For anyone who may be interested concerning the post of Oct. 5 on "The Envious<br>of the Two Michaels", just a clarification that one of the sites I used, the<br>"sullivan-county" one, has some pretty strange stuff, after looking further. The <br>particular article I used from there on Michael Servetus was sound, and there <br>*appeared* to be other sound articles, but there was a lot that looked way off<br> base for what "conservative" Christians, and some others, would subscribe to. My apologies for not looking more thoroughly and clarifying that beforehand; I<br> may not have even used the site this being the case, though I know not<br> everything on no doubt most every site can be endorsed by all.<br><br>Also, I am not in disagreement with all Calvin wrote; where he was *biblical* I'd<br>agree of course. Given some aspects of his theology and life, he should not be<br>looked upon as the end-all of Christian thought nor should any
man. The<br>Michael Servetus murder was just that, and it should be of great concern that<br>there's no record that Calvin ever repented of it. None of us will get it 100% <br>correct being fallible, "For now we see through a glass, darkly (obscurely in a <br>mirror); but then it will be face to face: now I know in part; then I will know fully,<br>just as God has fully known me" (I Corinthians 13:12), and biases toward<br>certain people and belief systems should never prohibit real scrutiny of them<br>next to God's Word (for those who accept biblical scriptures as complete and<br>inerrant) as Acts 17:11 points out.<br><br>Though heresy was considered a capital crime in much of European government<br>during Servetus' time, this didn't justify Calvin's sin concerning Servetus.<br>Biblical justification is just not there. Titus 1: 9-14 states how a heretic should be<br>dealt with, and silencing them isn't through death. Where was Calvin's stand
<br>here in upholding Christ and His Word whom he supposedly loved? A small<br>interesting debate entitled "Calvin's Defenders" on Michael Servetus can be <br>found at www.geocities.com/calvinismheresy/defenders.html<br><br>In conclusion I'm including a "Conclusion" to an article, "Calvinism Critiqued",<br>by a former Calvinist, Steve Jones, from www.geocities.com/calvinismheresy/critique.html <br>I have not looked extensively at this site either, but some of what I've read I found<br>quite profitable.<br><br>The "Conclusion" -- "Calvinism is one more illustration of the futility of systematic<br>theology. God's truths, particularly relating to soteriology, are too lofty to be put <br>into concise formulae. The Five Points of Calvinism oversimplify the profound<br>truths of God. They derive their force from proof-texts rather than the general <br>tenor of Scripture.<br><br>More than that, the doctrines frequently create a spirit of division,
elitism and<br>theological snobbery. The system erects walls between believers. It creates<br>a class of Christians within the church general who are supposedly part of a <br>worthy "inner circle." (My comment: Not that there aren't cliques in <br>non-Calvinist circles).<br><br>Many Calvinists read nothing but Reformed titles, hence these brethren seldom<br>learn new perspectives. (My comment: This seems to be what Calvin and<br>certain pastors want). On the contrary, they are continually reaffirming their own<br>"theological correctness." Such authors such as A.W. Pink, the Puritans, <br>John Murray and such publishing companies as Banner of Truth become the sole<br>staple for many. I say without intending offense that such exclusiveness differs<br>little from that of Jehovah's Witnesses or other authoritarian groups.<br><br>Of course, I do not intend to paint all Calvinists with this brush. Many are <br>thinkers
who read outside literature, even Arminian literature. But the overarching<br>trend in this tradition - a tradition of which I was once a part - is often one of<br>narrow-mindedness and doctrinal superiority. As we have seen, the Scriptures<br>give no warrant for such bigotry. The average Calvinist may be amazed at just<br>how weak his system is when scrutinized in the light of revealed truth.<br><br>May our brethren see fit to adopt a Berean spirit (Acts 17:11) and honestly<br>rethink their Calvinism. We should urge them to, for a time, lay aside the<br>commentaries of Calvin and Gill, the theology of Warfield and Hodge. With an<br>open Bible and mind, may they take a second look at the so-called "doctrines<br>of grace" to see if they truly are the doctrines of Christ."<br><br>Christ Jesus "alone" died for us; not Paul, Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Knox nor<br>any other -- "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ,<br>that ye all speak the same thing, and not to let yourselves remain split into <br>factions but be restored to having a common mind and a common purpose.<br><br>For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the<br>house of Cloe, that there are contentions among you.<br><br>Now this I say because one of you says, 'I follow Paul; and I follow Apollos; and <br>I follow Cephas; and I follow Christ.' Has Christ baptized in the name of Paul?"<br>(I Corinthians 1:10-13)<br><br>Kirkers and other professing biblical Christians--seek to be *known* as Christians<br>*first* not by your church affiliation. Christ, not your church, died for you. <br>Remember your first love. (Revelation 2:4,5)<br><br><Scimitar><br><p> 
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