Subject: Is there any practical difference? |
Bible Note: Okay...more. 3. Prayer life: less me-focused; more God-focused in praise and thanksgiving; acknowledging my place in the pecking order as part of the creation, to be yielded in submission to Him. You should see the blessing that our public confession has in our worship service (not individuals confessing individual sins, but corporately acknlowledging our unworthiness and continuing need for His grace). Supplication is always subordinated to God's sovereignty. 4. Bible study: this is probably the most significant way in which the two camps differ. Calvinists such as myself see the decretive will of God in all things (Romans 8:28) and all of the Biblical narrative as HIS story, how he will glorify HIMSELF throuygh redeeming the elect. In my pre-Calvinist days, I had to struggle with passages which clearly talk about predestination and election and us being caused to be born again. The Calvinist truly sees all things in the Bible working for the chief end of glorifying God above all. 5. Worship of God: Complete and total reverance and fear of the Lord are the centerpieces of Reformed worship. STRONG emphasis on God's absolute holiness and his grace in not just leaving us to perish in our sins. 6. Evangelism: Much less concern about technique, much more emphasis on content and speaking the truth proclamationally, whether the individual accepts it or not. No temptation to soften the truth or overlook parts the individual would rather not hear for the sake of "winning him." --Joe! |