Christian Apologetics Society

Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God."
- Matthew 22:29

Isaiah 55:11
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it
Gen 1:3
Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light
Matthew 26:26
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body."
Malachi 1:11
My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations," says the LORD Almighty.
John 20:23
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.
James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
James 2:14
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Luke 20:38
For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.
Rev 21:27
Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.
1 Cor 3:15
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Psalm 51:5
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.
John 3:5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
1 Timothy 3:15
but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Acts 22:16
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Is Calvinism Another Christian Denomination?

Today I decided to drop by BaptistBoard, a online Baptist bulletin board where there are discussions on Baptist history, theology, evangelism, and other Christian denominations. I usually spend a few minutes in each of those forums and read 2-3 articles that appeal to me. Usually, the Other Christian Denominations forum is full of discussions on Catholicism, atheism, and everything in between. I was a bit surprised to find the forum full of discussions on Calvinism, considering that about 10% of Baptists are Calvinists and about 25% of new Baptist seminary graduates are Calvinists.

So, the questions "What is Calvinism" and "Is Calvinism a False Doctrine" in a forum labeled "Other Christian Denominations" somewhat begs the question "Is Calvinism Another Christian Denomination?" From my viewpoint outside of Calvinism and the Baptist faith, I can easily answer "yes", based on the meaning of "denomination". Denomination is of Latin origin and means "from the name". We should ask if Calvinism de-nominated from another branch of Christianity and from whom. John Calvin and his followers did in fact denominate and they denominated from the Catholic Church. So Calvinism is a denomination.

Is Calvinism a false doctrine? No, Calvinism is not a doctrine, but a collection of doctrines, some true and some false. As we know, all truth is from and of God and leads us to know and love God more fully. In that light, the true doctrines within Calvinism lead us to love and serve God; however, the false doctrines present impediments to knowing God fully. False doctrines are also known as heresies. So, the presence of heresies within Calvinism makes Calvinism a heresy and a popular modern heresy at that. That is what lies at the heart of the current conflict between Calvinists and non-Calvinists within the many Baptist associations.

Fortunately, many folks are attracted to Truth and always seek the Truth. These folks will eventually reject those doctrines that Calvinism got wrong, but will retain those doctrines Calvinism has right and move into more mainline Protestant denominations that contain an even greater proportion of the truth. Some will even move into Catholicism, Judaism, and Orthodoxy in search of the fullness of Truth. The recent Pew survey indicates that about a third of Christians are actively engaged in this search for the fullness of Truth.

Those interested in reading the stories of Calvinists who sought out the fullness of truth will find no shortage on the Internet. Here are a few:

Marcus Grodi

Rodney Beason

Christopher Cuddy

Where does one find the fullness of truth? In the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

    But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
    1Timothy 3:15


Source: BaptistBoard: Other Christian Denominations

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