Reasons To Remain A Calvinist
Keith Schooley, an Arminian, has extended an olive branch, so to speak, to our Calvinist brothers and sisters. He starts off:
As much as I disagree with Calvinism as an interpretive scheme for understanding soteriology, there are worse errors to fall into. As an olive branch to my brothers and sisters in Christ, I'd like to offer some valid reasons I can think of to remain within the Calvinist camp.
Read the entire article: Reasons To Remain A Calvinist
Labels: Arminianism, Calvinism, Divine Election
posted by Dawn @ 6/05/2008 02:26:00 PM
12 comments
12 Comments:
Hey Dawn,
Hmmm. Let's see:
1) Man loves sin and hates the light lest his evil deeds be revealed
2) The Bible doesn't teach anything about prevenient grace
3) Then there is that practise of reading Romans 9 the way it actually appears, letting the voice of an Apostle speak, not muting him.
4) Then there is that pesky question of why some believe while others go to their grave hating the gospel message - I mean a BIBLICAL answer, an answer that would satisfy a serious student of the word...
Other than that... Well, that was quite an olive branch. :-)
I'm reminded of the title of that 1973 Billy Preston song, "Will it Go 'Round in Circles".
I gotta admit though, I love your tenacity. You are articulate, you are strong in your convictions, and you know your Bible - all things that I admire.
I wish you peace.
Mark
Hi Dawn. Thanks for the link and the kind comment on my blog.
Calvinist readers seem to have trouble with the "olive branch" thing. I can't for the life of me figure out why.....
An olive branch full of syrupy sarcasm but as a purveyor of the same at one time or another I can certainly appreciate the genre!
Any way as I believe that both Arminian and Calvinist perspectives must co-exist so that a biblical balance can be achieved within the Body of Christ.
I suppose some creative license could be taken by the more cynical with my statement but I believe that it is true in a positive sense.
You're welcome, Keith. Thanks for providing some lighthearted fun.
Hey Mark, good to see you.
Hmmm. Let's see:
You said, “1) Man loves sin and hates the light lest his evil deeds be revealed”
Man loves sin and some men, but not all, continue to love their sin and hate the light that exposes their sin for what it is. Those who receive the gospel are the ones who, with the help of the Lord, love the light more than their sin. And only God knows why some men choose to remain in their sin.
You said, “2) The Bible doesn't teach anything about prevenient grace”
Do you wish any of your children to be in Hell, Mark? I would think not. So I guess you are more loving than your Calvinistic God?
As I’ve already demonstrated, prevenient grace is taught throughout the entire bible because God loves the whole world and sent His only begotten son to die for the sins of every man. You deal with that by changing the definitions of “all,” “world,” “whosoever,” etc.
You said, “3) Then there is that practise of reading Romans 9 the way it actually appears, letting the voice of an Apostle speak, not muting him.”
Calvinists are the one’s muting the voice of Paul BIG time. Tragic, isn't it?
You said, “4) Then there is that pesky question of why some believe while others go to their grave hating the gospel message - I mean a BIBLICAL answer, an answer that would satisfy a serious student of the word...”
Serious students of the word believe God when He says that He stretches out His hands toward men all day to give them a chance to repent. That He loves EVERYONE and does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked. That He tasted death for EVERY MAN so that every man might be saved, all they need do is believe. He lights every man so that they CAN see. Some respond positively to that grace and some don't, but it is not because God has blocked them from believing because He has only chosen some to salvation for reasons only known to God. Rather, God chooses believers. He is a gracious God Who gives EVERY MAN a chance to repent.
I guess this is where Calvinism has hit you the hardest. It appears to have answered the question of WHY; however,
Calvinism’s answer to this question is Unbiblical. Calvinism makes God the one at fault for the reason men go to Hell rather than man putting himself there.
You said, “I'm reminded of the title of that 1973 Billy Preston song, "Will it Go 'Round in Circles".”
LOL, Yeah? Well, I’m reminded of a 70’s title myself: “Jive Talkin’”
You said, "I gotta admit though, I love your tenacity. You are articulate, you are strong in your convictions, and you know your Bible - all things that I admire."
Thanks, Mark. I can say the same thing about you. I also appreciate your sense of humor and your ability to take a joke.
I wish you peace and joy!
Dawn
Hey Leo, good to see you.
You said, "Any way as I believe that both Arminian and Calvinist perspectives must co-exist so that a biblical balance can be achieved within the Body of Christ."
I hardly see how the two paradigms must co-exist for a biblical balance within the body of Christ being that they are at polar opposites with regard to a person's salvation. One has God choosing only some to heaven and PURPOSELY leaving some in Hell while the other places the total blame on man. I do not see the former in scripture at all and the latter slanders His character tremendously.
Thanks for these posts. I learn from them. Keep it up.
DMarks, thanks for the encouragement. I'm glad you're learning. I'm still learning, too, and always will be.
"LOL, Yeah? Well, I’m reminded of a 70’s title myself: “Jive Talkin’”
Bee Gees, 1975, right?
Me thinks thou art an old-timer like me...
Yes, it was 1975. I'm 46 so I guess I fall into the old-timer category. LOL
Forgot to say yes, it's the Bee Gees.
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