The Calvinism Debate - Way of Life Literature

that it is man’s duty to believe savingly in Christ isABSURD” (Earthen Vessel, 1857).4. It is important to understand that Calvinism is anunsettled theology.Calvinists are seriously divided among themselves andalways have been. ere is Supralapsarianism vs.Sublapsarianism vs. Infralapsarianism. “e Supralapsarianshold that God decreed the fall of Adam; the Sublapsarians,that he permitted it” (McClintock & Strong). e Calvinists atthe Synod of Dort were divided on many issues, includinglapsarianism. e Swiss Calvinists who wrote the HelveticConsensus Formula in 1675 were in conflict with the FrenchCalvinists of the School of Saumur. ere are Strict Calvinistsand Moderate Calvinists, Hyper and non-Hyper (differingespecially on reprobation and the extent of the atonementand whether God loves all men), 5 pointers, 4 pointers, 3pointers, 2 pointers. In America Calvinists were divided intoOld School and the New School. As we have seen, theCalvinists of England were divided in the 19th century.Whenever, therefore, one tries to state TULIP theology andthen refute it, there are Calvinists who will argue with youthat you are misrepresenting Calvinism. It is not so much thatyou are misrepresenting Calvinism, though. You might bequoting directly from various Calvinists or even from Calvinhimself. e problem is that you are misrepresenting THEIRCalvinism! ere are Calvin Calvinists and Andrew FullerCalvinists and Arthur W. Pink Calvinists and PresbyterianCalvinists and Baptist Calvinists and many other sorts ofCalvinists. Many Calvinists have never read Calvin’s Institutesof Christian Religion for themselves. ey are merelyfollowing someone who follows someone who allegedlyfollows Calvin (who, by his own admission, followedAugustine).Calvinists believe that they have the right to reject ormodify some parts of, or conclusions of Calvin. I agree withthem 100%, and I say, further, that we also have the right to8