Taking the Opposite Position from Neo Calvinists Just Because It’s the Opposite of Neo Calvinists
I touched on this in an earlier post or two, such as this one: (Link): No Man’s Land – Part 2 – On Post Evangelicals or Ex Christians or Liberal Christians Ignorantly Hopping Aboard Belief Sets They Once Rejected.
But this time, I wanted to discuss Neo Calvinism and spiritual abuse blogs and advocates in particular.
I do not support Neo Calvinism, or even old school Calvinism. I think Calvinism is a crock of crap.
Many of the NC’s (Neo Calvinists, aka YRRs), are arrogant, narrow minded jerks.
My problem with seeing NC guys, their churches, or their positions discussed and picked apart by some bloggers is that the anti NCs go into reactionary mode.
Their positions often time seem not so much well thought out in and of themselves, but that they will take a position opposite of that held by most NCs just because it’s the opposite of that held by NCs.
I do know a little bit about NCs and their theological beliefs, but not as much as their frequent critics.
According to their frequent critics, NCs believe in a literal six day creation, not an old age of the earth.
(As for me, I am NOT an NC, and I believe in a literal six day creation.)
My issue when I visit blogs or Twitter accounts by people who are vehemently anti NC is that they will, it appears to me, automatically take the opposite position on anything John Piper, The Gospel Coaltion, and other NC guys say just to be contrary.
For example, because NCs are supposedly typically YECs (six day creationists – Young Earthers), their critics all slam and whale on YEC and depict them as being ignorant yokels, when gosh, all scientific types KNOW without a doubt that the earth is MILLIONS of years old, and the science is settled on that.
If your NCs were to make a list of other beliefs such as:
“We Neo Calvinists believe the following…”
- 1. Christians should visit children dying of cancer in hospitals to bring them cheer and give them free teddy bears
2. Vanilla ice cream is the best flavor ice cream ever
3. People should wear socks with sandals
Instead of examining each of those beliefs on their respective merits and debating them on those grounds, your folks who despise Neo Calvinists will immediately take these positions on these issues, or issue these sorts of statements:
- Christians should not be making up rules about what flavor ice cream people should eat because it is non-essential to the Gospel, however, we believe that:
1. Christians should NEVER visit children dying of cancer in hospitals to bring them cheer and give them free teddy bears – that is WRONG!!
2. CHOCOLATE ice cream is the best flavor ice cream ever, NOT Vanilla, John Piper, C.J. Mahaney, and other Neo Cals can go suck it!!
3. People should NEVER wear socks with sandals
4. And did we mention that John Piper, C.J. Mahaney, and other Neo Cals can go suck it!!?!!!!
You see how it is.
Often I find that the folks who are strongly criticizing another group of people often become guilty of the very things they are complaining about.
Anyway, no, I do not agree with Neo Calvinism, I think most Neo Calvinists are egotistical butt-heads, and yes, churches that are Neo Cal in view tend to ignore child sexual abuse and domestic abuse (which is horrible and shame on them), but that does not mean every single damn thing they preach or believe regarding other topics is automatically WRONG and should be treated as moronic.
I have seen some Christians or ex-Christians on spiritual abuse blogs say they have grown to strongly dislike the phrase “don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.” Sorry to those guys, but that expression does indeed apply at times, and this is one of those times.
Just because you find your opponent deeply annoying or incorrect on one topic does not mean he is totally wrong about every other stance he takes on other topics.
However, I have seen people at the spiritual abuse blogs automatically reject every single comment or view from a particular church, pastor, or denomination (or political party) based on a strong distrust or dislike for that church, pastor, or denomination, rather than on an examination of the view itself.
————————–
Related posts:
This post was written when I was still sure of my Christian faith; these days, I’m not sure if I’m a Christian or not, but here’s the link:
(Link): The Wartburg Watch Blog (spiritual abuse blog) – YEC, Calvinists, Gender Roles etc
(Link): Why I Now Reject “Be Equally Yoked” – and on Becoming More Agnostic
(Link): Your Preacher Sucks – and People Have a Right To Say So And Explain Why
Christian Pundit 