by Sandy » Wed Feb 08, 2017 9:59 am
I don't see Timothy as blaming Calvinism. He says "a bad interpretation of Calvinism." And in many cases, that's a correct characterization.
I'd probably put a little different interpretation on the spiritual aspect of salvation, or losing it, than most Methodists would, but when it comes to living a transformed life, having the mind of Christ, and understanding the difference between conviction that truly comes from the spirit, or living by a set of rules based on someone else's faith experience and practice, or the world's lack of understanding of values-based life, I think the Methodists, and most others in the Wesleyan tradition, gain a healthier spiritual outcome because they don't teach that salvation is a singular event that gives you a spiritual fire insurance policy, but a lifelong experience that requires spiritual discipline. "Once saved always saved" is not a great way to articulate the theological principle of eternal security.
The transformational experience of salvation is far more than just bowing a head, praying a prayer and, presto! Saved! A model which, if done in a political context carries the endorsement of Evangelical Christians, many of whom are ready to shred a fellow believer and question their salvation because of who they voted for or supported, but who will loudly and vociferously defend a convenience conversion on the grounds that you can't judge someone else's experience.
I work in a community among students in a Christian school where I'd say close to half of the students come from a pretty staunch Calvinist church, either Reformed Presbyterian, Evangelical Presbyterian or PCA, or GARBC. And while they believe in limited atonement, I don't see any evidence that they take for granted their predestined salvation, but teach that Christian maturity is a means of honoring God and appreciating his gift. So the kind of attitude that Timothy is addressing is definitely from a "bad" interpretation of Calvinism, at least from my observation.