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Why is the Word of God not so Sharp on Forums?

I'm called a hyper-calvinist, and I don't believe even the hypers go far enough on some things, but if that is their main characteristic, I'm not one of them. I have heard that characteristic applied to Calvinists in general, but always by someone trying to defeat Calvinism.
I once read a booklet called "Why I Disagree with all Five Points of Hyper-Calvinism", by John R. Rice. It was absolutely incompetent, including the title (since the five points are not hyper-Calvinism); in fact, it was one of the things (although not the deciding factor) that turned me to believing in God's sovereignty in salvation!
 
All "Calvinists" believe in predestination (although the Bible only ever applies that word to the elect, not the reprobates).

Double predestinarian is what makes a person hyper Calvinist, in my understanding.
 
That's an unusual definition of hyper-Calvinism.

Why,?

As you said, all Calvinists believe in predestination.

So what makes you moderate,and not hyper? Your compatiblist and don't believe in double predestination..
 
That's an unusual definition of hyper-Calvinism.
The defining characteristic of HYPER-Calvinism is actually "Radical Supralapsarianism" manifesting as ACTIVE-ACTIVE schema Double Predestination.
  • Before God did anything, God purposed in his mind to create two classes of people.
  • God would create Vessels of Mercy, the ELECT, that were irresistible drawn towards Him and would love and serve him irrespective of any outside circumstances. The saved WILL BE SAVED because God has predetermined that God wills it so.
  • God would create Vessels of Wrath, the REPROBATE, that were irresistible repelled from Him and were created for his wrath irrespective of any outside circumstances. The reprobate WILL BE DAMNED because God has predetermined that God wills it so.
  • Nothing we do or desire or want will change these groups one iota. The saved are saved because they deserve to be saved (by God's decree, not their merit) and the damned are damned because they were created to be damned (by God's decree, not their merit).
Things like "Evangelism is not necessary" stem from the above understanding of "Double Predestination".
 
From a popular theological dictionary:
1. [Hyper-Calvinism] is a system of theology framed to exalt the honour and glory of God and does so by acutely minimizing the moral and spiritual responsibility of sinners . . . It emphasizes irresistible grace to such an extent that there appears to be no real need to evangelize; furthermore, Christ may be offered only to the elect. . . .
2. It is that school of supralapsarian 'five-point' Calvinism [n.b.—a school of supralapsarianism, not supralapsarianism in general] which so stresses the sovereignty of God by over-emphasizing the secret over the revealed will of God and eternity over time, that it minimizes the responsibility of sinners, notably with respect to the denial of the use of the word "offer" in relation to the preaching of the gospel; thus it undermines the universal duty of sinners to believe savingly in the Lord Jesus with the assurance that Christ actually died for them; and it encourages introspection in the search to know whether or not one is elect. [Peter Toon, "Hyper-Calvinism," New Dictionary of Theology (Leicester: IVP, 1988), 324.]
A hyper-Calvinist is someone who either:
  1. Denies that the gospel call applies to all who hear, OR
  2. Denies that faith is the duty of every sinner, OR
  3. Denies that the gospel makes any "offer" of Christ, salvation, or mercy to the non-elect (or denies that the offer of divine mercy is free and universal), OR
  4. Denies that there is such a thing as "common grace," OR
  5. Denies that God has any sort of love for the non-elect.
 
The defining characteristic of HYPER-Calvinism is actually "Radical Supralapsarianism" manifesting as ACTIVE-ACTIVE schema Double Predestination.
  • Before God did anything, God purposed in his mind to create two classes of people.
  • God would create Vessels of Mercy, the ELECT, that were irresistible drawn towards Him and would love and serve him irrespective of any outside circumstances. The saved WILL BE SAVED because God has predetermined that God wills it so.
  • God would create Vessels of Wrath, the REPROBATE, that were irresistible repelled from Him and were created for his wrath irrespective of any outside circumstances. The reprobate WILL BE DAMNED because God has predetermined that God wills it so.
  • Nothing we do or desire or want will change these groups one iota. The saved are saved because they deserve to be saved (by God's decree, not their merit) and the damned are damned because they were created to be damned (by God's decree, not their merit).
Things like "Evangelism is not necessary" stem from the above understanding of "Double Predestination".
That sounds like a caricature, a definition from someone outside the parameters. It doesn't sound like what a Hyper- would say.
 
