Hi Nancy I don't think we have met. You seem like a pleasant person from reading your posts. Your reference to Calvinism being hard to argue against left me wondering a bit as to what exactly your point was. The scripture from Job that you quoted, was that meant to insinuate that Calvinists, like Job have a hatred for people that God loves? If that is the case why do you feel that way? I don't think that describes me or necessarily any Calvinists that I know personally for that mater. Do you have an answer to the passage from John 6:. If you do I would like to hear it, if not, have you considered the possibility that Calvin was right. Actually I don't think it's just Calvin, the debate goes all the way back to a dispute between Augustine and a monk named Pelagius and it has to do with who is the boss, God or us. I am still trying to finish reading Martin Luther's book BONDAGE OF THE WILL. That book deals with the extent that the fall had on MAN. I suppose I'll have to read Erasmus next to get the balance but as it looks right now Luther is very persuasive. This I think goes to the heart of the matter, it is said, "dead men tell no tales", neither do they respond to God. The debate is about, just how dead are we.
Concerning Evangelism; I think that radical Arminianism is responsible for most of the manipulation of souls that you see in the Church today. Arminianism assumes that people are not Spiritually dead and can be talked into the Kingdom. Therefore all sorts of gimmicks are used to effect that end. Calvinists on the other hand preach the Gospel because they are commanded to by the Lord. Salvation is the Holy Spirits prerogative. We believe that He uses the proclamation of the Gospel. We don't need low lights and lilting music or emotional technics to accomplish God's work for Him, however well intentioned that may be. No, we agree with Paul who said;
" I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
What do you think? I look forward to hearing from you. Have a great day; Greg |
