This thread is not representative of biblical families' views. I am sure that there are brothers and sisters who embraced TULIP theology and have also seen the truth of polygyny. I am grateful for them, and some have written great books on the topic. However, I wanted to create a space where I can collect indictments against Reformed theology, also known as Calvinism. This is my weak attempt to create some ripples among Calvinists and encourage them to examine themselves. After Martin Luther introduced his 95 theses against the Pope, he also reformed Catholicism. Today, Catholics can read the Bible in their own language, and sermons are preached in a language they can understand. I hope to play a small part in the conversation where indictments of Calvinism reform those who continue to hold this view as true. I hope my exposure of this theology will lead a person to continue to pursue God.
A few years ago, I was approached by a Calvinist evangelist, and I responded with a few explanations about why I am a Christian and that I believe in Christ my Lord for salvation. But instead of accepting me as a brother, I was interrogated to prove my faith through my extracurricular activities (amount of Bible reading, evangelism, etc.). On another occasion, after revealing that I accept polygyny, my Calvinist family implicated that I was abandoning my faith, accusing me of behaving like Esau, who exchanged his birthright for a bowl of soup, and that I had become a false teacher, inferring that I was condemned. These recurring confirmation biases have made me suspect that "by grace through faith alone" is just lip service for many Protestants. This explains why the majority of Christians from Reformed circles will deny fellowship to us (polygyny-accepting Christians). This is less likely to happen with non-Calvinists. I suspect this has been true in your experiences as well.
Apart from how we are being rejected by Calvinists, what is more important is how God is portrayed. When we examine how God rebuked Job's friends, it is clear that God cares about how He is portrayed. "My anger burns against you (Eliphaz) and your two friends because you have not spoken about Me rightly," (Job 42:7). Then, the friends had to rely on burnt sacrifices and Job's intercessory prayer to rescue them from receiving the deserved punishment: "So that I do not deal with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken about Me rightly, like My servant Job." (v. 8). I see how Calvinism distorts many aspects of God and our faith, and I hope this will be evaluated.
A few years ago, I was approached by a Calvinist evangelist, and I responded with a few explanations about why I am a Christian and that I believe in Christ my Lord for salvation. But instead of accepting me as a brother, I was interrogated to prove my faith through my extracurricular activities (amount of Bible reading, evangelism, etc.). On another occasion, after revealing that I accept polygyny, my Calvinist family implicated that I was abandoning my faith, accusing me of behaving like Esau, who exchanged his birthright for a bowl of soup, and that I had become a false teacher, inferring that I was condemned. These recurring confirmation biases have made me suspect that "by grace through faith alone" is just lip service for many Protestants. This explains why the majority of Christians from Reformed circles will deny fellowship to us (polygyny-accepting Christians). This is less likely to happen with non-Calvinists. I suspect this has been true in your experiences as well.
Apart from how we are being rejected by Calvinists, what is more important is how God is portrayed. When we examine how God rebuked Job's friends, it is clear that God cares about how He is portrayed. "My anger burns against you (Eliphaz) and your two friends because you have not spoken about Me rightly," (Job 42:7). Then, the friends had to rely on burnt sacrifices and Job's intercessory prayer to rescue them from receiving the deserved punishment: "So that I do not deal with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken about Me rightly, like My servant Job." (v. 8). I see how Calvinism distorts many aspects of God and our faith, and I hope this will be evaluated.
