The Calvinism Debate - Way of Life Literature

eject the entire thing if we are convinced that it is notsupported by Scripture!5. It is not wise to follow John Calvin; he was unsound atthe very foundation of the Christian faith.Calvin never gave a testimony of the new birth; rather heidentified with his Catholic infant baptism. Note thefollowing quotes from his Institutes:“At whatever time we are baptized, we are washed andpurified once for the whole of life” (Institutes, IV).“By baptism we are ingraed into the body of Christ ...infants are to be baptized ... children of Christians, as theyare immediately on their birth received by God as heirs oft h e c o v e n a n t , a r e a l s o t o b e a d m i t t e d t obaptism” (Institutes, IV).Calvin was vicious toward his enemies, acting more like adevouring wolf than a harmless sheep. Historian WilliamJones observed that “that most hateful feature of poperyadhered to Calvin through life, the spirit of persecution.”Note how he described his theological opponents: “...all thatfilth and villainy...mad dogs who vomit their filth against themajesty of God and want to pervert all religion. Must they bespared?” (Oct. 16, 1555). Calvin hated the Anabaptists,though they were miles closer to the Scriptural pattern for theNew Testament church than he was. He called them“henchmen of Satan.” Four men who disagreed with Calvinon who should be admitted to the Lord’s Supper werebeheaded, quartered, and their body parts hung in strategiclocations in Geneva as a warning to others. He burnedMichael Servetus (for rejecting infant baptism and fordenying Christ’s deity). Calvin wrote about Servetus, “Oneshould not be content with simply killing such people, butshould burn them cruelly.”6. God does not require his people to choose betweenCalvinism and Arminianism!9