I started believing in the doctrines of grace about 8 years ago.<br><br><br>BUT, you know, I get so tired of seeing posts like this:<br><br><br>"Well then that means your god CAUSES men to molest children, and CAUSES a woman to murder her offspring. I certainly am at enmity with your god.<br><br>The God of the Holy Bible and the god you hold to are two different entities."<br><br>First of all, is it not pride to be able to slam someone with a phrase like "your god" and feel like you're on a high because you showed them??<br><br>Second,<br>when you didn't believe in the doctrines of grace (if that is so) were you serving a different God? NO...I don't believe so. We all learn and change our beliefs (to some extent) every so often...and that doesn't mean we were not saved, it just means we didn't see or understand it then.<br><br>Third, do you think you know God so well that everything you say is the absolute truth??? What a slap in the face to God. We are filthy rags if it wern't for God saving us.<br><br>Do you ever wonder if God thinks we are missing the boat all together and desires we go out and feed the poor instead of debating about something we are not even 100% sure of?<br><br>Wendy<br><br><br>
Hi Wendy:<br><br>Since part of what you quoted was from a forum where I responded to the remarks by Criley let me answer your question. How long have I been a Calvinist. Hmmm part of my hesitation on the answer is that it depends on what you mean. Let me explain, even after I was "saved" during what can only be called a fire and brimstone preaching service I was convinced through subsequent studies that God saved me and I had no part in that salvation at all. It was what Packer calls the point of Calvinism IE: God saves sinners. However, if you mean when did I embrace Covenant Theology then I must say that it has been about 12 years. During that time I learned what I meant by the term "God saved me". But that didn't change my original belief it just clarified it.<br><br>Now I still do the same things. I give to the poor, I help missionaries, but its because I am a Calvinist that I do them. My Calvinism extends to putting on my pants in the morning it is a inherent part of my life if anything it enhances the ordinary things I do, because I realize the its the ordinary things that most exemplifies what Calvinism is because it is normative Christianity.<br><br>Now Wendy if you are not convinced that Calvinism is normative Christianity and that is because you think we are "mean" when we speak out against Arminian heresy then let me ask you this how would you defend the truth? Would you demonstrate that the Word of God clearly teaches certain basic objective truths and these logically show who God is and that He is Sovereign? Or would you allow erroneous teaching to continue just because you didn't want to hurt their feelings? Today my bible study group was reading in 1 John 3 he makes some very black and white statements about who children of God are and who aren't. As we were reading this one of the members said "Wow there is no grey areas in there at all is there?" another was very disturbed by this (obviously being convicted by the Holy Spirit) and felt he had to re-examine his life. Now what if I had said: "Hey its okay, as long as you don't break any of the big ones the minor sins are no big deal God just ignores those." That's rank heresy but it would have made at least one person feel okay there. Point is this Scripture truth isn't meant for us to have the warm fuzzies its meant for us to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. I can't do that if my knowledge of God is wrong. This also means we defend truth and let others know that the "warm fuzzy god" is an idol.<br><br>
The fact that there are Christians that are not Calvinists is not the point. As believers we are to have unity based on doctrine (Romans 16:17). Though I believe we shouldn't pass judgment on people for disputable matters (Romans 14:1), the doctrines of grace are not disputable matters, they are essential.<br><br>There are right and wrong ways to show the truth of the doctrines of grace, that I believe should be focused on concern for people's souls, not our pride to prove we are right. But to make light about the importance of the doctrines of grace, can be a sign of a lack of love, which is just as wrong as the pride of having to be right.<br><br>As far as how long I have been a Calvinist, I like Joe’s answer and agree, but as to my knowingly embracing all five points, I would say about 5+ years.<br><br>Tom
There was once a German Pastor whose name I can't remember. He preached a sermon against anti-semitism that received a great deal of admonition from his congregation. His response was "it was in the text." I struggled with the doctrine of Predestination my first year as a Christian. Then I read Roman's 9 and it was in the text. You can argue the little points with arminians all that you want. I used to be a crusader to this point. But I soon grew tired of it and decided that I needed to live my life like I believed that I was a believer in God's soveriegn ability to save. But I still can get aggitated like when I watch heresy on TBN (which some of my friends watch for the sake of comedy). I remember last March when I was in LA on a mission trip and a friend of mine found herself doing street evangelism with a our leader who is a Calvinist. She was stunned when my friend preached man's fallen state and the doctrine of grace to someone on Hollywood BLVD. When I found her she was quietly reading Romans 9. We discussed the matter and I prayed with her with compassion for her heart was tender to this truth. And she is now has a clearer understanding that God is indeed more soveriegn and intimately involved with her life than she ever thought. So the point of the arguement is that "it is in the text" and we can't skirt it. So that is my response. I've been a Calvinist for three of the four years of my walk becuase "it was in the text."<br>I love you all,<br>Aaron
It was ordained that I be a Calvinist before the foundation of the world. <br>But I first came to understand God's sovereignty in running planet earth as well as in saving me nearly 30 years ago while I was attending an Arminian Bible College.<br>
