God is good and I’m ever rejoicing that God is the God of the Bible and NOT the god of Calvinism! Amen and AMEN!

Thank you once again for taking time out to answer some of my questions. As I continue to study I continue to have a few questions. If you have an email that I can send these questions to, if that is better than this particular forum, then I can send my inquiries there.

Just one quick question…if I believe in Christ and therefore “choose” to believe then is that a work since I’m having to believe. I never considered that but the more I’ve read from Calvinism’s view I’m seeing that can certainly be viewed as I’m elected because I selected Christ therefore leading to a “works” based salvation. I don’t know…it’s a little fuzzy and I could use a bit of clarification. I know salvation has nothing to do with me but then how do I reconcile that if I accept Christ I’m saved and if I reject Christ I’m not saved, which is what I do believe, but then how’s that nothing in and of me?

Thanks so much.

Your Friend In Christ,

Tracey

You will never find non-Calvinist materials as well developed as Calvinist. Why? We don’t specifically care what people believe concerning the subject of how sovereignty works until it starts to split our family or our church. Sovereignty is simply not our proselytizing hobby horse.

Every Christian believes in God’s sovereignty. We just don’t agree on how it looks. The Calvinist sees it as a scale with God on one side and man on the other. Non-Calvinist see sovereignty as a circle with God in control but man able to make authentic choices.

My favorite and a most thorough treatment is found at http://www.thenarrowpath.com . Steve Gregg offers free mp3 downloads of his lectures. Look on the left sidebar and click “Topical Lectures.” Scroll through and you’ll find his series on Calvinism.

Do know this, no matter what arguments you put forth, you will be told that you don’t understand sovereignty. Trust me, I’ve read more than thirty books on both sides of the subject and taught “Sovereignty and Free-Will” for fifteen years and nothing I have ever offered has satisfied an ardent Calvinist. I’ve never managed to have much affect on a JW either.

I work in Europe as a missionary to post-modern / post-Christian people. Most people are former Roman Catholics. They do not say, “You don’t understand what we believe.” Often I encounter Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormon’s. When I challenge them, they never say, “You don’t understand.” Quite the contrary, they want to know how I know so much about their belief system and accuse me one being a former JW or Mormon. It is only the Calvinists who say, “You don’t understand Calvinism.” The real problem, I understand the implications of Calvinism all too well.

Have you ever really listened to a Calvinist explain what they believe. It amounts to speculative philosophy and that’s all.

Enjoy,
Joyfully in Christ,
Tony

I’m just glad to know that I am not alone when I say that I don’t believe that Calvinism is true. I have been struggling because after being a Christian for 23 years and believing the Bible, Calvinism is introduced and all those around me seem to be accepting it as the real deal. I sit in a Southern Baptist church with other believers that I have worshipped with for nine years; we all once believed that Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost until three years ago when we were all “enlightened” by our new pastor. I asked question upon question of our new pastor without clear or satisfactory answers about his ‘new’ teachings. (I use new because although they may be ancient they are brand new to me.) I felt stupid everytime I’ve asked a question and he answered by some means of twisting Scripture to fit his doctrine or added words to verses to make them mean what he wanted them to mean. Adding words like, “all of the elect of the world”, so “none of the elect should perish”, “not willing that any of the elect should perish”, and so on. I’m sure you can understand my concern when as I continued to study the Bible, in order to search the Scriptures to prove this man’s words, I found them wanting around every corner. I continued to realize that those that sat around me in church were accepting and embracing these words of false teaching and heresy. No one will stand up, no one will speak contrary to this man and these teachings that I know are wrong. Everyone sits and nods and agrees! My husband was in agreement until I was able to bring a few things to his attention that he was going to have to deny about God and Christ’s death in order to fully embrace this new and disturbing way of thought.

After I read this blog and sent you my first message last night, I went on to read more of your blogs on Calvinism and feel that I am not alone in my rejection of this teaching. I sit in a church of over 120 people that have now turned from Truth to Calvinism and I am angered and saddened beyond what I can express. I’m at a loss as to what to do and how I contend for the Faith. I think I need to leave this church because of the heresy taught, especially because my husband and I have children now under this destructive teaching.

Thank you for having a blog where I am able to see that another viewpoint does actually exist and that I am not crazy or unsaved because I know that I can NEVER EVER embrace Calvinism. I embrace Christ and Him crucified and to me- THAT IS THE GOSPEL!

Thank you for contending for the Faith.

Many Blessings and Peace to you and yours.

It is late but I will have more for you tomorrow.

I’m involved in a church where the “new” Pastor,of three years, is from all accounts a five point Calvinist.

I have become very confused by the debate that my pastor brings forward; this man is very well educated and is very persuasive with his words.

I first became concerned when he explained “his” John 3:16, which looked very different from what I read it to mean. The more preaching I have heard the more concerned I have become to the point of being disturbed and terrified by his view.

Even now, as I write to you I have tears welling up inside because of the hurt I feel within my heart, soul, and Spirit. I feel that everything I have learned in my youth has been a lie, according to this new teaching.

When I have been told to search my heart and check myself I have wondered, ‘what difference will that make? If I’m saved, I am saved and if not then there’s no recourse for me so what in the world is the point?’

My 16 year old son has come to me in recent days concerned for his little brothers. My son’s question to me was, “What if Timothy and Samuel are not chosen?” When my husband, who had come to accept this new Calvinistic teaching, tried to encourage him and told him, “We need to pray for them and teach them God’s Word.” My son’s response was so disheartening. My son’s only response was, “Why should I pray for them? What difference will that make?” What a sad day that was to me. I don’t even know how to respond. My 16 year old went away sobbing and he went away without peace or assurance of anything.

I don’t know how to respond to those that are so well educated and can explain the Bible from the Greek and Hebrew texts. I know that God knew I wouldn’t know those texts and that I would only have the English Bible to refer to, isn’t his Word preserved for me? When I read throughout Scripture, without knowing anything but English, I see the love of God and Christ’s redemptive work given and poured out for all men. How do I refute that all, world, and mankind simply mean people from every nation?

This “new” God of Calvinism, new to me, is a God I don’t know. I’m sure, that as I’ve been told from the pulpit, this MUST mean I am not the elect since I don’t accept, embrace, and love that “truth”.

I thought I had become a born again believer, when at the age of twelve I cried out to God for forgiveness and placed my hope and faith in Him alone to save me. I now have questioned my salvation every single day since hearing the doctrine of election.

I often think to myself, If God is the God of Calvinism then do I truly want to serve Him? I am ashamed to share the gospel that Calvinism is spreading. How do I share it without a tongue in cheek sort of hesitance? How do I tell people that, “Maybe God loves you and maybe Jesus died for you but maybe not.” The gospel seems to be like the good news for some and the really bad news for others.

Please, if you have any encouragement for me or more Scripture that maybe I haven’t already found to refute these teachings then please send them my way.

Thank you for your time and concern.

Many Blessings