Theological Warfare against Stereotypical Enemies
The enemy loves when we base our judgments upon stereotypes!
In the Facebook theological discussion groups I have joined there is an enormous amount to stereotyping heaved back and forth between proponents of the Calvinist/Reformed movements and the rest of “Evangelical” Christianity.
I wonder how many of those who are so engaged have ever gotten to well know each other. I grew upn disliking what I assumed the Calvinists were like, people whose God wanted to turn everyone into puppets; people who had no logical foundation for wanting to convince anyone of anything since, for them, all had been forordained from the foundation of the world.
But then what happens when you bump into such preachers as Richard Baxter (12 November 1615 – 8 December 1691)
[Plagued by poor health and “the frequent sight of Death’s most awful face,” Baxter was gripped by the urgency of the gospel message—and the fleeting opportunity he had to proclaim it to the lost.]
“Still thinking I had little time to live,
My fervent heart to win men’s souls did strive.
I preach’d, as never sure to preach again,
And as a dying man to dying men!”
“God is on your side, who hath all your enemies in his hand, and can rebuke them, or destroy them in a moment. O what is the breath or fury of dust or devils, against the Lord Almighty? “If God be for us, who can be against us?” read often that chapter, Rom. viii. In the day when thou didst enter into covenant with God, and he with thee, thou didst enter into the most impregnable rock and fortress, and house thyself in that castle of defense, where thought mayst (modestly)defy all adverse powers of earth or hell. If God cannot save thee, he is not God. And if he will not save thee, he must break his covenant. Indeed, he may resolve to save thee, not from affliction and persecution, but in it, and by it. But in all these sufferings you will “be more than conquerors, through Christ that loveth you;” that is, it is far more desirable and excellent, to conquer by patience, in suffering for Christ, than to conquer our persecutors in the field, by force arms. O think on the saints triumphant boastings in their God:” God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble: therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea”. when his ” enemies were many” and “wrested his words daily,” and “fought against him, and all their thoughts were against him, ” yet he saith, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. in God I will praise his word; in God I have put my trust: I will not fear what flesh can do unto me”. Remember Christ’s charge, ” Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: fear him, which after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you , Fear him” if all the world were on they side, thou might yet have cause to fear; but to have God on thy side, is infinitely more.”
I personally think I would have like to have gotten to know Mr. Baxter, despite not agreeing with a number of things that I am convinced Mr. Calvin was wrong about. Not all people are as stereotypical as are so often assumed by our shallow thinking about deeper people.
The Spirit who was within Jesus will convict many of us because our theological judgments and evaluation of others were tainted by the PLEASURE we got by tearing others down who are just not “one of US”!
