Modes of Evangelism
Do Calvinist and non-Calvinist evangelize the same?
I really started back in 1997 to evangelize on a regular basis. First I meant my friend Dave, then Rick. Both were not Calvinists at the time. I had just discovered that I was a Calvinist. I had just spent one year and three month at a handicap orphanage in Carmen Sedan Mexico, changing infant diapers, braiding the little girls hair, changing big boys diapers, feeding the animals, tending the garden, and cooking up a storm in the kitchen. All the while getting to listen to literally hundreds of John MacArthur preaching tapes. What a great time that was, being able to take in so much, having lots of time to just read, and soak it all in. It is when I started to collect books and build my own library. I discovered that I was indeed a Calvinist. When I left the mission God had gave me, new found love to evangelize. I soon found out that I had no Calvinist friends. But I meant Dave and a bit later Rick and we would go to high Schools, and college campus's to hand out tracks and evangelize to the people. Dave and I had conflicts at times over 'what is the gospel and it's particulars'? There were other people too, who would come out and evangelize, and I would find myself in disagreement with them. Most of the time I would keep my mouth shut, and ponder these things. Trying to reason these things out. Once hanging out with a guy by the name of 'Forest', he told this gal , who professed to be a lesbian, that she did not need to repent, but rather just turn to Jesus, because all her other sins had all been atoned for. If a person rejects limited atonement , than they are forced to (if consistent) to preach only, to trust in Jesus, while repentance is glaringly missing. This is just one way of many, that Calvinists and non-Calvinists evangelize differently.
And yes, Praise be to God! God opened both Dave and Rick's eyes to the truth of "the doctrines of grace".
P.S Sorry, while posting my resolutions I lost this post temporally.
I really started back in 1997 to evangelize on a regular basis. First I meant my friend Dave, then Rick. Both were not Calvinists at the time. I had just discovered that I was a Calvinist. I had just spent one year and three month at a handicap orphanage in Carmen Sedan Mexico, changing infant diapers, braiding the little girls hair, changing big boys diapers, feeding the animals, tending the garden, and cooking up a storm in the kitchen. All the while getting to listen to literally hundreds of John MacArthur preaching tapes. What a great time that was, being able to take in so much, having lots of time to just read, and soak it all in. It is when I started to collect books and build my own library. I discovered that I was indeed a Calvinist. When I left the mission God had gave me, new found love to evangelize. I soon found out that I had no Calvinist friends. But I meant Dave and a bit later Rick and we would go to high Schools, and college campus's to hand out tracks and evangelize to the people. Dave and I had conflicts at times over 'what is the gospel and it's particulars'? There were other people too, who would come out and evangelize, and I would find myself in disagreement with them. Most of the time I would keep my mouth shut, and ponder these things. Trying to reason these things out. Once hanging out with a guy by the name of 'Forest', he told this gal , who professed to be a lesbian, that she did not need to repent, but rather just turn to Jesus, because all her other sins had all been atoned for. If a person rejects limited atonement , than they are forced to (if consistent) to preach only, to trust in Jesus, while repentance is glaringly missing. This is just one way of many, that Calvinists and non-Calvinists evangelize differently.
And yes, Praise be to God! God opened both Dave and Rick's eyes to the truth of "the doctrines of grace".
P.S Sorry, while posting my resolutions I lost this post temporally.
posted by Daniel Mann at 12:31 AM
8 Comments:
In some rare cases where an arminiest does preach Jesus and His goodness and his work on the cross, I would say yes.
As you know the Lord can use a donkey to save the lost if he wants and there are many times when the arminiest is used mightly to preach the gospel.
I would even prescribe this partly to Finney (I hear all the growns from the die hard calvanists) but the calvinists of the day just weren't preaching and when Finney came along and preached there was a stirring that happened (I barely believe a word Finney wrote by the way)
However when you hear a Calvanist preach you really know it. As someone who attends an arminiest church because there just aren't any calvanist churches where I come from occasionaly I do see some calvanist preachers come through and they really do sound amazing it is like hearing the gospel all over again and instead of everyone else saying AMEN it is me. Because I hear Jesus being preached to save sinners.
