http://www.fundamentallyreformed.com/2006/08/29/calvin-on-missions-and-evangelism/ Reforming Fundamentalism (IFB) through Reformed Theology Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:06:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://www.fundamentallyreformed.com/2006/08/29/calvin-on-missions-and-evangelism/comment-page-1/#comment-5899 Dorothy Mon, 05 May 2008 14:33:04 +0000 https://fundyreformed.wordpress.com/2006/08/29/calvin-on-missions-and-evangelism/#comment-5899 All I was looking for was the words to "Power of the Cross," and I stumbled upon this web-site. I am hugely interested in what I have been reading here because my husband and I were raised in a Reformed church. After 50 years there, we have been attending an Evangelical church for 5 years. It has been so refreshing, and at first we kept reading things in the Bible which we never knew were there. Our Reformed church is so steeped in doctrine and history that the Gospel has little power there, and few lives are changed. The only challenge coming from the pulpit is to stay with the church. Outreach was not preached. We have to be completely Scriptural when we talk to people about accepting Christ, but accept Him we must. As long as you are being taught that your salvation depends on embracing the "right" doctrine, you are not going to seek rebirth or relationship with God. I know many people who believe that infant baptism puts them and their children into a right standing with the Father, and that the only way they will miss out on heaven is if they become horrible sinners and turn away from the church. There was never anything about accepting Christ as your Lord and Saviour, or a personal relationship with the Lord. The important thing was whether you accepted the doctrines of the church - some of which are not completely scriptural. I doubt that Calvin intended for his work to be used in this way, for this kind of teaching drives you away from God, not to Him. Because of TULIP, we learned not to evangelize. So, as you continue on your spiritual journey, keep your eyes and heart on the fact that the only true and complete doctrine is that which God Himself gave us. Even Calvin was a depraved sinner. All I was looking for was the words to “Power of the Cross,” and I stumbled upon this web-site. I am hugely interested in what I have been reading here because my husband and I were raised in a Reformed church. After 50 years there, we have been attending an Evangelical church for 5 years. It has been so refreshing, and at first we kept reading things in the Bible which we never knew were there. Our Reformed church is so steeped in doctrine and history that the Gospel has little power there, and few lives are changed. The only challenge coming from the pulpit is to stay with the church. Outreach was not preached.
We have to be completely Scriptural when we talk to people about accepting Christ, but accept Him we must. As long as you are being taught that your salvation depends on embracing the “right” doctrine, you are not going to seek rebirth or relationship with God. I know many people who believe that infant baptism puts them and their children into a right standing with the Father, and that the only way they will miss out on heaven is if they become horrible sinners and turn away from the church. There was never anything about accepting Christ as your Lord and Saviour, or a personal relationship with the Lord. The important thing was whether you accepted the doctrines of the church – some of which are not completely scriptural. I doubt that Calvin intended for his work to be used in this way, for this kind of teaching drives you away from God, not to Him. Because of TULIP, we learned not to evangelize.
So, as you continue on your spiritual journey, keep your eyes and heart on the fact that the only true and complete doctrine is that which God Himself gave us. Even Calvin was a depraved sinner.

]]> http://www.fundamentallyreformed.com/2006/08/29/calvin-on-missions-and-evangelism/comment-page-1/#comment-5898 fundyreformed Fri, 08 Sep 2006 10:18:38 +0000 https://fundyreformed.wordpress.com/2006/08/29/calvin-on-missions-and-evangelism/#comment-5898 I sent it. FYI, you can send a webpage to yourself by clicking on File > send > page by email from the Menu at the top of your explorer window. I sent it. FYI, you can send a webpage to yourself by clicking on File > send > page by email from the Menu at the top of your explorer window.

]]> http://www.fundamentallyreformed.com/2006/08/29/calvin-on-missions-and-evangelism/comment-page-1/#comment-5897 Soughtout Matthew Wed, 06 Sep 2006 14:52:08 +0000 https://fundyreformed.wordpress.com/2006/08/29/calvin-on-missions-and-evangelism/#comment-5897 Pls send this article to my e-mail address. Its inspiring and motivating. Thanks. Pls send this article to my e-mail address.
Its inspiring and motivating.
Thanks.

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