I have a lot to say on this but very little time. My experience over the last couple of years has been very similar to Steve's. Your dorm situation, however, is much different than a Church situation. There is a significant difference in attitude toward people that you worship with than people you just live with.
The first year at my Church was not easier and the second year has been no picnic but helped greatly by a Pastor (PastorFaulk) who loves the Lord and is sympathetic to Reformed theology. Christians to me are not Arminians or Calvinists but, by Baptism, those I have a responsibility toward. That makes all the difference in the view of error. Is it about how I'm offended by their error or how God is and whether I care about them, personally, to try to gently instruct?
I have labored hard and long to try and bring the Truth of the Word to those at the Church. It is not something you can go into half-heartedly or selfishly and, in spite of my whining to God and to my wife, the fruit has been immeasurable.
One key thing to remember is that terminology is not as important as people understanding the Word. I recently asked a dear Sister to stop joking around about the fact that I'm Presbyterian. I don't want people that I'm teaching side-tracked over a term that they might have a picture in their mind associated with. There's a larger goal in mind for me. I'm a member at a Baptist Church and I have to respect their sacramentology and ecclesiology even as I disagree with it. The Pastor recently preached on believer's baptism and was kind enough to personally call me and let me know that his sermon was not personal. I was thankful but expected him to be faithful to conscience and unabashed in the defense of his views.
When you start to "love on people" it really changes the way you approach them, especially if you see them as Christ's own instead of attaching labels to them. Instead of being angered by them, you grieve for
them when you see them struggling with error that they received from teachers in the past. Those kind of changes do not occur overnight and generations of prevailing wisdom are not so easily overcome (even in my own heart).
So, if you want to help, then don't announce you're a Calvinist. Don't announce that you're a Presbyterian. You are a Christian. They claim Christ so help them mature in their apprehension of Him. You may be the very instrument of their salvation, in fact. Don't use the TULIP acronym. Don't say "Total Depravity" but simply open up Romans 1 and start interacting with people humbly. Don't say "Unconditional Election" but labor with people to show them how blessed they are that God has surely saved them. I have not once announced: "I'm a Calvinist" to others but see my teaching on Romans at
http://www.baptistchurch.jp/teaching.html When you invest in people it yields fruit. When you try to win debates, you'll lose the man for the sake of the argument.
In the end, be prepared for heartache and frustration. You'll be convinced by the Devil that it's not worth it but then you'll get occasional glimpses that what you're doing is bearing fruit.
I got this note from a dear Brother the other day. He had asked me about a chain prayer letter he received and asked me to comment on it. I explained to him how it was pagan and superstitious. His reply was as follows:
Quote:
Rich,
It does become more clear when you break down the pray chain message, just like in Bible study that you break down Romans to us.
Thanks for the insight. I will remember this when I get more pray chain messages.
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That makes it all worthwhile.