Belief in the Absolute Sovereignty of God and the Absolute Depravity of Man

I can't figure out if people are unable or unwilling to understand Calvinism.

Inability would mean that they simply lack the intellectual resources, as in a low IQ. That might account for some, but certainly not many. This is not difficult to understand.

Unwilling would mean that even after being corrected, they still misrepresent facts. That's equivalent to lying. Again, that might explain some but there can't be that many intentionally dishonest Christians.

What other explanation could there be for people who continue to misrepresent the Calvinist position?

 

False dichotomy.

 

Thanks for your response. Not everyone could say what you just said to any stranger. Someone one may insist God doesn't love everyone. Some even put up different tier levels like a lessor "common" love that is not love at all. Even a "spiritual" love.

But if your certain God loves me, Sincerly. I hope yours is the majority of Calvinism.

 

If God had wanted robots incapable of the slightest sin, and who automatically loved & served Him, He could easily have made them. Instead, He made beings with the FREE WILL to serve Him or not. After all, 1/3 of the angels WHO HAD ACTUALLY SEEN HIM chose to follow Satan in rebellion against Him.

And I don't believe God made anyone whose destiny was to automatically go to hell with no chance for salvation.

 

From an historical standpoint, then, would you say that some of the Northern Fundamentalist line maintained the doctrine of Particular Redemption without interruption from the past to the present? I have never been aware of any of the Southern line who did (but then again, there are many things of which I am not aware).

To the general tenor of your post, I have often expressed it in non-theological terminology this way. A belief that:
Man is doing what he will, and God is trying to do what he can.

 

Someone on an IFB board said : I believe in absolute Free Will. But he believes in OSAS. I replied that if he believed in absolute free will, he must also believe that his free will would allow him to later not be saved.


1. Sovereign Ruler of the skies!
Ever gracious, ever wise!
All my times are in Thy hand,
All events at Thy command.

2. His decree, who formed the earth,
Fixed my first and second birth;
Parents, native place and time,
All appointed were by Him.

3. He that formed me in the womb,
He shall guide me to the tomb;
All my times shall ever be
Ordered by His wise decree.

4. Times of sickness, times of health,
Times of penury and wealth;
Times of trial and of grief,
Time of triumph and relief.

5. Times the tempter's power to prove,
Times to taste a Savior's love:
All must come, and last and end,
As shall please my heavenly Friend.

6. Plagues and deaths around me fly,
Till He bids I cannot die:
Not a single shaft can hit
Till the God of love thinks fit.

7. O Thou Gracious, Wise and Just,
In Thy hands my life I trust:
Have I somewhat dearer still?
I resign it to Thy will.

8. May I always own Thy hand
Still to the surrender stand;
Know that Thou art God alone,
I and mine are all Thine own.

9. Thee, at all times, will I bless;
Having Thee, I all possess;
How can I bereaved be,
Since I cannot part with Thee?

 

Maybe in your mind.

 

It's time for you to join your buddies. Welcome to the ignore list.

 

Thanks, life is more peaceful without your nonsense.

 

I don’t believe anyone was putting you on ignore.

 

Not you. I responded directly to someone else, and if you didn't see their posts, it's likely because they are on your ignore list.

 

I'm not a Calvinists and I completely disagree with your statement. You are making too many assumptions. Don't build your case on assumptions.

 

Amen

 

l suppose that anyone who says they are not reformed must be unreformed i.e. back in the dark ages.

 

A Calvinist is typically used to describe anyone who holds to TULIP (Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, and Perseverance of the Saints). A Calvinist can be Baptist, Presbyterian, Plymouth Brethren, and even some Methodists.