As a general rule I find that if a man still has even the littlest bit of mans free will belief in him well then he often tries to appeal to the flesh rather then the Spirit
i think they have differently evangelism styles - well, each "denomination" seems to have their style. obviously, each usually varies between talking to be effective, while the other extreme is to be silent - usually they tend to lean to one side or the other...and it also depends on the individual and how they've been taught.
i guess the denominations {or individuals} that try to talk more are trying to get you to believe their way - or, at least that's what i've felt, but that doesn't make it a truth or anything. but it's all i've got to speak from.
personally, i try to find a medium between the two, to live in such a way to get people to ask or implore as to my reason for joy {not that i always succeed} - because if they ask, they are more open to my response - always be ready to give an answer and take a stand for what i believe, if need be...but, that's just me i suppose.
No. Sometimes modern arminians don't know what they believe, when in actuality, they preach a calvinist gospel.
Puritan Belief said,
"In some rare cases where an arminiest does preach Jesus and His goodness and his work on the cross, I would say yes."
Okay, I agree with that. However, the arminian gospel is faith + works, whether they like it or not. I completely agree with your last statement,
"If a man still has even the littlest bit of mans free will belief in him well then he often tries to appeal to the flesh rather then the Spirit."
Consistent arminians will always preach or evangelize like this. It would go against there very belief system not to.
Let God determine which is more effective.
Hey Dan. Are you saying that non-calvinist' are arminian's? You mean there is no "middle ground"? My family and friends who go to mega churches that claim to be calminian's are wrong? You mean Norm Geisler is off when he claims the Bible teaches both? There is no Calvary Chapel middle of the road-o position. How Foolish! At least someone like antonio who spreads anti-lordship heresy dosen't go that far.
As far as Calvinist and non-calvinist' evangelizing the same, Do they do anything the same? Once God opens up a pearson's eyes to the doctrines of grace virtually every area of epistomolgy is re-examined. I know when God granted me the knowledge of these things it was like being born again all over again.
We all need to pray for puritan. That God would raise up a church that Boldly proclaims the doctrines of grace. It just might be him
Thanks carson allen,
I am 25 and although I don't have a church that has electing grace preached from the pulpit. The Lord has definitely blessed me with 3 men and 1 women twice my age who just can't stop talking about the scripture, I was just having a chat then about this question and what you guys have been saying and many other things and I must say I am very encouraged.
One of these friends has read that much Spurgeon and the other Puritans that he can often quote their writings word for word not to mention scripture. So I do have fellowship with people with a very solid grounding in the scripture.
I don't want to become like I think it was A W Pink one of the most influential Calvinists who wrote the Sovereignty of God. Even though the Lord had revealed to Him marvelous insight into the scripture yet when he got older he was so sure that there was no one else with proper doctrine like him that he took Himself and His wife to an Island and wouldn't congregate with anyone right to his death. (He wasn't like this in his youth)
In my church although sometimes the Armenian preaching is that bad I shake my head for 2 minutes at a time, I earnestly believe there to be born again Christians who I often get to share the grand doctrines of grace with. However it can turn nasty when an elder is listening in, it can get quite heated because I am sure you know just how much they hate this doctrine.
Back to the topic at hand, when Spurgeon was saved in that little church who was the preacher? A Calvinist or an Armenian?
good responce puritan.
Sometimes I feel like doing what
Pink did, I tell ya, but I know that would not be God's will for me. I am so blessed knowing that you have other likeminded belivers to fellowship with. I went to an assembly of God church in Utah for about a year. My mom and close family friends that I grew up with go there to this day. I did the same thing you are doing now. I just shook my head for a few minnutes, but I will tell you this: I had alot of fun twisting the elders into doctrinal pretzels over there stance of loosing your own salvation, but that pastor of that church is a God fearing man, and he spends hours a day on his knees crying out in prayer and intersessions for the lost, which is more than I can say for me.
But I had to call my friends Daniel and Dave in Oregon all the tme to get me through that ordeal.
Well God bless
nice site
Puritan Belief wrote:
"Back to the topic at hand, when Spurgeon was saved in that little church who was the preacher? A Calvinist or an Armenian?"
Was this a rhetorical question? :) I will assume it was not, and answer.. IIRC, Spurgeon was saved in a Methodist chapel on a snowy night.
And Spurgeon was not the only one saved through the preaching of an Arminian... :)
Two thoughts, none of which really answer the question at hand...
1) When God saved me, he used the means of a tract written by a fellow who I would now consider to be a 'flaming' Arminian (I thank the Lord always for making that man faithful to preach the word!).
2) Typically a Calvinist evangelist ought to have a calm assurance of 'success' in his (or her) heart, while preaching - after all, the Lord Jesus will indeed build his church. :)
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