That sounds like a caricature, a definition from someone outside the parameters. It doesn't sound like what a Hyper- would say.
Somewhat. Mostly the most extreme form of a spectrum.

In a sense, NOBODY really claims to be a HYPER-Calvinist, just like nobody claims to be Pelegian ... however, if the theology fits ...

I added an Dictionary definition and an essay on the range of beliefs.
Sadly, "Hyper-Calvinism" is typically used inaccurately as pejorative for anyone holding a Calvinist position that you disagree with, so reserving it for the most extreme position (like "Pelegian") is usually safest.
 
Somewhat. Mostly the most extreme form of a spectrum.

In a sense, NOBODY really claims to be a HYPER-Calvinist, just like nobody claims to be Pelegian ... however, if the theology fits ...

I added an Dictionary definition and an essay on the range of beliefs.
Sadly, "Hyper-Calvinism" is typically used inaccurately as pejorative for anyone holding a Calvinist position that you disagree with, so reserving it for the most extreme position (like "Pelegian") is usually safest.
Yep. True that.
 
Peter Naylor, in his history of the Particular-cum-Strict Baptist churches entitled Picking Up a Pin For the Lord, equates Hyper-Calvinism with High-Calvinism which he defines, following Andrew Fuller, as being “more Calvinistic than Calvin himself”. Of this teaching he says:

‘High Calvinism’ was a theological system which would appear to have co-ordinated two denials. First, there was the denial that God calls all who hear about Christ to believe in him; no man is obliged as a matter of duty to trust in Christ as a condition of salvation. This denial applied to both the reprobate and to the elect. The ‘reprobate’ are all those who were not originally chosen in Christ before the world began, for whom Christ did not die, who will be left in their sinful state by God, and who therefore will never repent and believe. The ‘elect’ are all those who were originally chosen by the Father to form the church of God, for whom Christ did die, and who will certainly come to a living faith in the Saviour. The reasoning was that if God alone can, and sometimes does, give repentance and faith, such should be demanded of no man, whoever he might be; sovereign grace is irresistible. Second, high Calvinism denied that it is the responsibility of the churches to call upon all men indiscriminately to repent and to believe in Christ for the salvation of their souls.”​

Naylor further maintains, “high Calvinism denied that a person insensitive to his sinfulness should ever be summoned to conversion” and affirms that, “This approach rested firmly upon the dogma that fallen humanity is beset by an inability to turn from sin and turn to God. So what men cannot do in their own strength, they need not do. “

from HERE
 
Somewhat. Mostly the most extreme form of a spectrum.

In a sense, NOBODY really claims to be a HYPER-Calvinist, just like nobody claims to be Pelegian ... however, if the theology fits ...

I added an Dictionary definition and an essay on the range of beliefs.
Sadly, "Hyper-Calvinism" is typically used inaccurately as pejorative for anyone holding a Calvinist position that you disagree with, so reserving it for the most extreme position (like "Pelegian") is usually safest.

With your definition I don't think my husband fits into an active active, I just know he's always held a stance that is more monergistic than what I previously held to date. Now I don't know how far apart we might be. He speaks in highly determinist language.
 
The defining characteristic of HYPER-Calvinism is actually "Radical Supralapsarianism" manifesting as ACTIVE-ACTIVE schema Double Predestination.
  • Before God did anything, God purposed in his mind to create two classes of people.
  • God would create Vessels of Mercy, the ELECT, that were irresistible drawn towards Him and would love and serve him irrespective of any outside circumstances. The saved WILL BE SAVED because God has predetermined that God wills it so.
  • God would create Vessels of Wrath, the REPROBATE, that were irresistible repelled from Him and were created for his wrath irrespective of any outside circumstances. The reprobate WILL BE DAMNED because God has predetermined that God wills it so.
  • Nothing we do or desire or want will change these groups one iota. The saved are saved because they deserve to be saved (by God's decree, not their merit) and the damned are damned because they were created to be damned (by God's decree, not their merit).
Things like "Evangelism is not necessary" stem from the above understanding of "Double Predestination".
Things like "Evangelism is not necessary" stem from a perversion of the above. In my opinion, a perversion that, oddly, bases upon the same faulty presupposition that Pelagianism does —that human comprehension and supposedly logical derivations are inherently trustworthy —self-determination.

