Historia ecclesiastica

One of the best treatments of hyper-calvinism is the book by Iain Murray entitled Spurgeon Vs Hyper Calvinism: The Battle for Gospel Preaching. As one brought up in a hyper-calvinist context, I found Murray's book very helpful.

The best definition I have ever heard of a hyper Calvinist: Someone who is more Calvinistic than you are.

Ken,

Does it then follow that an Arminian is one who is less Calvinistic than you are? Such "definitions" are absurd. I assume that you're just kidding.

However, I think it's true that some Calvinists go postmodern when it comes to the definition of Hyper-Calvinism. It's as if the position is relative, or like a wax nose to be defined however one pleases. As Timothy George states, it has a verifiable history and it's fundamental ideas can be known by any honest inquirer.

ynottony,
I rarely let anyone know how firmly planted into my cheek, my tongue is. My comment about a hyper calvinist is a sarcastic remark about how right everyone knows they are. A hyper Calvinist to me is one who will not preach the Gospel indiscriminantly and invite people to turn to Christ. Someone who does not hold to particular redemption will call me a hyper Calvinist because I do hold to it while an Arminian may call someone who believes in eternal security a hyper Calvinist even though he does not hold to particular redemption. Basically I am referring to the tendency to label people we disagree with. Anyone is hyper with their doctrine if they go further with it than I do. The definition I gave is absurd because they way we label people who disagree with us is absurd.

Hi Ken,

I understand. One comedian put it this way, "A maniac on the road is someone who is driving faster than we are, and an idiot is someone driving slower than we are." hahaha

We tend to make ourselves the measure of true "balance."