Carl Copsey
Puritan Board Freshman
I posted the following on my FB page. I wanted to share this with fellow believers in the reformed faith. In my home area in Texas, we are difficult to find. I feel 'at home' on this board. However, praise be to God that more and more with 'reformed thinking' are coming out of the woodwork! 
Anyway, here is what I posted:
If you are a Christian, or even curious about what a Christian looks like, I invite you to please take a few minutes to read, then watch the following video. My prayer is that God uses it in your life.
I am a Christian. A biblical Christian. I am also what you would call a Calvinist or Reformed. People often have a misunderstanding of what a Calvinist is as a Christian. I want to share this video with you in hopes to clear up that misunderstanding. Please take a few minutes to watch the video, but first, please finish reading:
There are often false assumptions and false ideas that surround the term "Calvinist." Again, my prayer is those misunderstandings and assumptions are cleared in light of God's glory. In fact, the Calvinist is one who completely surrounds himself under the majesty of God in every area of life. A man who is submitted to God because he understands his sovereignty.
I have hope in my God, knowing that I see his truth so clearly, at times hard to swallow, but clear nonetheless. I also take comfort that in my view as a Calvinist, there is a long line of Godly men who hold these great biblical truths as well. These are men whose biblacl teachings I follow and whose faith I imitate just as Hebrews 13:7, 17 commands me to do. Of course, the ultimate person to follow is Jesus.
"Calvinism," as the great Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon said, "is simply a nickname for biblical Christianity." Every puritan, of which their writings on the shelves of nearly every pastor across this country and around the world, and have all been considered to be the most holy and godly of men through history, were ALL Calvinists (in other words: biblical Christians.). Most of the greatest theologians, if not all, living past and present were and are Calvinists. This doesn't mean it is correct, but you must admit, it is something for great consideration. We must all agree that we have not gone so far as to say we have arrived completely. This is our humble theology.
To divide over these views is a dishonoring to Christ and a hindrance to the growth of churches. Calvinism is another name for "Reformed." I, personally, do not care for terms, but because of those who would argue with heresy, terms arise for the sake of standing together and one with Christ.
This powerful poem in the video was written by Dr. John Piper, he adds,
"May I invite you into the life of a Calvinist? It’s probably not what you think. The sovereign God of the Bible is full of surprises. Sermons and essays are good. But sometimes only poems will do. We grope for special words and special forms to catch the radiance of God.
I wrote this poem called “The Calvinist” to capture a glimpse of God’s sovereign intersection with the life of a sinful man. There is no part of life where the greatness of God does not penetrate deeply. I want to help you feel that.
We hope “The Calvinist” is a video-poem you will linger over, reflect upon, re-read, re-watch, and share with friends and family.
My prayer is that this great and glorious sovereign God will stand forth from his word and from our lives with such compelling force, that sooner rather than later, the kingdoms of the earth will become the kingdom of our God through Jesus Christ." [End quote.]
The Calvinist is a person who seeks the face of God. Whose life is seen in this way by strangers. A Calvinist's life is centered on Jesus Christ. He is the sum and substance of my life. It is my prayer that I achieve this goal, as well as my family. It is also my prayer that we, as Christians, merge together in our differences and stand strong to the glory of Christ, especially at a time when our post-modern culture invades the church with liberalism. Let us be wise, and let us come to understand one another, and let us not separate. Amen.
The Calvinist - YouTube
Anyway, here is what I posted:If you are a Christian, or even curious about what a Christian looks like, I invite you to please take a few minutes to read, then watch the following video. My prayer is that God uses it in your life.
I am a Christian. A biblical Christian. I am also what you would call a Calvinist or Reformed. People often have a misunderstanding of what a Calvinist is as a Christian. I want to share this video with you in hopes to clear up that misunderstanding. Please take a few minutes to watch the video, but first, please finish reading:
There are often false assumptions and false ideas that surround the term "Calvinist." Again, my prayer is those misunderstandings and assumptions are cleared in light of God's glory. In fact, the Calvinist is one who completely surrounds himself under the majesty of God in every area of life. A man who is submitted to God because he understands his sovereignty.
I have hope in my God, knowing that I see his truth so clearly, at times hard to swallow, but clear nonetheless. I also take comfort that in my view as a Calvinist, there is a long line of Godly men who hold these great biblical truths as well. These are men whose biblacl teachings I follow and whose faith I imitate just as Hebrews 13:7, 17 commands me to do. Of course, the ultimate person to follow is Jesus.
"Calvinism," as the great Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon said, "is simply a nickname for biblical Christianity." Every puritan, of which their writings on the shelves of nearly every pastor across this country and around the world, and have all been considered to be the most holy and godly of men through history, were ALL Calvinists (in other words: biblical Christians.). Most of the greatest theologians, if not all, living past and present were and are Calvinists. This doesn't mean it is correct, but you must admit, it is something for great consideration. We must all agree that we have not gone so far as to say we have arrived completely. This is our humble theology.
To divide over these views is a dishonoring to Christ and a hindrance to the growth of churches. Calvinism is another name for "Reformed." I, personally, do not care for terms, but because of those who would argue with heresy, terms arise for the sake of standing together and one with Christ.
This powerful poem in the video was written by Dr. John Piper, he adds,
"May I invite you into the life of a Calvinist? It’s probably not what you think. The sovereign God of the Bible is full of surprises. Sermons and essays are good. But sometimes only poems will do. We grope for special words and special forms to catch the radiance of God.
I wrote this poem called “The Calvinist” to capture a glimpse of God’s sovereign intersection with the life of a sinful man. There is no part of life where the greatness of God does not penetrate deeply. I want to help you feel that.
We hope “The Calvinist” is a video-poem you will linger over, reflect upon, re-read, re-watch, and share with friends and family.
My prayer is that this great and glorious sovereign God will stand forth from his word and from our lives with such compelling force, that sooner rather than later, the kingdoms of the earth will become the kingdom of our God through Jesus Christ." [End quote.]
The Calvinist is a person who seeks the face of God. Whose life is seen in this way by strangers. A Calvinist's life is centered on Jesus Christ. He is the sum and substance of my life. It is my prayer that I achieve this goal, as well as my family. It is also my prayer that we, as Christians, merge together in our differences and stand strong to the glory of Christ, especially at a time when our post-modern culture invades the church with liberalism. Let us be wise, and let us come to understand one another, and let us not separate. Amen.
The Calvinist - YouTube
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