All those who are Calvinists do not 'read' Calvin.
True.
There are many 'pastors' out there and churches that are reformed and teach Calvinism.
Also true.
Again, if you have ever gone to a reformed church, ever, then you have had a Calvinistic teaching. If you have ever read a book, or gone on the Internet and read any articles about the Christian religion, then you might have had a Calvinistic teaching; if you have ever been taught by a family member or friend, then there is a strong chance that you were TAUGHT SOMETHING that is Calvinistic.
What is interesting about my husband's and my testimony, is that we came to faith without any family, friends, or church influence at all. All our family and friends were without God in their lives.
When we were spiritually awakened, we knew nothing about the bible or doctrines, but a strong desire to go to church suddenly came upon us. We wanted to learn, but did not know anything about church differences (other than the difference between Protestant and Roman Catholic). So we simply began attending the closest church in our neighborhood, and lasted there 7 years.
It was a hyper-dispensational Plymouth Brethren group, and we involved ourselves in bible study there. However, during the latter years with them, because of our own private studies, we discerned serious error and poor teaching that did not accord with what we were learning from the Lord on our own. Never during this time, did we learn anything about Calvin or Calvinism, for Plymouth Brethren would not even say the name.
We eventually heard a sermon by a Presbyterian pastor on Christian radio, whose teachings sounded like what we were seeing in the Scriptures, and we ended up worshiping there. Indeed, we received Reformed teaching, and the pastor opened up his library to us, and we finally began to learn church history, etc.
Have you had ANY teaching from anyone and any source that are from Luther's influence?
Well, we have met many Lutherans but we have never been members of a Lutheran church.
Luther and Calvin both were Catholics and studied Augustine and Aquinas.
That is where some of the false doctrines stem from.
Augustine is sound but Aquinas was not. Agreed, RCC doctrine primarily developed from these two, but RCC errors were magnified through the ungodly papacy. Long story, but Luther and Calvin sought to correct the RCC errors, and of course were both kicked out ofo that church for their efforts.
Reformed Theology is not Roman Catholic, even though there are residual beliefs still held, such as basic Trinitarian views.
Let's start there then.
I want us to keep the discussion on this, for isn't that why we are here on this site?
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Sounds good to me, and I hope there is an eternal purpose for time spent on TOL.
I will start a new thread, so as not to interfere with the OP here.