Evangelism is necessary from several points, not the least of which is that God commands it. But one of my favorites is that God habitually stamps out all opposing voices; "that all righteousness be fulfilled"; that there be no ability of anyone to say, "not fair" —God thoroughly does what he does.
From a popular theological dictionary:

A hyper-Calvinist is someone who either:
  1. Denies that the gospel call applies to all who hear, OR
  2. Denies that faith is the duty of every sinner, OR
  3. Denies that the gospel makes any "offer" of Christ, salvation, or mercy to the non-elect (or denies that the offer of divine mercy is free and universal), OR
  4. Denies that there is such a thing as "common grace," OR
  5. Denies that God has any sort of love for the non-elect.
I don't know if the 'popular theological dictionary['s]' definition is using the logical 'or', or not. If any one of those are held to be true by someone, that doesn't make them a hyper-Calvinist. On the other hand, can there be a hyper-Calvinist that holds to none of them? What are they really saying there?

The problem with those statements is that they assume a common (agreed upon by all) understanding of those terms. If I was to take them as they sound there, and in their extreme-sounding delivery, I'd have to say I know of no hyper-Calvinist.
 
Why,?

As you said, all Calvinists believe in predestination.

So what makes you moderate,and not hyper? Your compatiblist and don't believe in double predestination..
In a sense, all "Calvinists" believe in double predestination (in the sense that one's destiny is fixed, in advance, not based upon foreseen works); however, normal "Calvinists" believe that God has actively predestined the elect for salvation; whereas, he merely passes over the non-elect, leaving them in the default condition for rebellious sinners.
 
The defining characteristic of HYPER-Calvinism is actually "Radical Supralapsarianism" manifesting as ACTIVE-ACTIVE schema Double Predestination.
  • Before God did anything, God purposed in his mind to create two classes of people.
  • God would create Vessels of Mercy, the ELECT, that were irresistible drawn towards Him and would love and serve him irrespective of any outside circumstances. The saved WILL BE SAVED because God has predetermined that God wills it so.
  • God would create Vessels of Wrath, the REPROBATE, that were irresistible repelled from Him and were created for his wrath irrespective of any outside circumstances. The reprobate WILL BE DAMNED because God has predetermined that God wills it so.
  • Nothing we do or desire or want will change these groups one iota. The saved are saved because they deserve to be saved (by God's decree, not their merit) and the damned are damned because they were created to be damned (by God's decree, not their merit).
Things like "Evangelism is not necessary" stem from the above understanding of "Double Predestination".
Thanks; I know about the distinction between active-active and active-passive predestination. I was just keeping my answer as short as possible (I was very tired and about to go to bed).
 
Things like "Evangelism is not necessary" stem from a perversion of the above. In my opinion, a perversion that, oddly, bases upon the same faulty presupposition that Pelagianism does —that human comprehension and supposedly logical derivations are inherently trustworthy —self-determination.

Evangelism is necessary from several points, not the least of which is that God commands it. But one of my favorites is that God habitually stamps out all opposing voices; "that all righteousness be fulfilled"; that there be no ability of anyone to say, "not fair" —God thoroughly does what he does.

I don't know if the 'popular theological dictionary['s]' definition is using the logical 'or', or not. If any one of those are held to be true by someone, that doesn't make them a hyper-Calvinist. On the other hand, can there be a hyper-Calvinist that holds to none of them? What are they really saying there?

The problem with those statements is that they assume a common (agreed upon by all) understanding of those terms. If I was to take them as they sound there, and in their extreme-sounding delivery, I'd have to say I know of no hyper-Calvinist.
I posted a link to the source where he goes into a wall of text on each of the 5 points. I just spared EVERYONE a long cut-paste. ;)
 
Thanks; I know about the distinction between active-active and active-passive predestination. I was just keeping my answer as short as possible (I was very tired and about to go to bed).
OK. Then the only point is they push Active-Active to fanatic extremes [God has no love/general grace for the non-elect ... the sun only shines on them to cause skin cancer!] [a bit of hyperbole humor]
 
OK. Then the only point is they push Active-Active to fanatic extremes [God has no love/general grace for the non-elect ... the sun only shines on them to cause skin cancer!] [a bit of hyperbole humor]
Yes, I have come across that extreme occasionally.
 
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