There are many things that I love about Calvinism, however, there are far more that I have developed quite a disdain for i.e. the angry Calvinist, or the snobbery that exist within the ranks. The point of this article is not to go through and identify everything that needs critiquing but rather to speak on a few personal notes, and issue some apologies to the people who have been wounded by my anger.
I went through a season of life that many Calvinist do, which is the "Caged Calvinist" stage. For those who are unfamiliar with this, it simply means, to lock the angry Calvinist (usually new) until he matures so that he doesn't hurt himself or anyone else. There's an old cliche that says, "hurt people hurt people". There is a great deal of truth to this, but it doesn't necessarily need to be true.
I wrote a series of blogs that were harsh in tone, and directed at a very specific group of people with specific people in mind. This is where the apology is confusing, because I am not retracting the content of what was said, but rather the motive and the tone of what was said. I don't want this to be confused with the type of backhanded apology that we are all to familiar with, which is, "I'm sorry you took it that way" or "That isn't what I meant to do". The apology is one a regret. Regret that I wrote the blogs in the manner that I did, with the desire to wound or inflict harm on people.
To those whom I harmed on a public level (meaning there are many of you and in no way can I apologize to each individual as I don't know the lengths of this) I want to ask that you forgive me. There is an additional note to this: I have had a personal conversation with the one that this was directed at, and sought forgiveness.
When sins are done in a public manner they deserve to be confessed in a public manner, with forgiveness being sought in a public manner.
Note: I decided to delete the blogs that had a personal vendetta within them.
Coram Deo,
Douglas Herron
