As a believer in D.O.G. (Doctrines of Grace) Theology, I first off have to quote Charles Spurgeon and say, "Some people call it Calvinism; I call it the Gospel!"

With that being said, I appreciated the article. It's true that Calvinism can lead us to walk around cocky because we were chosen by God. Yet it should result in the opposite effect. The truth that God chose some before the foundations of the world should humble us and lead us to our knees in prayer. God chose us, not because of anything we've done or because He looked out into time and saw that we'd have faith in Him, but simply out of His love and great mercy.

I want to be a Kinder Calvinist.

Seriously, what points are causing the contention. Perhaps I have not heard it framed as Calvinism vs. some other belief system, so I am really wondering how these arguments are usually manifested? Exactly what is being argued?

My more recent experience has been with what I call Judaizers who require that the church go back to Jewish laws, calling Jesus Y'shua, Friday-Saturday Sabbath, etc. I haven't had too many run ins with what I would call hyper-calvinists, so if someone could fill me in on some of the specifics, I would appreciate it.

This is what I tell the kids I work with, always acknowledge the other point of view.

Have to agree regarding the "meanness" of Calvinists. Not Calvinism per se, although I have issues with it but rather, Calvinists. People seem irrelevant to them. The people I have encountered on the Internet seem to talk at me rather than to me. I have found them in a lot of share-forums including Crosswalk Forum, Christianity.Com as well as Berean Online Fellowship. Having a difference of opinion is not the problem, it's the way the difference of opinion is shaped and presented.... a lot to say and not enough space... but, it is analogous to the article. He talked @ his wife, not with or for his wife... big difference. The byword(s) being; Be kind, gentle, tolerate other and be at peace with others in the household of faith ..... gosh, almost sounds biblical... and it is.

Actually I never even heard of either Calvinism or Arminianism for my first 30 years as a Christian, including a half dozen years as a missionary. Now that I have, I found it totally irrelevant, so ignore it. I'm too busy being a Christian to bother with either point of view in this rampaging argument on the internet.

I for one don't ever want a label such as "Calvinist" or whatever - We have various denominations because we see Scripture from different points of view - To be mean spirited from a particular point of view is not being Christ like. Paul in 1 Cor. spoke about people following Appollos, Paul and Cephas and asks , "Is Christ divided?" "Were you baptized into Paul?" We are supposed to be able to discuss our points of view without being hung up on them. If you are in a place where Christians are not acceptable of Christians, then go somewhere where they are. Shake the dust off your sandals. Not only is it a waste of time but you are missing the great joy and blessing of being in harmonious fellowship. Have you ever tried changing the spots on a leopard?

Perhaps I have been leading a sheltered life, but after reading the letter that is referred to on the other blog, and this post, I'm not exactly sure what a mean Calvinist is? What is it about Calvinism that would make some people that zealous and hard to get along with?

Is this a violent reaction to the emergent church or to a particular theological construct?

Good article. Some of us are indeed nice. Sadly, meanness is universal. I as a husband try to be the best husband I can be but like many I have not always done it well. I pray a lot for God to help me.