“I consider looseness with words no less of a defect than looseness of the bowels,” reformed theologian John Calvin famously wrote in his sixteenth century classic, Institutes of the Christian Religion. With that in mind, we cringe to think what Calvin would say about the hashtag that began trending with his name yesterday: #CalvinistPickUpLines. Though the #CalvinistPickUpLines hashtag first cropped up back in 2010, yesterday’s torrent of tweets appears to have been prompted by historian Heath Carter, who noted that the 19th century Prebyterian minister Lyman Beecher once courted his sweetheart “with the tenets of Calvinism rather than the poetry of romance.”
This may call for #Calvinistpickuplines, but I wouldn't know where to begin. Maybe @KatecBowler can help?
— Heath Carter (@heathwcarter) September 8, 2016
“This may call for #Calvinistpickuplines, but I wouldn’t know where to begin,” Carter tweeted.
Fortunately — providentially? — some theology nerds among the Twitter elect were happy to oblige. In the last 24 hours, the steady stream of pickup lines have leaned heavily on the five points of Calvinism, summarized in the mnemonic device “TULIP” (total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the saints) — lines that surely would have made Lyman Beecher blush.
For your edification:
You did not choose me, but I chose you. #Calvinistpickuplines
— BetweenTwoWorlds (@between2worlds) September 8, 2016
"I know we're all fallen, but I've fallen for you." #Calvinistpickuplines https://t.co/zLTPKLThcY
— Kate Bowler (@KatecBowler) September 8, 2016
You're not just my destiny ... you're my PREdestiny.
— Tim Fall (@tim_fall) September 8, 2016
#CalvinistPickUpLines
Tell me how this pilgrim can make progress with you. #Calvinistpickuplines
— None Of The Above (@WriteInNOTA2016) September 8, 2016
What's your idea of the perfect date? Mine's October 31, 1517. #Calvinistpickuplines
— Jared C. Wilson (@jaredcwilson) September 9, 2016
"Girl, have you been reading John Piper? Because I'm you're Future Grace." #CalvinistPickupLines
— Sammy Rhodes (@sammyrhodes) September 9, 2016
"Can I pick you up at 7PM? I'll make it all classy and bring flowers - really, really hope you like Tulips." #Calvinistpickuplines
— Rudy (@HartmannRudy) September 9, 2016
As an award-winning media producer, JP Keenan has worked on a variety of projects, most recently as the Multimedia Director at Sojourners.
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