Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
I did not mean this as a slight against arminians, I've just always liked this song, and as a complement toward the wesleys.
I may disagree with arminian theology, but if the United Methodist church as a whole would return to their roots, they would be way better off thanthey are now.
Based on the Calvinist' view it could always be tweaked:
Long my imprisoned spirit lay, Fast bound in sin and dictated night; Thine eye constricted by a quickening ray- He awakened me, His dungeon flamed with light; I was dragged, went forth, and determined for Thee. His chains fell off, my heart was changed, I was dragged, went forth, and determined for Thee.
...but somehow it just doesn't reflect a heart being touched quite the same way.
We will be once Christ returns.
But for now we live in a fallen world with 2 prevelant difficulties:
1.
Many false teachings that assume the name "christian"
2. Many true "Christians" who disagree about some very important doctrines that would make it difficult for us all to worship in the same church (If you've ever seen a presbyerian try to join a baptist church and be told he needs to be bapized again, you get the idea...
2b.
Also, you have a whole denomination that has adopted the name "Christian Church" Which while not being as forthright as the Church of Christ, still is very fuzzy on whether baptism is part of salvation.
So if we all called ourselves "Christian churches" people would get very confused.
Glad to know you believe the heart is free to love the truth, rise, go forth and freely follow in this love that comes from one's own heart, and not just because of being predetermined to do so. There is hope for your doctrine yet.