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THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, July 15, 2010
METHODIST CHURCH, WEIRS-1889
by Rev. Victoria Wood Parrish Contributing Writer
In the spring I read an article in the Christian Science Monitor stating that the United States was becoming more Cal- vinistic in Christian be- liefs. Using the simplified descriptions the article gave, I invited readers to send me their beliefs. Basically, Christians
wi l l f ind their bel iefs about salvation falling
COMMUNITY CHURCH MEDITATIONS WHAT WE BELIEVE
into one of two camps – Calvinism or Arminian- ism. John Calvin (1509- 1564) and Jacob Armin- ius (1560-1609) were both theologians who studied scripture and in- terpretation. Arminius was a student of Calvin- ism, but clashed with what Calvin had taught. Both were faithful Chris- tians and both based their theology on scrip- ture. Therefore, only God will determine who was more correct – if either!
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This article wi l l not
have space to delve into either side deeply this week, but below are the questions and how the responding readers re- sponded. None of my church members are in- cluded in this survey, so it is not skewed toward what I believe or teach. Simplified Calvinism from the “Christian Science Monitor” (predestination)
44% - We are sinful
people and sin affects every part of our life. We are born in sin and can- not escape it.
17% - God chooses who will be saved and who will not, and it doesn’t matter how good or evil the person is. 9% -Jesus died for those who believe. 13% - We cannot refuse God’s salvation. 56% - Once we are saved, we are always saved.
Simplified Arminian- ism from the “Chris- tian
Science Monitor” (free will)
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56% - We are created good, but we sin. Created in the image of God, we have fractured the im- age. 83% - God wants all peo- ple to be saved. We can choose to participate in salvation or not, and our lives will reflect our choice. 91% - Jesus died for all people. 87% - We can choose to accept or reject God’s salvation. 44% - Through our own choices we can reject the salvationwe once accept- ed.Judging from what was submitted, readers of the Weirs Times ap- pear to fall under Armini- anism, rather than Cal- vinism! One note, one person wrote about the last question, “I want to believe that once I have
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accepted salvation, I will always be saved, but…I think I can turn away from salvation at any time. That’s what makes it so hard.” Some of you will also be able to pick out areas where people voted on both sides of the question as statements were rephrased differ- ently. Many of you asked
where I stand. I am an Arminian, as was John Wesley, the one who started the Methodist movement. However, that movement also included many Calvinists, so not all Methodists are in any one camp. We encour- age people to think for themselves, even when they don’t agree with the majority, as long as they base their beliefs on scripture. After all, we are not guaranteed that we are correct, and salvation is ultimately in the hands of God.
Rev. Victoria Wood Par- rish is the pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Gilford, NH, located on Route 11-A. It is a congregation of open hearts, open minds, and open doors. We invite you to worship with us on Sundays at 8:30 AM for an informal service and at 10:30 AM. Children’s activities and nursery are available during the lat- ter morning worship. We also invite you to the Unit- ed Methodist Church in the Weirs, 35 Tower St., which worships at 10:00 AM. There are also many other local congregations who would welcome you to worship.
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