Many in the Reformed community have attacked me as “immature” in the faith, or even unsaved, because I don’t accept every point of Calvinism. When I expressed pain and that I was thinking of ending it all, only one showed any concern. Was it because I wasn’t one of them?
Calvinism seems to hinge on the doctrine of election, which I cannot embrace (One thing I cannot get around when it comes to particular redemption is a verse tucked away in Acts 13:48, “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed”.)
Well, I’m not here to please everyone, and I’ll say that some act like cultists, even like atheists, who want to be “right” and members of an exclusive club. Mayhaps if they explained their positions more clearly, and showed love toward fellow believers who doubt or question some of their views, some degree of understanding could be reached. Hey, want an irony? A Calvinist that’s allergic to tulips.
I wasn’t raised a Calvinist, but I have been immersed in Calvinistic churches for a long many years now, and most of the pastors I listened to on line have been Calvinists. So, I knew it existed, and I knew Calvinism was locked in an eternal struggle against the evil forces of Armenianism.
Those filthy heretics.
And the fact is, it’s not something a lot of pastors tend to address directly. It’s sort of a background assumption that they hold, but don’t talk about, like the value of the Electoral College, or the bennefits of Vitamin D. And with the knowledge that Calvinism is rooted in the clear teaching of scripture, I occasionally wondered how ANYONE could be foolish enough to be an Arminian. But it slowly began to occur to me that, as long…
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The Creation Cowboy 
As a Calvinist I do see some among my camp can be quite mean. But over years I also see some God has soften them to be more gracious. I am sorry for the negative experienced you have had
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The author of the article that I “reblogged” and I are both trying to sort things out. In fact, I made a comment about total depravity, and described it totally wrong, even though I know better! Maybe you could share some things on his article?
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There is a lot to say here that there is not room to say. One thought is that sometime things are not either or. There is clear scriptural evidence for predestination and free will. I think Jesus meant it when he said “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”
Also, at some level we also get to choose. Both are true scripturally I think. Jesus also said “You refuse to come to me to have life”
Complicated and mysterious but God is God.
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