In our troubled times, you often come across people who preach a particular direction in Christianity, considering it the only right and true one. In conversation, they often appeal to the Bible, but we know that the scriptures can be interpreted in different ways. It is no secret that if you wish, you can justify almost any direction in Christianity.
Protestantism, and in particular Calvinism, today has become very widespread throughout the world. Let's see what this teaching is and how it differs from others.
History reference
Protestantism itself arose in Europe in the first half of the 16th century as a powerful movement for the purification of the church. Indeed, the sale of indulgences, requisitions and extortion, as well as the obscene behavior of Catholic priests could not but cause indignation of the common people. As a result, Lutheranism arose and grew stronger in Germany, Anglicanism in foggy Albion, and Calvin founded his reformist trend in Christianity in Switzerland, Calvinism. Subsequently, it found many adherents also in the Netherlands, Scotland, USA, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Hungary, New Zealand and South Korea. The main branches of this Protestant movement are considered to be reformism, Congregationalism and Presbyterianism.
Distinctive features of Calvinism
In 1536, J. Calvin published a work entitled “Instructions in the Christian Faith,” in which he described what this trend in Christianity actually consists of. In this book, he outlined not only the basic principles of this trend, but also his approach to understanding the Christian vocation of a person, his fate and goals in life. According to Calvin, each person has his own destiny from God. Everyone must realize their fate, which is impossible to change. Its definition occurs through the gift of Faith. The happiness of some people is predetermined even before their birth, while others are forced to eke out an existence full of sorrow and suffering. And all this will continue after death. Thus, it turns out that God predefines a final sentence for a person that cannot be changed either by sacrifices in the name of loved ones or by all kinds of good deeds.
The Creator’s will can be recognized by the following signs: if a person sincerely believes in his Creator, understands the essence of his destiny in life, works hard and attains material well-being, then he is chosen for paradise life. Otherwise, if he incorrectly manages fate and loses his health and well-being, he will face eternal torment. Those who profess
this trend in Christianity believe that a person is responsible to the Creator through several categories: health, time and property. Calvin considered them great gifts of God. Therefore, a person is responsible to his Creator for every minute of his life. Calvinism puts labor in the first place of his life, both for the
public good and for the good of his family. It is easy to notice that this
Protestant trend in Christianity has made serving God more mundane, such as concerns only the material world. Work appears as a kind of prayer to the Creator, and to work means fulfilling the sacred commandments of love for one's neighbors. The essence of the teaching can be expressed in one thesis: God helps those who take care of themselves. Whether it is true or not, let everyone decide for himself.