.....I am just blessed to see he hasn't turned away from God. A change in doctrine at a period in one's life is not unusual!
The man is still saved, and that is the big news to me!
With all the things he could have turned to, or away from, at least he didn't give up the pulpit for a confessional booth. Or, moved to Salt Lake and put on the funny underwear, while taking on several sister wives!
To me, and I expect to hear a few large gasps right now .... but to me, so what if he let Calvinism, he didn't leave the Lord, just a view that many don't agree with, but learn to live with!
Sometimes our assumptions make us look foolish...my recommendation is to avoid assuming.
I have no problem with his book, I said noting in terms of disagreeing with Cahill, and I have read his book.
I think that you did not even bother to read my post before your reply (not an assumption - giving you the benefit of the doubt).
What is so difficult for people to see that if you're going to talk about Calvinism or semi-pelagianism, do it HERE, not on the General forums.
Paul called the people of Crete "slow-bellies".
I will start giving infractions for people who KNOW BETTER and still choose to defy the BB rules. :( :(
Ahh, but the question is - do they freely choose to defy, or are they simply choosing in accordance with Divine Foreknowledge, or is their will altogether captive to where it was not their choice at all?
The OP. describes the truth that of course Calvinist will ridicule. I'm just a layman and in my opinion what you have described here is what is wrong with Calvinist thinking. The Bible is a text that has to be studied as a whole. We can make any book say anything we want it to one sentence at a time. One from the front and then one from the back.
MB
Think that ther basic belief of calvinism that seems to get some in an uproar is that as sinners, we cannot come to God in order to get saved even, that we are dependent upon him even for that!
That isn't so. All men are drawn to the Lord, because He was lifted up
(JN, 12:32).
If all men are drawn all men can come to Christ. Just because most won't come doesn't mean they can't.
(Joh 6:44
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. )
Sinners can come to Him if they are drawn. Jn. 12 :32 says all men are drawn. Men are not prevented from coming to Him.
To understand scripture we have to study it as a whole. we can't just leave out what we may not agree with.
MB
If somebody based their doctrine on my testimony, I'd be the first one to correct them and tell them to base their doctrine on God's Word, not my words.
How so?
As arminians, unlike those holding to Finney views, do not disregard the Fall. nor hold that we can come to Christ apart from the working of the Holy Spirit, correct?
What you need to do is look at my reponse to winman on this.
Yes indeed.
Your translation may say that but "men" or rather the equivalent is not in the original. But if you think that all are drawn to Christ, answer these questions. Jesus was speaking of the near future when he would die on the cross. How were those who had died before Jesus --residents of Hell supposed to be drawn? How were/are those who have never even heard of Christ or the Gospel drawn?
Well, people are prevented because of their sin. It blinds them and they have a hatred for God. But the Scripture does say that those who come to Him He will never drive away.