a book like this to help me truly understand, embrace God’s immeasurable love for me, and validate my thoughts on this grace killer! This book is a must read for untangling your theology and get back on the correct one!
Nina
Yes, I find it funny that they emphasize ‘grace’ all the time, but it is the furthest thing from God’s grace! The same applies to the term ‘reformed’ as if it had anything to do with the Reformation, when it is more Catholic than anything else as I saw after reading Dave Hunt’s book on it. I’m glad people are coming out of this trap and needless suffering. Jesus wants our joy to be full; “Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.” John 16; 24
Dear Nina, your letter made me feel so sad. We can identify with some of it. If you need help to get over your experiences then may you find that. But read the gospels again. See the simplicity of the gospel message. Look at those in Acts who ‘believed’. Comprehend from the beginning of Genesis that it is ‘by faith’. That is what pleases God. A person who hears/reads what he says and simply says ‘that is true’ and trusts in that. Reach out and share the gospel with someone. I like to use the book The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus or another good book that show the plan of redemption from Creation to Christ. As you share this message with others it will thrill you too. My husband is teaching a young man every day and yesterday they were in to John ch 3. Every day I listen and rejoice at this great salvation. Yes there are those who reject, or those who seem to go on well for a while. But nothing wrong with the message of the death burial and resurrection of Christ. For our sins. That whoever believes in him will not be lost but have everlasting life. It is good seed.
my son has embraced this and does not associate with anyone but his calvinist friends he closes his door and reads and prays all day till it is time for him to have dinner, is very unsociable he always was with his father and his mother, he wants nothing to do with unsaved family members there is no humilty but yet he goes preaching on the streets with his ministry. my wife and i are sad yet he said he is doing the lords work yet is in the reformed theology and embraces the teaching of john mccarthur. we are sad please pray for us