I enjoy interacting with others who may have a different view on scripture. If you find a solid fellow Christian to challenge, these discussions/debates, can be great "iron sharpening iron" experiences.
A fellow by the name of Leighton Flowers (A Professor and apologist), who formally was in the Reformed camp, now has a U-Tube channel, that is seemingly only devoted to overturning Calvinism.
I've interacted in the comments and also on a FB page with the same title and I've been kind of taken back by just how extreme the position is by those who hate reformed theology. Some even arguing we are heretics, teach a false gospel, believe in another God and so forth.
I must admit, I have actually said in context that extreme anti reformed positions seem to worship a different God. So, I understand the position from the other side, but I've since changed my mind on this in most cases.
For example, many will take a "middle of the road" approach and not get too involved one way or the other. I find that tenable as I land in such a position, but with a clear reformed leaning since we "can't put the cart before the horse". Others may land on the other side, but still they see the paradox or stronger yet, antinomy between these two sides.
The concern I have for the church, is when we are so split (on non cardinal issues) that the other side is considered heresy and thought to be not even worshiping the same God, we have went beyond the bounds of what should divide our fellowship.
Calvinism is not the gospel, but only informs the believer afterwards of God's loving grace. The gospel demands a human effort just by the nature of the call, but doesn't inform us that we are "free" as much as it informs us we are responsible. If I had to take sides though, with just the gospel itself, then the Free-will understanding fits scripture. However, we must take all of scripture and thus I am compelled to also see the Sovereign hand of God in drawing sinners to Himself.
Beginning as early as the story of Joseph we see this apparent dichotomy in the sin of his brothers selling him into slavery, but Joseph being able to forgive his brothers because he said "God did it".
The OT is full of God's providence and that nothing will thwart His will, while at the same time the responsibility of man is with himself and he cannot blame God for his sin.
I don't think anyone this side of heaven will be able to figure out how this works and without seeming contradiction. Some whom I have discussed this with cry direct contradiction and simply cannot allow what they can't figure out to just rest as it is by faith. So what do they do? They end up creating a lot more true contradiction by forcing scriptures that don't agree with their position into their paradigm.
I've argued that if God knows all things, can see the future, can even be God (since we don't know how He can always be), then why can't we trust that both are true even though it seems contradictory? I haven't even brought up the Trinity yet or how can Jesus be fully man and fully God? Do we know? Can we figure all of these things out, or do we just trust God because scripture demands these interpretations?
God's Providence and man's responsibility are both taught in scripture, sometimes side by side in the same verse (Acts 4:28). We can rest by faith that He has it figured out so we don't need to. We can also rest then that if saved, you are elect, but if elect we need to follow Paul when he says:
Philippians 2:12-13 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling: 13-for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
See that? You are to do something, but it is God who is working in you both to "will" and "to do".
Amazing isn't it!
A fellow by the name of Leighton Flowers (A Professor and apologist), who formally was in the Reformed camp, now has a U-Tube channel, that is seemingly only devoted to overturning Calvinism.
I've interacted in the comments and also on a FB page with the same title and I've been kind of taken back by just how extreme the position is by those who hate reformed theology. Some even arguing we are heretics, teach a false gospel, believe in another God and so forth.
I must admit, I have actually said in context that extreme anti reformed positions seem to worship a different God. So, I understand the position from the other side, but I've since changed my mind on this in most cases.
For example, many will take a "middle of the road" approach and not get too involved one way or the other. I find that tenable as I land in such a position, but with a clear reformed leaning since we "can't put the cart before the horse". Others may land on the other side, but still they see the paradox or stronger yet, antinomy between these two sides.
The concern I have for the church, is when we are so split (on non cardinal issues) that the other side is considered heresy and thought to be not even worshiping the same God, we have went beyond the bounds of what should divide our fellowship.
Calvinism is not the gospel, but only informs the believer afterwards of God's loving grace. The gospel demands a human effort just by the nature of the call, but doesn't inform us that we are "free" as much as it informs us we are responsible. If I had to take sides though, with just the gospel itself, then the Free-will understanding fits scripture. However, we must take all of scripture and thus I am compelled to also see the Sovereign hand of God in drawing sinners to Himself.
Beginning as early as the story of Joseph we see this apparent dichotomy in the sin of his brothers selling him into slavery, but Joseph being able to forgive his brothers because he said "God did it".
The OT is full of God's providence and that nothing will thwart His will, while at the same time the responsibility of man is with himself and he cannot blame God for his sin.
I don't think anyone this side of heaven will be able to figure out how this works and without seeming contradiction. Some whom I have discussed this with cry direct contradiction and simply cannot allow what they can't figure out to just rest as it is by faith. So what do they do? They end up creating a lot more true contradiction by forcing scriptures that don't agree with their position into their paradigm.
I've argued that if God knows all things, can see the future, can even be God (since we don't know how He can always be), then why can't we trust that both are true even though it seems contradictory? I haven't even brought up the Trinity yet or how can Jesus be fully man and fully God? Do we know? Can we figure all of these things out, or do we just trust God because scripture demands these interpretations?
God's Providence and man's responsibility are both taught in scripture, sometimes side by side in the same verse (Acts 4:28). We can rest by faith that He has it figured out so we don't need to. We can also rest then that if saved, you are elect, but if elect we need to follow Paul when he says:
Philippians 2:12-13 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling: 13-for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
See that? You are to do something, but it is God who is working in you both to "will" and "to do".
Amazing isn't it!
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