Calvinists sum up their theology, as well as their Dutch connections, with the acronym TULIP. That stands for Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, and Perseverance of the saints.
Southern Baptists are currently in the midst of a controversy between their Calvinist members and their more Arminian brethren. So to compete with the TULIP faction, as Bill Leonard reports, the non-Calvinist Baptists have come up with a flower of their own: POINSETTIA. That stands for “Pursuit unconditional, Own guilt, Inclusive atonement, Natural responsibility, Spontaneous regeneration, Election available, Temperate foreknowledge, True freedom, Indestructible security, Almighty gospel.”
Your task: Come up with a flower for other theological traditions (Catholics? Orthodox? Pentecostal? Methodist? Non-Denominational?), turning it into an acronym or a symbol for its distinct teachings and practices. After the jump, the flower of Lutheranism.
Lutheranism already has a flower, the rose, which is based on Luther’s seal. Here it is, and here is how Luther explained its symbolism in a letter to a friend. (Notice that acronyms only work with a specific language, whereas symbolism communicate more universally.)
Since you ask whether my seal has come out correctly, I shall answer most amiably and tell you of those thoughts which now come to my mind about my seal as a symbol of my theology. There is first to be a cross, black, and placed in a heart, which should be of its natural color (red), to put me in mind that faith in Christ crucified saved us. For if one believes from the heart, he will be justified. . . .Even though it is a black cross, which mortifies and which also should hurt us, yet it leaves the heart in its natural color and does not ruin nature…that is, the cross does not kill, but keeps man alive. . . .
Such a heart is to be in the midst of a white rose, to symbolize that faith gives joy, comfort, and peace. In a word, it places the believer into a white joyful rose, for this faith does not give peace and joy as the world gives. . . .Therefore, the rose is to be white, not red, for white is the color of the spirits and of all angels. . . .
This rose, moreover, is fixed in a sky-blue field, symbolizing that such joy in the Spirit and in faith is a beginning of the future heavenly joy. It is already a part of faith, and is grasped through hope, even though not yet manifest.
And around this field is a golden ring, to signify that such bliss in heaven is endless, and more precious than all joys and goods, just as gold is the most valuable and precious metal.
We may be going from the sublime to the ridiculous, but can anyone turn “ROSE” into a tulip-like theological acronym? Regeneration by baptism, vOcation, Sacramental presence, Eternal life by grace through faith in Christ. . . Surely you can do better.
, Bill Leonard:
Calvinist-oriented Baptists often utilize the acronym TULIP to outline their approach — Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, Perseverance of saints. While all deserve damnation, God mercifully elected some persons to salvation before the foundation of the world, a gift of unwarranted grace. Christ’s death and resurrection apply only to the elect who will be irresistibly overtaken by grace before they leave this world. Thus regeneration (God’s act) precedes and makes possible repentance and faith (sinners’ act). Some TULIP-affirming Baptists reject efforts at evangelization, waiting on God to awaken the hearts of the elect. More “modified Calvinists” utilize evangelistic activity for awakening elected sinners.
Other self-designated “Anti-Calvinist” Baptists recently proposed the acronym POINSETTIA to describe their conversionist views: Pursuit unconditional, Own guilt, Inclusive atonement, Natural responsibility, Spontaneous regeneration, Election available, Temperate foreknowledge, True freedom, Indestructible security, Almighty gospel. They insist that Christ died for the entire race, and individuals are responsible for their own guilt and sinfulness. All are potentially elected to a salvation actualized through the terms of election — repentance and faith. Free will cooperates with divine grace to facilitate salvation. Grace keeps all who truly believe and calls them to witness to that saving faith. Regeneration occurs after individuals repent and believe.
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