That blog post created some controversy, though I also had some positive feedback about it away from this blog site itself, but it was not my declaration that all Calvinist's are the frozen chosen, in fact, it was my contention that to be so, is the most uncalvinistic and even more, unchristian outlook one can have. One filled with self and not with God.

Calvin himself, the man of whom Calvinists take their name, though not their faith, but he was the man who after a thousand years of popish darkness set forth the true religion once again, by his immaculate writings that could have only come from the mind of a genius.  From his first edition of the Institutes in 1536, he never varied  from those doctrines, even though he was a young convert at the time.  By the time the last edition was published however, in 1559, he had expanded on them enormously, because his first edition was only six chapters, and he wrote it for the french refugees and Protestants of France as a simple manual or summary of Christian doctrine.  His last edition however,  was more of an introduction to Scripture for any student of God, and particularly of pastors. Since his final edition has over 7,000 Scripture references in it, it can be truly said it is an introduction to Scripture and Biblical doctrine.

I plan to start a series on Calvin, to again debunk many of the myths, fables, and in some cases downright malicious lies that have existed and been handed down the centuries about him, as a monster or the dictator of Geneva.  There is more than ample proof to prove these literary pieces that started the ball rolling in the time of Calvin was nothing more than malicious propaganda and a fulfilling of Isa.:5:20

But going back to my post on Calvinist's should not be the frozen chosen, the very point of that post is that to be a Calvinist and yet act like the frozen chosen towards the brethren, is an oxymoron. And those who do, shame the name of Calvinism, and it's noble heritage and this short quote by B.B. Warfield shows how the man himself of who Calvinist's take their name from was nothing like that.  I have had the dark providence to know many who were not one iota like Calvin, but  I have the good providence in more recent times, to have new Calvinist friends, among many are not like those I formerly knew.

Calvin was a man of letters, no one can dispute that. HIstory bears it out and the works he has left us, about which only half thus far have been translated into English.  But much of his writing comprised of letter writing. The ones that have remained, fill four full volumes of works, and its a sure dunk that many didn't stand the test of time and got lost. Most of the Reformation itself, and the very real spiritual war that was going on, was conducted by letter.  People who criticize the use of email don't seem to know their history very well,  as email is just another form of letter, and in those days when it could take a whole year for a single letter to arrive somewhere, it seems to me with the technological tools we have today, we should also be able to conduct our own reformation with much more power because we are not in those primitive times.

B.B Warfield writes:

Of one other product of his literary activity, however,  a special word seems demanded. Calvin was the great letter-writer of the Reformation age. About four thousand of his letters have come down to us, some of them almost of the dimensions of treatises, many of them practically theological tractates, but many of them also of the most intimate character in which he pours out his heart. In these letters we see the real Calvin, the man of profound religious convictions and rich religious life, of high purpose and noble strenuousness, of full and freely flowing human affections and sympathies. In them he rebukes rulers and instructs statesmen, and strengthens and comforts saints. Never a perplexed pastor but has from him a word of encouragement and counsel; never a martyr but has from him a word of heartening and consolation. Perhaps no friend ever more affectionately leaned on his friends; certainly no friend ever gave himself so ungrudgingly to his friends. Had he written these letters alone, Calvin would take his place among the great Christians and the great Christian leaders of the world.
Benjamin B. Warfield Calvin and Calvinism Vol 5 of the Works of B.B. Warfield.

You see Calvin was not the frozen chosen, he knew how to be a friend to those in need. And he accomplished his labours not only in primitive times, but in the worst of circumstances that anyone could have.  And anyone claiming to be a Calvinist who acts like the frozen chosen is an oxymoron. To be the frozen chosen is to be an antinomian, because if you do not love one's neighbour as oneself, then the whole of the law is broken, and the whole sum of the law, and one's love to God questionable. As only when we love God aright, will we also love our fellow man aright also.

This is a series that will be continued on Calvin uncovered.

It is sad to see the things that are out there today, which fit into our desire and quest for comfort and anything we gain to be had with the least effort possible. The 100 minute Bible would be a good example

An abridged version of Calvin's the institutes of the Christian Religion would be another good one:

It has 271 pages as opposed to one of the more popular unabridged versions on sale today of 2 hardback volumes of 1,600 odd of the John T. Mcneil's Ford Lewis Battle edition.

