The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Stones for Bread

Howard,

Mr. Ella made some good points concerning some of the errors made by some modernist Calvinists. But, it would appear that he let his reason and charity get away from him, for by the time he finished his exposé he lost touch with reality and so labeled and condemned his opponents that he fell victim to that which he was writing against... preaching untruth! Here is his concluding remarks:

A painful conclusion
The Finneyite ‘offer’ presented by these ministers is a mockery of the gospel call. It is a sad and perverse con-trick. It is not a well-meant offer, nor can it be a sincere offer, nor can it be a loving offer as it is an offer of deceit. The ‘gospel’ that Johnson, Watts and Murray so freely offer does not come as a certain life-bringer to some and a condemning judge to others. It is all empty smiles and cheers and desires on their god’s part. It rejects the God who has decreed all to save the elect and accepts a god who has decreed nothing and wills what he knows he will never have. It rejects the God who will have His holiness and righteous judgment preached to the nations. It rejects the eternal love of God for the people of His choice. It rejects the entire work of Christ in choosing the Bride promised Him from eternity. It sees preaching as a mere moral persuasion, based on the idea of a doting god who only wills for all people to accept him but does not will their acceptance. This is truly a blasphemous religion.

If these men, of whom I am only familiar with John Murray, are guilty of promoting "Finneyism" and a "blasphemous religion", then according to what you have written about your views concerning salvation only belongs to full Calvinists, then one would have to conclude that the man Prof. John Murray was cast into hell when he died.

As to Mr. Ella's conclusion, I think it is rather harsh and too broad in it's sweeping condemnations. It is one thing to point out things which one feels are in error and to dash them to the ground. But it is an entirely different matter to summarily condemn everything that a person believes and relegate the person to eternal damnation based upon that summary judgment. One may freely disagree with the Murray and Stonehouse booklet on the "Free Offer of the Gospel", but one is biblically not free to condemn the man or to label him as one who promotes "Finneyism".

LINDA: In Howard's initial message, look under his username on the left and click on the link: Attachment.

In His Grace,