The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Stones for Bread

In reply to:

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[color:"blue"]. . . they sure dont sound like Calvinists to me.

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Howard,

Let me take this opportunity to point out the fallacy of making one point of doctrine, a minor one at that compared to such major biblical themes as the deity of Christ, justification by faith, etc., the standard by which the whole of men's theological positions are judged. Should one conclude, for example, that Murray and Stonehouse erred in their position on the "free offer", it would be less than accurate never mind charitable, to accuse them of denying Calvinism as a whole. Let me try and give you an example, if I may, in the hopes that you will see the darkness of this type of thinking. If a man fails in one small way in his responsibilities as a husband, is it equitable to accuse him of not being a husband at all? If a child should disobey his/her parents in one thing, is this child to be denied the right or position to claim to be the son or daughter of their parents?

Summary judgments are most always fallacious when they are based upon issues that are not fundamental. Should one deny the Trinity, then a summary judgment that one cannot rightly profess to be a Christian is certainly justified. But if one should hold that the Lord's Table should not be fenced, but subscribe to the Doctrines of Grace as summarized in the great Reformation Confessions, one simply cannot charge this individual with denying "Calvinism" as a whole.

I would sincerely like to see you become more charitable and fair in how you esteem brethren with whom you differ in matters non-essential. Again, may these words of our Lord Jesus Christ become a living reality in your heart:

Matthew 7:1-5 (ASV) "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me cast out the mote out of thine eye; and lo, the beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."