Calvinism: the hidden dangers of lifestyle evangelism
For many, there is this appeal to Calvinism that I must address. It is called “lifestyle evangelism” and when coupled with the teachings of Calvinism is not only spiritually dangerous, but is mankind’s attempt to bypass Jesus’ teachings on personal evangelism. Firstly, this “lifestyle evangelism” is based on the verse, Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them (Matthew 7:20). While this verse does express truth, it does not justify lifestyle evangelism. Because of the role this doctrine has within Calvinism, many believe that just by looking at one’s lifestyle, it can be determined where their eternal destination – Heaven or Hell – will be. Taken to its logical conclusion, lifestyle evangelism condemns and creates false testimony. This doctrine was originally practiced in early modern England and the British American colonies of the Seventeenth Century.
Just as with our time, lifestyle evangelism actually distorted the gospel of Jesus several ways during the Seventeenth Century. It forced conformity to a single interpretation of scripture, it forced others to live a certain lifestyle out of the threat of peer pressure and not out of a heartfelt willing obedience. Instead of it being a lifestyle that brought glory and honor to God, it brought misery and harm to others – the exact opposite of what the gospel teaches us. Within the Old Testament we see this verse, And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams (1 Samuel 15:22). Additionally, there is this passage that must be mentioned: And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices (Mark 12:28-33). Our willful obedience as children of God is worth more than any other sacrifice we could ever make.
Not only does Calvinism undermine our ability to be willingly obedient out of our love for Christ, it also can undermine the importance of being willingly obedient. There are those who believe that as a Christian who believes in Calvinism, there is no requirement to be separate from the world since their salvation is not dependent upon free will but upon a predetermination set before their birth. They disregard both the Old Testament and New Testament’s calling: For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy (Leviticus 11:44-45) and Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy (1 Peter 1:16). They also disregard the teachings of Jesus: Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him (John 14:23) and If ye love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15). As children of God, the Lord has called us to be different from the world around us, but not out of anything other than willful obedience that comes from a personal, deep love and relationship with the Lord.
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