Calvinism: what is this Protestant trend in Christianity

In our troubled times, you often come across people who preach this or that direction in Christianity, considering it to be the only correct and correct one. When they talk, they often appeal to the Bible, but we know that you can treat Holy Scripture in different ways. It's no secret that if you want you can justify almost any direction in Christianity.

Protestantism, and in particular Calvinism, has now become very widespread throughout the world. Let's figure out what this doctrine is and how it differs from others.

Historical reference

Protestantism itself originated 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, extortion and extortion, as well as the indecent behavior of Catholic priests could not but arouse the indignation of the common people. As a result, Lutheranism arose in Germany and eventually became stronger, in Angry Albion - Anglicanism, and in Switzerland the Frenchman Calvin founded his reformist direction in Christianity - 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 current 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 in what exactly this direction is in Christianity. In this book, he outlined not only the basic principles of this trend, but his own approach to understanding the Christian vocation of man, his destiny and goals in life. In the opinion of Calvin, every person has his destiny from God. Everyone must realize his destiny, which can not be changed. Its definition is through the gift of the Faith. The happiness of some people is predetermined even before their birth, while others are forced to live an existence full of sorrow and suffering. And all this will continue after death. Thus, it turns out that God predetermines the final verdict for a person, which can not be changed either by victims in the name of close people, or by all sorts of good deeds. To recognize the will of the Creator is possible by the following signs: if a person sincerely believes in his Creator, understands the essence of his mission in life, works hard and gets material prosperity - then he is elected for heavenly life. Otherwise, if he incorrectly disposes of fate and loses his health and well-being, eternal torment is prepared for him. Those who profess this trend in Christianity believe that a person is responsible to the Creator in several categories: health, time and property. Calvin regarded them as the great gifts of God. Therefore, a person is responsible to his Creator for every minute of his life. On the first place of his life, Calvinism sets the work - both for the public good and for the good of his family. It is easy to see that this Protestant trend in Christianity made the service to God more mundane, such that it concerns only the material world. Labor appears in the role of a kind of prayer to the Creator, and to work means to fulfill the sacred commandments of love for one's neighbor. The essence of the doctrine can be expressed in one thesis: God helps those who take care of themselves. Whether it's true or not, let everyone decide on their own.