a) When you were 1st aware of the doctrines of grace, did you immediately embrace them or fight them?
A1) If you fought against them, whither it be a personal battle or a outward battle, how long of a time frame before you came to embrace them?
A2) Did you look to scripture as you fought the matter, or only to John Calvin?
A3) Did you pray to our Lord over the matter, just wanting to know the truth?
When I first enrolled in Seminary in the fall of 2000, I had never even heard of "Calvinism." Many of the guys in my dorm were Calvinists and I reacted harshly against it. I will say they were not so gracious about my disagreements.
I was "indoctrinated" into Arminianism by the church I grew up in, though I didn't know it. Even in my Arminianism, I had many doubts about the agency of man (a libertarian free will) while trying to maintain the sovereignty of God.
So, I fought...but I studied. It took about one-and-a-half years of struggle.
b) When you read a book by RC Sproul, John Edwards, John Piper, and other Calvinist, do you believe it only because they being Calvinist have said it?
B1) Do you ever disagree with one of these men?
B2) If you agree or disagree with the writers, what is the determining factor…
1) They are Calvinist therefore I believe them.
2) They told a good story.
3) I checked the Bible and found what they said was the message of Scripture.
I read
Chosen by God by R.C. Sproul. I knew he was a Calvinist and I knew I didn't agree with Calvinism, so I wanted to see what he had to say. I struggled through the book and began examining the passages of scripture he referenced in the book. That was the beginning of the end of my Arminianism.
I read Piper's
Desiring God and that put me over the edge. I still remember the first time I referred to myself as a 5-Point Calvinist.
But, that doesn't mean that I agree with someone just because he or she is a Calvinist. For instance, I love R.C. Sproul, but I think he misses it big-time on baptism.
c) Is there ever a time when you may question Calvinism?
Every second of every day with every breath I take.
d) Have you ever read Arminian based books like “Beyond Calvinism and Arminiainism..By: C. Gordon Olson…or…What love is this/” by: Dave Hunt?..The works of Desiderius Erasmus…and the like?
No.
e) In one short line, why are you a Calvinist?
Because of "Limited Atonement." I know that seems weird. When I was having the struggle with Calvinism, I had taken a course in Theological Anthropology and had become interested in the Atonement. I began studying the Atonement (also in reaction to
Recovering the Scandal of the Cross: Atonement in the New Testament & Contemporary Contexts by Green and Baker that I had read for my New Testament class during my first semester in Seminary).
I came to the conclusion that Penal, Substitutionary Atonement was the only way to understand the atoning work of Christ. Sure the other theories had merit--but only if the over-arching umbrella of the Atonement was, in fact, Penal Substitution.
Once Penal Substitution is understood, Limited Atonement is a very short trip. After all, the cross is a once-in-an-eternity event and every sin that was to be forgiven had to be paid for on the cross. So, if every sin of every person (elect and non-elect) is paid for, there is nothing for non-believers to pay for in Hell. So, since there are sheep and goats and since Christ paid for sins, it must be the only sins paid for are the sins of the elect.
So, it's weird, but I am a Calvinist because of Limited Atonement, not in spite of it (as many 4-Pointers are).
f) If you are a Calvinist pastor, do you preach on election every week?
Not at all. Simply because the Bible doesn't address election in every passage. If you are preaching Romans 8, you can't escape preaching election. If you are preaching the sin of Achan from Joshua you'd better not preach election because the text isn't addressing election.
g) Have you ever been with another person that has struggled with the issue, when the “light came on” leading to their embracement of the doctrines?
G1) If so, how would you describe that moment?
a) Stunned
b) Over-whelmed
c) Crying..very emotional
d) Not able to sleep at night..(just before or just after)
e) All of the above and more
f) Nothing happened
g) other
Several are still struggling through the whole concept. Mostly, however, the response is stunned. This reaction is due mostly to indoctrination (on both sides). True education, in most church contexts--especially on the difference between Calvinism and Arminianism, never happens. But then again, true biblical, theological education doesn't happen in most churches either.
h) Could you relate to the persons feelings that just embraced the doctrines?
I can relate to the feelings of struggle. For those who are clearly moving to embracing the Doctrines of Grace, I can really identify with them and I look forward to the day when their struggle bears good and true fruit.
Blessings,
The Archangel