One can make a case, that if one is dealing with babes in Christ, the 271 page would be a good start for them, without overwhelming them. Or even if you are trying to get someone of false faiths or false religions to pick up as a first copy. But it doesn't stop there. Research shows and statistics prove, that the greatest majority of evangelical Protestant Christians today, including many among the Reformed Faith have not read Calvin's institutes in their entirety, and even more concerning is that this includes many reformed pastors.

Yet, if one had to make a list of the 10 most important books to ever be in the world, The Bible should take first place, and Calvin's institutes unabridged should also be on the short-list. Many people who claim to be Calvinist's know very little about what Calvin taught. So their claim is a vain one, one I think at times, has a lot to do with pride, because being a Calvinist is sometimes worn like a badge of honour, and a sense of grandiose. Yet these men and women who claim to be Calvinist's and do not know what Calvin taught, often betray and shame the Reformed faith–not intentionally–but through ignorance. Ignorance very often is a choice.

We all have to make choices every day. One of them being how we will spend our time, once the daily grind of occupational work, and family business is out of the way. Playing computer games, watching garbage on the TV that will not be spiritually helpful and could be quite harmful in the long run by what we are filling our senses with; Now I am not against recreation at all. I want to make that clear. Everyone needs time to wind down, and have some enjoyment, or leisure, but not to the detriment of one's own soul by indulging in it excessively. Despite popular opinion and folk-lore, the puritans were not against recreation, enjoyment, mirth, or dancing or merry making in general. Oliver Cromwell at his daughter's wedding is said to have danced till 3 am. But one thing the puritans were big on, is temperance. All things in moderation, and that the main business of all professing believers of faith should be that of eternity.

As Solomon wisely said. There is a time for everything. [Eccles 1]

When any one who has professed faith through their lives, comes to being on their death bed, you often hear of the things they regret about their lives. One never hears though, that they regretted the time they spent on eternal matters, or making their salvation sure. One often hears quite the reverse.- a regret that they wasted so much time.

I have not read the entirety of the Institutes just yet though I have the greater part, but I aim to soon rectify that, and say it to my shame. If you can say the same thing, then I exhort you to also set aside some time, and read it and study it. The institutes is not just a cold book of Theological doctrine; it has over 7000 references to Scripture in it, it is also a tool along side the Bible that will help us all grow in our love for God and our external consequences of that by growing in piety and righteous living. You cannot read them, with a right heart, and remain unchanged or unmoved.

John T. McNeil in the unabridged version above, in his introduction describes it as being one of a "short-list of books that have notably affected the course of history." Who would not want to read such a book, when written by John Calvin if a Calvinist? He adds that it has: "moulded the beliefs and behaviour of generations of mankind." Elsewhere he said: that it is "admired as an incomparable exposition of Scriptural truth and a bulwark of evangelical faith."
It teaches us of "Christian doctrine and social duty."

The original edition which only had six chapters in it, and was the size of average paperback today was titled: "The institute of the Christian Religion containing almost the whole sum of piety and whatever is necessary to know in Doctrine and Salvation. A work well worth reading by all persons zealous for piety and lately published. A preface to the most Christian King of France in which this book is presented to him as a confession of faith. Author John Calvin, of Noyon Basel.

(Some of the length of original titles of these old books are hysterical by our standards today.)

The King referred to, was a stanch papist and opposer and persecutor of the Protestant faith. And even after the said King's death in future editions, Calvin still included the original preface written to him in it.
A few short months previously to the Institutes first publication, King Francis of France had tried to ban all printing, but his attempt to do so failed. God was determined that Calvin's magnus opus would be published, just as he has always kept his own Word from being destroyed. Don't we have a duty to our own souls, to the heritage that we come from, and a duty to God, to read and study this fine master-piece. Not to gain knowledge and learning for it's own sake, but so that we will also experience the natural consequence of doing so, of understanding the life of faith better, be more useful in the kingdom, and learn to do our duties as Christian to grow in understanding of the Scriptures and to have more piety and righteous living in our lives because we have read this book.

Six months after publishing the first edition, Calvin began his work in Geneva. The second edition when published had grown from the original six chapters to now seventeen chapters. And in this second edition he quoted the patristic father's extensively such as Augustine and Origen and others. In this second edition Calvin stated that he saw it as a textbook to be used in the "preparation of candidates in theology for the reading of the divine Word."
Wouldn't that describe you and I, as are we not all of the priesthood of believers?

