That's a good point. I'm part of a homeschool page for this particular curriculum I was interested in. Little did I know it's just a home for Reformed believers. Oh my Lord. I asked if the curriculum was Reformed because I didn't want to have to clarify the errors all of the time with my kids. Oh boy, I stirred the wasps nests.
She probably did lol jkDid you say it like that?
I did! LolDid you say it like that?
I'm part of a homeschool page for this particular curriculum I was interested in. Little did I know it's just a home for Reformed believers. Oh my Lord. I asked if the curriculum was Reformed because I didn't want to have to clarify the errors all of the time with my kids. Oh boy, I stirred the wasps nests.
That's what I was trying to figure out for the older levels. I have no idea. I emailed the company for that particular curriculum and a few others to see what they'll tell me.
And in my experience, they have no personal faith relationship with Jesus Christ...not all for certain, but more than a majority. I refuse to engage with any of them any longer. They hold to an elastic interpretation of scripture, they reject Israel, they have disdain for Jewish people, they don't understand what eternal or everlasting means when God flatly states it, they reject the pre-trib rapture, they have erased Christ's millennial reign from God's Word, they firmly believe that satan is currently bound, they diminish the heavenly throne to David's earthly (albeit vital) throne, they allegorize absolutely anything and everything they don't understand and or refuse to try and understand, they have unsettling reverence for Augustine, Calvin and Luther...and this list could go on and on. They are the nastiest "christian" people I have had the sad displeasure to associate with. How can you claim to know who Jesus Christ is when your most fundamental beliefs reject what He said about Himself, His Father and how a human can come to know Him in an eternal relationship?
YES! I have ZERO tolerance for that heresy. I don't engage either. I have considered carrying a statement of faith to give to any new "Christian" that wants to befriend me so I can instantly weed them out.
That convicted me because I have so much disdain for this teaching that I just want to scream at every person that starts spouting it to me. This definitely convicted me to be gentle and patient with the person. I seriously have less of that these days.This thread might be helpful, Matthew 6:33 was mentioning a list from a woman who had many points of refutation, I believe it may be in this thread:
https://www.raptureforums.com/forums/threads/calvinism.123765/page-2#post-843086201
Something to keep in mind is that while we are fortunate to be alert to this, to be careful to be Christlike in our responses when interacting with others. Presenting the Word in gentleness, kindness and love is important for that's where hearts may soften and ears may listen a bit more carefully.
While we may actually be dealing with other believers in Christ (and those who are not), who are still maturing and growing in Christ (in some cases) it's good to keep this posture in mind:
A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.
2 Timothy 2:24-26
So, the things we are learning about Calvinism are helpful but I've found that gentle (and prayerfully) sharing the truth of God's Word helps keep defenses down and hearts open. I say this because I was a true believer but almost went down the Calvinism path. It was the gentle presentation of God's Word, persistently explained that kept me safe, praise God.
Of course, as parents we do need to protect our kiddos from teaching that impair their understanding of God's wonderful grace but don't let exasperation keep you from that Christlike gentleness needed in interacting with others (and I'm talking to myself here as well).
Thank you so much the needed rebuke. I was letting my frustration lead me sin. I'll be praying for those people rather than insulting them.I know what you're saying, I've had those moments myself. I have to remember that perhaps my job is to simply present the truth, trying not to be overwhelmed with the system of error, but how God may want me to reach or interact with just the person in front of me scripturally.
There are those who I can only pray for, depending on what my own energy levels are (and as God provides it), remembering that God is still working where I may not be able to or that He's got other people He'll plug into their lives.
There's been many a time where I've been wonderfully surprised at God's work in someone's life just in answer to prayer.
You always areWell, hopefully it was a gentle reminder....
Yes! And along with Calvinism comes Amillenialism that absolutely makes my soul ache! I was listening to Olive Tree Views the other week, and there was a guest on (of course I can’t remember his name) who was talking about Amillenialists and I think he hit the nail on the head when he said that those who believe we are now living in the Millenial Kingdom, point to all unfulfilled prophecy has already having been fulfilled. For them, all prophecy has been fulfilled and no matter what OT or NT verse you throw at them, they are well versed into turning this into allegory or it simply being symbolic of history at that time. And here is where this speaker’s ideas hit home with me. I know some of you have heard me say that my DD’s husband is a full blown Calvinist/Amillenialist with a PHD in Theology, and he is an ordained minister. His beliefs fall right into what I believe robs believers of their “blessed hope” should they fall into thinking that these ideas are true.
Yeah it's crazy how someone can become this self-deceived that even countless scripture can't help them. That's scary!
You're so right, Cheeky! When we first moved to our present location many years ago, we had thought we'd attend the local Baptist church in the small community only 2 miles from our home. With high hopes, we began visiting there soon after moving in. It was nice to meet some of the local people who lived in our new community, and I especially enjoyed the fact that we would no longer have to commute to church as we had been doing in the past. High hopes!!
It makes me wonder what is spiritually going on that they tend to be so sneaky in these beliefs. It's like they're purposely trying to infiltrate Christian circles in a subterfuge kind of way. Secretly start introducing false doctrine without openly stating, hey I'm Reformed/Calvinist.
Cheeky, I'm not thinking that's a good idea. Being deceptive is not how to approach a possible new pastor. You could do what my dh did when we first interviewed our current pastor several years ago. He told him that we'd had some issues with Calvinist pastors and their teachings, so we wanted to settle the issue up front. "Pastor, are you a Calvinist?" He stated flatly that he was not. We checked his educational background, and he attended a free grace Christian university, instead of a Calvinist seminary. To this day, he does not preach from a Calvinist perspective. However, he does occasionally quote well known theologians, etc., who are Calvinists.
