A quote from the article by Cooper P. Abrams, III that Katy posted:I am fast coming to believe that Calvinism is actually a cult.And a quote from Charles H. Spurgeon:Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else.I guess this debate will continue for some time. The way one person explains Calvinism I agree. The way the next person explains Calvinism I think its heresy.
_________________TJ
Katy-did wrote:Here is an article that may be of great help in understanding both Calvinism and Armenian.From the perspective of a Bible Believing Christian who is neither.http://www.bible-truth.org/election.htmLove in ChristKatyPS: and Jeff, this may be the answers you are looking for and have been asking...even with your recent thread.
ChrisJD wrote:EDIT: Post deleted.My comments were not appropriate or eddifying. I appologise if they offended anyone at all.
When I studied North Korean Nuclear Diplomacy in University one of my professors once said something that clarified a lot of things for me. He had grown up in North Korea before Kim Il Sung became it's defacto ruler and later fled to the South before eventually coming to the United States to teach at a University in Texas.He said, 'If you're not a communist in your youth you don't have a heart, if you're still a communist in your old age you don't have a brain.'For a young idealistic person communism has a certain heart attraction, for a person with more wisdom it proves to be more repulsive.I think Calvinism and Arminianism are the same way. I would say, 'If you're not an Arminian in your youth you have no heart, if you're not a Calvinist in your old age you have no brain.' It doesn't fit exactly the same way, but the point is the same. If you want to be an effective minister of the gospel, sometime you have to stop thinking and start doing -be obedient to the Word of God, even when it contradicts theology.But when you're ready to move from spiritual milk to spiritual meat, the you can start chewing on some doctrines like Calvinism... and appreciating what is positive about them, and spitting out the grizzle.I certainly would get a stomach ache if I drank as much spoiled milk or ate as much grizzle as some of those theologians in the camps out there. There needs to be a balanced diet, and we also need to know when what doctrines we're eating into aren't good for us, or could turn us away from God's will for us.PS. this is my 777th post, so it must have an extra measure of grace and wisdom.
_________________Ian Smith
hi, when you weep over the poor sin sick,drug ridden,mentally sick homeless people you minister to;and see them cry out to God for help,you see them pray for salvation to come in their lives,you tend to believe in eternal security or you will be overcome by greif and the sufferings of your congrgation. Jesus is either the saviour or not. some people don't know who their parents are, who they are... if not for the holiness of Christ there is none here.jimp
Funny how that article does not even go into the history behind the Doctrines, and fails to speak of how the Arminians were rebelling against the Church of their day. The Articles of remonstrance brought by the Arminian men were what brought the response from the Synod Of Dort, which was the Five points of Calvinism, as they were in response to the five points of the Remonstrants(Arminians).Again, it never ceases to amaze me how people will ignorantly write articles as if the ideas of Calvinism or Sovereign Grace were "new". However they start with the words, "In the beginning God.."Again, someone needs to let these men know that leaving off key elements that led to these doctrines only show the inability to simply stick to Scripture. Personal attacks upon Calvin, or even Arminius do not do anything to establish or deny the truth or lack thereof in either view.
_________________patrick heaviside
I erred. Paul didn't "develop" the doctrine of election, he more clearly defined it. I have a friend who is rabbi emeritus of the local orthodox Jewish temple. I wrote a refutation of Open Theism a while back and quoted him: "a man does not injure a finger without the Lord first ordaining it." Imagine, a Jewish Calvinist!SDG,Dave
A quote from the article by Cooper P. Abrams, III that Katy posted:
Does anyone know how I can make one of these smiley faces a box? :-)
_________________Christiaan
I myself are a ONE-pointer in this sect called Christianity, our one and only point is1. Jesus ChristCalvinism and the rest, I have come to believe it is one of satans deceptions in these last says to hinder belivers to look at what is really important. In many cases. the truth is most calvinists are lost, most arminians are lost, most protestants are lost. Most people in america, Sweden that profess Christ is lost. They are only Christian in name and do not live so otherwise. You can quote doctrines and quotes, but when we all find ourselfes in a prison cell and being tortured, and like wurmbrant aftyer 14 years you have forgot the entire bible, the only thing that is important is Christ, do you know him. Your doctrine is worthless, even if it is the idol Calvin than some call him. To me people come running to his rescue and try "defend" him, God dont need defending the true gospel.The bible says God wants all people saved, any one who says different either cant read or are twisting scripture like satan. it says ALL MEN. Read it have faith in it. Cant you get it? accept your finite mind can never grasp God 1Ki 8:27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? Calvinism makes God so small, calvinism robs God of his glory and humans try box God in.
_________________CHRISTIAN