Featured A gentler Calvinism

Correction :
"I knew a guy from BJU who is now a pastor of a Free-Will church."

 

OK.....do they believe they have a hand in their Salvation's? Because if they believe this then we would have a difference of opinion.

 

What in the world is a normal Baptist? There is such diversity (I wouldn't exactly call it rich) --how did you arrive at establishing what a normal Baptist is?

 

There exists a lot of polarization on BB. Calvinists think Arminianism is a damnable heresy; Arminians think Calvinism is a damnable heresy; republicans call democrats evil; democrats call republicans evil; dispensationalists think covenantalists are unbiblical; covenantalists think dispensationalists are unbiblical....and so on. Most people can't accept that a different position doesn't necessarily make it a bad position.

 

And so now you have put yourself in the position of calling others heretics. Let me ask you brother, can you truly love the heretic? And can they in turn love you (the accuser)? I think not....but yet, this is just what we are called to do.....love even our enemies.

 

You fleshed that out well....Thank you!

 

Bingo. I generally consider synergism to be 'entry level' for most Christians, for most of us begin as free willers. One does not have to 'advance' doctrinally to monergism in order to love the Lord and live to please Him. Indeed I know many free willers that are perfectly happy where they're at and reaping the bennies of the kingdom.

Dispensationalism is another matter. There's nothing harmless or benign about it's theo-politics or it's inherent 'end times' fatalism.

 

END TIMES FATALISM.....LOL, please don't candy coat it Larry

 

OK then Robust, could you take a few moments and explain election to me?

 

Ha ha ha..you have just described most of the ppl on BB!

 

No, but you have just described what Calvinists say that non-Cals believe.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

Election is God's eternal, unconditional, and unchangeable choice to save an individual. That's it.

 

Are you putting me in the position of a Calvinist?

 

Matthew 5: 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbori]">[i] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

 

There is a spectrum of Calvinism. For example, I am a moderate Calvinist, so I'm not as rabid as some of my high-Calvinist friends, although, I don't think that I would ever be described as a gentle Calvinist.

Also, I would be careful in labeling the average evangelical an Arminian. I see most of them falling under the Pelagian or semi-Pelagian headings. Roger Olson is rare. He is a true Arminain, and he understands what that means; however, Pelagius did embrace another gospel.

 

I'm glad to see you on BB @thatbrian. Either I've been missing in action or you have lol. Either way glad to see you post.

 

Yes...."Gods Choice" and therein lies the argument. You do not have to be a Calvinist to hold to that doctrine.

 

I said more that just God's choice...God's unconditional choice.