An ignorant Christian, particularly ignorant Calvinist's are a liability and dangerous to the cause of true religion. To the Biblical doctrine that is contained within the doctrine simply known as Calvinism.

Many people will say they need nothing more than the Word of God to know what to believe. They have the holy Spirit, so they will sit at home with their Bible, studying it, without any outside works to help them understand it. No confessions of faith, commentaries or other books written by godly men. Yet what an arrogant attitude this is. Calvin made reference to Augustine around 400 times in his final edition of the Institutes, which grew each time it was published in his life time, till it now stands at the size we know it now. Calvin didn't think he was above being taught by the learned men who had gone before him. And yet it was B.B. Warfield who described Calvin as the "theologian of the Holy Spirit."

Calvin didn't get his vast wealth of Biblical understanding, by taking short-cuts to everything that the Christian needs to be armed in life for the Spiritual warfare we face daily and the duties we must perform. He got it by years and years of hard laborious study and labour. Even when too ill to work, and was ordered to rest, and told to rest by his friends and associations. He answered with the words: "What, would you have the Lord come, and find me idle"

Yes, recreation and enjoyment and leisure has it's place. The Christian life however, has no right to have other things above in priority the work of eternity. Whether it is working out our own salvation with fear and trembling, or trying to help others along the way.
He would find abhorrent the 100 minute Bible or abridged version of his Institutes.

There is no place in God's kingdom for people ignorant of the doctrines of the Bible or the way of life for Christian living. Ignorance very often is a choice. If we have been Christians for many years, and have never read the Institutes, that has been a choice. If we have been Calvinist's many years and know little of what Calvin taught about almost anything, then that is also is a choice. AND if we have been a Christian many years, and know little of what the Bible teaches in truth, and even less live it out as experimental religion, that is also a choice in many instances. Christ's kingdom has no place for sloth.

So let us set our eyes on eternity, and head heavenwards, and not indulge and be firmly grounded in the world as we make our pilgrimage through it to a better place. Let us be like Abraham, strangers in a foreign land, and let us not be carried about and tossed in the wind by many strange doctrines. (Heb 13:9). God gave us this treasure, (His Word) entrusted it to us to keep it. Let us not betray that trust; and let us not feel safe and presumptuous without a sure foundation for that assurance and presumption as many seem to do. Those men who were for many years, some of the best known teachers of Calvinism, have betrayed the faith they professed to love by the federal vision heresy. Yet who would have that? None of us is beyond being deceived.

Let us not profess the true religion and build our houses on the sand. Let us be like the text of Hebrews 11 where almost each line starts with "by faith." And if called to suffer for the truth of God, we shall be prepared and ready to. Whereas now, many of those who think they would stand strong, while not well taught in the ways of faith, and have no excuse or reason not to be, suffering would soon show how they spoke in presumption, because words are easy for anyone. But when in comfortable times, and we are not even prepared to deny ourselves one day a week, to give it to the Lord; not set aside some time each day to put down our toys and recreations, and to pick up God' Word or study tools, then their proclamations really show how vain they are. Because the life of the Christian, and especially the suffering Christian is all about self-denial. And if we do not do that in the small things, when we are so comfortable it would be easy for us to do so, then it is vanity to think we would do it if ever called to it without comfort and in great need, because we have professed faith.

The statistics show that around 15% of the visible church is made up of true believers. It is not our job to find out which is which, and in fact Paul speaks against doing so in Romans. (Rom 10) But if God sends us plagues or famine, he may just sift out the tares from the wheat. And don't think it can't happen in our days because it can. God will deliver his True church, and one of those ways will be to build her up so that it is not so weak and so full of false professors as it is now. And let's be armed and ready for when that happens, by our faith having a sure foundation and being grounded in the Rock. But that wont' happen by choosing the life of comfort and ease and not denying our own pleasures to pick up the Word of God or other tools to help us better understand it, and so become better Christians.

Let's set our eyes on eternity, and keep them there; and not take them off, until we have reached the Christian's true Home. Let's set out to heavenwards, and let the world and all that glitters in it, not be the thing that robs us of eternity by our being more dazzled by the world we can see that glitters, rather than the hope of things invisible (Heb 11:27) that are yet to come, yet would make this glittering world, look like a bottomless pit.

I hope to get a series of posts out this week, on Reformation history, and how we can apply that to our lives today. This is the first.