Christ or Calvin? by Tracy Kowald
February 10, 2012
As I was talking with friends recently, a phrase came out of my mouth that I have been pondering: “I need to make a decision about what I need more in my life, Christ or Calvinism….” For me the basics tenants of Calvinism help me understand the Gospel. It is merely a way to understand the basics of the Christian faith. And many Calvinistic teachings humble me as I am reminded who is in control and to whom I belong. But I realized that my need and walk with Christ and fellowship with His people do not have to be exactly aligned in order for me to be blessed and taught. The freedom in that is amazing. Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection saved me… but my hold to true Calvinism was dividing me from other believers. I do not wish to break fellowship with either side. I do not wish to really even debate the issues. Please do not tell me they are wrong. The joy I have found is not based on everyone believing as I do, but in everybody believing that living for Christ is the sole purpose in living. Why waste time figuring out who is wrong in the way they do that? Life is short and the list of true believers is short. I do not wish to waste another moment parsing out the Tulips from the Daisies; both are beautiful and made by God. As I listened to a fellow hardcore Calvinist take on a very godly man who just happened to disagree with him, I realized how arrogant and pompous I had gotten over the years. It not only made me sick to realize this, but I was grieved. I am not saying that all Calvinists are this way; we can all become pompous and arrogant over our choices and beliefs because of our human, sinful natures. I remember a wise woman telling me to be careful not to have a ghetto-like mentality about the people we would fellowship with not long after going from a Baptist church to a conservative Presbyterian denomination. I didn’t heed her advice well. I am humbled as I think about these things and realize they aren’t worth it. I believe the truths of the Gospel stand on their own. They don’t need Calvin or Arminius. Why not find our fellowship in the creeds and confession, and most importantly, in the cross of Christ which truly binds us together as brothers and sisters?
1 John :3-4 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete (NIV).
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