Imperishable Inheritance

I have been frustrated with a few of my fellow Christians recently, and it has to do when doctrine becomes "sheek." I have seen a good number of believers recently come to embrace the Doctrines of Grace (Calvinism), and they seemingly do it only because it's seen as some to be 'cool to be a Calvinist.' It's almost as if it is to be a fad much like Facebook or Sudoku. Calvinists traditionally have a reputation of being very intelligent and diligent in their Biblical studies (not to say they're aren't smart people outside of Calvinism and that all Calvinists really are intelligent), and I feel like people pursue after the reputation. Let's go back in time to when I first came to the doctrines mentioned.

I embraced Calvinism, actually, before I was even a professing believer. I admitted intellectually that if the Christian Scriptures were true, then it does support the doctrines of reformed theology (much like the Qur'an supports Mohammed as prophet sent by God). Well, things changed when I did being to profess my belief in Christ. I then went into the notorious "cage stage."

"Within the Reformed world, a phrase which more of us should be aware of is 'cage stage.' Whenever someone comes into new-found truth (and this often happens with those first coming to embrace Reformed theology), the phrase refers to that period of time where the new (and usually young) convert should be locked up in a cage. That period of time is usually about two years. Of course, there are some pitiful cases that should never be let out, and there are many more evangellyfish who do not ever need to be locked up. But cage stagers, however many of them there are, can do a lot of damage. Ironically, they do much to make the theology they profess to love obnoxious to outsiders. Paul did teach, unambiguously, the doctrine of election. But he also told the Colossians, as the elect of God, to put on tender mercies."
Douglas Wilson, Hither and Yon

I didn't understand that these doctrines were meant to humble me and not send me into a tirade. Through the help of God working through my summer project this past summer, I was finally able to break free of the "cage stage." Now, I see more Christians, instead of going into a "cage stage," learn just enough of the five points to say, "I'm a Calvinist." In all honesty, it means nothing to them. Now, there are some believers who I have seen of late genuinely wrestle with the doctrines and become convinced and thereby humbled, but unfortunately this is a minority.

When I was doing my Bible study we had a visitor who, when we were going over the missiological implications of Jonah, asked, "is this about election?" First of all, we couldn't have been farther from focusing on election in the sense she was talking about, and you got the sense that she said it just so others would think, "wow, she studies election." I've had other people recommend this shirt which says on the front: "Arminianism: I chose this shirt" and on the back: "Calvinism: This shirt chose me." What ignorance. (What a bad understanding of the debate. Neither side would debate a choice by both parties, but perpetuating stereotypes is always fun I guess.)

Jollyblogger, a well known reformed blogger, reposted a list called: "Why It's Cool to Be a Calvinist" with reasons like:

Dispensationalists are into prophecy conferences where they talk about Star-Trek eschatology and the mark of the Beast. Calvinists have conferences on "life and culture", art, social justice, and other high- brow things like that. Afterwards, we go to the local pub and talk about philosophy over a pint of Bass ale.

It is more socially acceptable to say, "I go to Grace Presbyterian Church" than to say, "I go to Washed In The Blood Worship Center"

Being a Calvinist or Arminian or whatever isn't about a trend as if it were relegated the world of pogs and Sea Monkeys. Studying doctrine is something we do out of love for the Word and not say that we can feel high brow or more intelligent than anyone else.