Comments on: Calvinism & Evangelism

By: My Explanation of “The Five Points of Calvinism” « Fundamentally Reformed

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:45:38 +0000

[...] the cross, but the cross-work was not performed on the behalf of all, but only for the elect. (This does not mean we should not preach to all, since we have no way of knowing who the elect are. Hyper-Calvinists are the ones who do not preach [...]

By: Calvinist Evangelism « Chimaera

Calvinist Evangelism « Chimaera — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:57:51 +0000

[...] Whitfield, Charles Spurgeon, William Carey, Adoniram Judson and many, many more could be given. (Fundamentally Reformed) In Calvin’s day, Geneva became a great center for church planting, evangelism and even [...]

By: fundyreformed

fundyreformed — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:35:59 +0000

Daniel,

You’re welcome to disagree. God gives the increase, and he wants us to do all things so that we might save all. We are to follow the commands of Scripture about loving others, having discernment, being patient, giving ourselves in evangelism, etc. We are to follow Paul’s example of evangelism. Calvinists agree.

Your points are all conclusions you think Calvinism leads one to. But they are not necessary conclusions. The Calvinistic belief in the perseverance of the saints is no license for not following up at all. Heb. 3 teaches clearly our need for brotherly admonishment. That believers persevere, is a challenge for me to be persevering. It’s all of God, but if His work in me is genuine, I will be persevering. Perseverance is no easy believism nor once saved always saved flippant view of salvation.

I challenge you to explore what Calvinism really teaches. Explore some of the links my blog gives. At the least, agree to disagree charitably with us and don’t insinuate we don’t care about evangelism. We do.

Blessings in Christ,

Bob

By: Daniel

Daniel — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:47:17 +0000

Calvinists have no reason to be persuasive with evangelism, because they believe in Irisistible grace. Calvinists believe that regeneration is first required before someone can believe, and that this regeneration is irresetibly and divinely caused by God. According to the Calvinist, it is a direct act on the non-believers’ heart.
Hence, once you have told the good news, there is no need to be persuasive. Furthermore, there is no need for follow-up (except for growing) for the Calvinist, because of the Calvinistic belief in “perseverence of the saints”.

By: Kevin Glenn

Kevin Glenn — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:55:35 +0000

This is a well thought out post. I have been surfing different posts on you blog and it has done much for my spirit. Thank you for your time and diligence.

By: How Calvinism Informs Evangelism « Fundamentally Reformed

How Calvinism Informs Evangelism « Fundamentally Reformed — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:07:53 +0000

[...] explored how Calvinism and Evangelism are not at odds, in an earlier post here. Today, I want to encourage you to listen to my pastor, John Piper’s most recent message [...]

By: fundyreformed

fundyreformed — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 14:17:09 +0000

Hey, there is another great post on this topic found here.

By: Ryan DeBarr

Ryan DeBarr — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 00:44:29 +0000

Don’t these two statements contradict each others?

It’s true that fundamentalists agree that discipleship is the ultimate goal.

Speaking generally, while fundamentalists are in it for the short term decision, the Calvinist is in it for the long term disciple.

Anyway, I generally agree with you. Trying telling your average Fundamentalist that “teach” is the only imperative in the Great Commission. You’ll get laughed at and they’ll tell you to go study or something.

By: The Misadventures of Captain Headknowledge

The Misadventures of Captain Headknowledge — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 10:21:57 +0000

It’s true that fundamentalists agree that discipleship is the ultimate goal, but their intentions are undermined by the often shallow response to an often shallow presentation of the gospel. That’s why Calvinists may lose the “numbers game.” Lay a purely Calvinist presentation of the gospel up against a typical fundamentalist presentation and you can tell that it requires a longer attention span. A fundamentalist presentation may have a quicker turn around, but percentage wise, I dare say it also has a high turnover rate.

If you can’t get folks to come back to church, you can’t get them discipled–unless, of course, you’re willing to regularly go to them, which requires sacrifice. But this may seem an impractical task to a fundamentalist whose racking up so many “decisions.”

Speaking generally, while fundamentalists are in it for the short term decision, the Calvinist is in it for the long term disciple.

By: fundyreformed

fundyreformed — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 03:05:42 +0000

Thanks for your testimony, Joe. Calvinism often has that effect on people. It strengthens their faith and causes them to love Christ more fully. It does not have to create a puffed-up prideful spirit.

God bless,

Bob