Does a Calvinist believe there is a need for missions?

Question

by missions, I really mean the great commission. free-will / predestination are always interesting topics in my opinion. Any thoughts?

Answer 1

Of course there is a need for missions, but the Calvinists do it out of joy rather than the Arminian sense of duty inherent in how they view salvation. Since we don't know who will be saved and who will not, we look at the Great Commission as more of a "ready, set, go" than a task we must grudgingly perform as Christians. Thus we participate in the salvation process, but we can neither take the glory for someone else's salvation nor can those who are saved claim any glory for themselves when their eyes are opened. The idea behind all this is that no one merits heaven, and no one gains any points in order to put God under their thumb. If God is to be glorified, this is the only reasonable way to look at evangelism.

Answer 2

Calvinism is a theological system and an approach to the Christian life that emphasizes God's sovereignty in all things. It falls within the realm of Protestant Christianity and is sometimes called the Reformed tradition or Reformed theology.

Though the Reformed tradition was advanced by theologians such as Martin Bucer, Heinrich Bullinger and Peter Martyr Vermigli and also influenced English reformers such as Thomas Cranmer and John Jewel, because of John Calvin's great influence and role in the confessional and ecclesiastical debates throughout the 17th century, the tradition generally became known as Calvinism. Today, this term also refers to the doctrines and practices of the Reformed churches, of which Calvin was an early leader, and the system is perhaps best known for its doctrines of predestination and total depravity.

Answer 3

I have never been able to understand why a Calvinist (5 pointer) could see the need to evangelize.

Answer 4

I am a Calvinist but I also know that the freewill of man and the sovereignty of God work together.

It's still our job to tell people the good news of Christ.

But God is the One who ultimately saves people....not us.

Answer 5

Not really just sit back and let God choose who he wants and to hell with everyone else.

Why is that wrong?

Are you a good person? What a question, most of us believe that we are good people because we can look around and find someone that is far worse than we are. We can always point to the things that we think make us a good person.

But how good are we really? Dare we take this test and look at ourselves and see if we really are good? Hmmm.

If you are willing try this and see just how good a person you are.

The Good Person Test.

How will you do? Pass or fail?


Have you ever told a lie?
Doesn't matter how big or small, just a lie.
What does that make you? Before answering think about this, if I told you a lie what would you call me? A liar?

Have you ever stolen anything? Cost doesn't matter, a piece of gum, failed to give back an ink pen that you borrowed, anything.
What does that make you?

Jesus said, "You know the saying of old, you shall not commit adultery but I say that if look at someone to lust after them you have committed adultery in your heart.
Have you ever lusted?

Jesus said that hate is equal to murder.
Have you ever hated anyone?

See one day we all are going to stand before a Holy God on Judgment Day and he is going to judge us based on His Holy Law, the Ten Commandments. These are just 4 of them and how did you do? Guilty? I have broken all of these and more, what about you? How well will you do on Judgment Day?

If we break just one point of God's Law we are guilty of breaking all the law and Gods Wrath abides upon us all. Based on God's Law we are all guilty and all are deserving of punishment. But there is an out for us.

Jesus paid the price for each one of us, took on himself God's Wrath so we wouldn't have to face it on our own. Jesus was beaten, battered, bleed and died so we wouldn't have to face God's Wrath. He rose again so that we would life in his presence. Our crimes, His payment.

The real question is where will you stand on Judgment Day. Pay yourself or have it paid for you. Think about it.

Answer 6

Why not ask Billy Graham?
I believe he's a Calvinist.

Answer 7

Yes. God ordained who will and will not be saved, and He ordained the method by which they will hear the gospel, namely, evangelism. It is very simple when you think about it. The evangelist has no idea whom God has and has not willed to be saved; therefore, the evangelist must preach to all so that the elect will be saved.