CALVINISM - Page 1

This review is from: Troubling Questions for Calvinists...And All the Rest of Us (Paperback)
If you have any concerns about Calvinism you must read this book! LaGard Smith systematically, methodically, logically, tears down the false ideas of Calvin and his more extreme followers that came after him. Smith shows how highly philosophical Calvinism is and how philosophical deductions alter how the Word of God is understood. Personally I've always had some reservations about the doctrines of Calvinism, but I have been taught by Calvinists for many years. I have thought of myself as a 2 or 3 pointer, but Smith showed in this book how all the doctrines hang together and logically lead one to the other. One error naturally leads to another error. For example if individuals are chosen unconditionally as Calvinism claims then they can't be chosen by faith which is what my Bible says. That leads to the doctrine that grace is irresistible but then why did Jesus lament over Jerusalem? (Luke 13:34,35). Can you see a Calvinist tapping Jesus on the shoulder and correcting His theology? "Ummmm...... Jesus they won't come to you because the CAN'T come to you, don't you know that? Let me introduce you to John Calvin he can help you understand!!!". Really, how many times in Hebrews are we warned NOT to harden our hearts? How can you harden your heart if grace is IRRESISTIBLE? Are we really just robots doing what God foreordained? If so, what is future judgement for, God grading Himself?

Is atonement limited as Calvinism claims or is real salvation offered to every man? My Bible says Christ died for the sin of the WORLD, not just the elect! See 1 John 2:2 and John 1:29. And WHOSOEVER believes is not condemned. John 3:16. In Romans 1:20 Paul says men are without excuse but how can they be without excuse if they CAN'T choose Him as Calvinism claims? Paul said (as opposed to Calvin) that they KNEW God but they did not glorify Him. Yes the Father must draw men, yes He must reveal Himself to us because we are spiritually dead and, (do I need to say this?), God KNOWS He needs to reveal Himself to us. Obviously He does that to every person and that is why they are WITHOUT EXCUSE. How can a person be without excuse if they don't have the CHOICE of believing in Christ/God? That is illogical. No one would know better than God if people had excuse or not. He says they don't!! He is not willing that ANY should perish (2 Pet 3:9), but it is clear many do because THEY do not choose Him, not that HE does not choose them, as Calvinism purports. He makes Himself known to every sinner, they have no excuse!! It's axiomatic.

And what of the perseverance of the saints? Why all the warnings in Scripture to hold fast and not fall away? 2 Peter says, "For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, they are again entangled in them and are OVERCOME, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
For it would be better for them not to have KNOWN THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, than having KNOWN IT, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.
It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.""

The person being spoken of here KNEW THE LORD AND TURNED AWAY. They didn't persevere. Nothing can pluck you out of the Father's hand but YOU can WALK AWAY on your own. There is nothing coercive in the Gospel or in ANY love RELATIONSHIP for that matter. It is a matter of you FREELY choosing Him. We are to BEG people to be reconciled to God. 2 Cor 5:20. That is because people have a REAL choice.

He will never leave or forsake us, but we could forsake Him. This realization alone was worth the price of the book for me. It has sharpened my walk with the Lord and been a spiritual blessing to myself and those around me. Hebrews 10:26-31 says, "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who REJECTED the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has TRAMPLED THE SON OF GOD underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that SANCTIFIED them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
Here the Scriptures say there is NO sacrifice for sin if you turn away from the Lord AFTER you have knowledge of Him! That is, you CAN turn away after you have knowledge of the Him; some 'saints' don't persevere, they receive God's judgement!!

Romans 11 puts it this way......."Quite right, they (Israel, who was chosen by God) were broken off for their UNBELIEF, but you (Roman Gentile believers) stand by your FAITH Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, IF YOU CONTINUE IN HIS KINDNESS; otherwise you also will be CUT OFF. And they also, if they DO NOT CONTINUE in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.".
Paul is saying you can be cut off even after you are grafted in!! They must CONTINUE in FAITH.

This is an excellent book. Get it, read it, and read your Bible see if Calvinism really holds up under the Light of Scripture. I highly recommend this book, it's one of the best I've ever read. Sheds alot of light on difficult verses. The only question left to ask is this.......is Calvinism "another gospel"? Read this book, read the Bible including Galatians 1:6-9 and decide for yourself!!!

Remember 'Wrong doctrine leads to wrong living'.

2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Stay strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "Yes!" And through Christ, our "Amen" (which means "Yes") ascends to God for his glory.

Blessings!

Gouda, why don't you find a forum devoted to religion where you can go post this stuff? We're really not interested in it here, even though this is the 'Off Topic' forum!

I also have asked you not to post Christian/Muslim things on this site, you refuse to respect those wishes and I will not warn you again. Shouldn't you have respect for the rules of this forum and isn't it showing a real lack of respect and Christian values to keep thumbing your nose at the admins of this site and doing what you want???

I have asked you and Shtal to post your religious topics elsewhere and not here where it causes division amongst our members. Again, you don't respect those wishes but you want us to respect your beliefs, seems pretty hypocritical to me and others I am sure.

Why don't you find a nice Christian forum to post on? I think we all know why you don't as you would be shut down by people who have a real grasp of Christianity and not just your twisted spin on Christianity.

GSD Admin,  

And this is coming from someone who is a committed Christian!

I am also a Christian just not an extremist Christian and I feel people have to find their own way and not be beat over the head and judged by a mere man. Let my God judge me. Not some internet preacher/watchman.

My religion and how I get close to my God is not up for discussion on a forum and not to be judged by a watchman or internet preacher and will only be judged by my God and NO ONE else.
 

Ruger1   and  GGturner  neither  of you is the target of this post '
The target is the false doctrine of Calvinism.  I dont actually want to debate
either one you. 

Whatever.
gouda

Amen Sunsilver, Ruger,  and GSD admin. Enough already, Gouda, do your borish pontificating on a website dedicated to condemning  most of the world to hell. I thought you said you were leaving here........Joy to the World at the time albeit short lived.

Hey Gouda,

How do you like your new computer? I hear Windows 8 is not very good. I have dual 25" monitors and love them.

GSD.admin.

I dont judge I just warn, I warn which is not against the rules here.
But you in your set mind want to ban me for warning.
If  I know the road ahead is out rightly or wrongly,its my duty to warn the incoming trafic.
God will judge a person for making a wrong decision,But I still have the burden on my shoulders,
for not helping a person that  did make the wrong decision.
If there is a pedophile in the neighborhood,should I not warn the parents,or should I leave it up to God?
Your just frothing at the mouth to ban me. Do you hate Christians that much.

   gouda