Orthodox Calvinism Position

Calvinism is the theological system of John Calvin who exerted international influence on the development of the doctrine of the Protestant Reformation (Warfield, 2004). Calvin and his followers marked by strong emphasis on the sovereignty of God, the depravity of mankind, and the doctrine of predestination. This system was developed as a biblical Christianity. It has stirred countries such as Switzerland, Germany, France, Spain, England and America. Calvinist theology spread rapidly, and became the basis for many protestant denominations. These included the Swiss Reformed Church, The Dutch Reformed Church, The English Puritans, The French Huguenots, The Presbyterian and Congregational Churches, The Baptist Churches, and through them the Pentecostal Churches and Assemblies of God. Jansenism, a Catholic form of Calvinism, was condemned as heretical in 1653.
The central assertion of Calvinism canons is that God is able to save from the tyranny of sin, from guilt and the fear of death, every one of those upon whom he is willing to have mercy. God is not frustrated by the unrighteousness or the inability of men because it is the unrighteous and the helpless that he intends to save. In Calvinism man, in his state of innocency, had freedom and power to will and to do that, which is good and well pleasing to God; but yet mutably, so that he might fall from it. This concept of free choice makes Calvinism to stand supreme among all the religious systems of the world. The great men of our country often were members of Calvinist Church. We had the number of Presbyterian presidents, legislators, jurists, authors, editors, teachers and businessmen. The revolutionary principles of republican liberty and self-government, taught and embodied in the system of Calvin were brought to America and in this new land where they have borne so mighty a harvest were planted by the hands of the Calvinists. In this essay we will discuss the role of Calvinism in American History, especially in

References: 1. "United States History," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2004 http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2004 Microsoft Corporation. 2. A Short history of Calvinism, the Reformation and England (2004) by C. Matthew McMahon http://www.apuritansmind.com/Reformation/ShortHistoryCalvinism.htm 3. Academic orthodoxy and the arminianizing of American theology by James E. Hamilton http://wesley.nnu.edu/WesleyanTheology/theojrnl/06-10/09-6.htm 4. Calvinism: The Meaning And Uses of the Term by Benjamin B. Warfield http://homepage.mac.com/shanerosenthal/reformationink/bbwcalvinism.htm 5. Liberty and Power in the Jacksonian Age by Jacob Halbrooks http://www.geocities.com/libertarian_press/jackson.html 6. May, Henry F. (1976) The Enlightenment in America. New York: Oxford University Press 7. McLoughlin, William G. (1971) New England Dissent, 1630-1833: The Baptists and the Separation of Church and State. 2 vols. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press