Featured Reformed Theology

Oh, I understand and your proving my point perfectly. There are some that are motivated to do things out of sincere spirit, others that do things out of arrogance and pride (look at me).

Let's look at good ol BB land. There are a few folks here that are really set in their belief that Calvinism is wrong, but are civil and are sincere when they ask a question about the opposing view. A couple that come to mind are PreachTony and Sapper Woody. SW just posted his own version of the misconceptions of his view. At the end of the day I don't agree with him but I respect him for taking the time to articulate his thoughts.

Then there are folks like you. You rail 24/7 about Calvinism. Yet you come and ask a question like the OP. Nothing wrong with debating and iron sharpening iron. But it appears that you have no familiarity with what you are debating, other than what you understand from an elder brother at your CMA church. Reformed suggested a book to you by RC Sproul. Will you read it and then come back and tell folks where you think they are wrong? Ever spent any time at the Puritan Board, I'm sure they would love you over there.

I'm beginning to think like another poster suggested that you are just here to sow discord.:wavey:

 

As my dear departed father used to say "Do you think I just fell off the turnip truck?" I seriously doubt that you have spent countless hours listening to Sproul, Mac, and Piper. You are either being dishonest in your OP or you are being dishonest in your statement I've quoted above.

I've already wasted too much of my precious time over the past 24 hours interacting with you. Time for you to join Dude.

 

I would disagree with this. I was raised Wesleyan (can't get more free will then that) so the preaching and the commentaries I was exposed to had that bent yet it was as I studied the Scriptures on my own that I became more and more reformed. I wasn't sure what I was for a long time and would denied being a Calvinist since that was a four letter word in the circles I grew up in. And ironically it was when I was reading a book making a case against reform theology that I realized I was reformed from my own study of the Bible and the Spirits illumination.

 

I find it interesting that you say, ". . .entire NT. . ." and not Bible. Why do you exclude 3/4 of God's revelation?

Also, I must object to the statement on two grounds.

First, Calvinists DO NOT believe that God's election and man's "freewill choice" are at odds. We DO NOT think that men are robots, for the 1,000th time. We simply have the order: God chooses first, and we follow. God is always the initiator; the seeker. Read the entire 66 books, and that is crystal clear in his interactions with his people.

Second, reading the gospel of John, alone, is more than enough evidence to see how this works - to see that God's electing is the deterring factor in man's fate.

 

John 5:39 `Ye search the Writings, because ye think in them to have life age-during, and these are they that are testifying concerning me;


Jesus was telling the people to search the writings/scriptures. Now, what scriptures were they to search? The OT writings. The NT writings hadn't been written yet. When you post this post, that verse automatically came to mind...

 

I only find that predestination discussed in scripture where it refers to ones salvation. Everything else is free will....however if you have been given a conscience, a new mind and a heart for the lord, then I consider that Gods plan....it gives you new prospective so then you make better informed decisions.

I believe that ones perspective on abortion is a good example. I was once a proponent of abortion...afterall why should someone bring an unwanted child into the world --- think of all the complications, the expence etc. Upon my rebirth, I developed a conscience & a heart softened....my Lord became Jesus, and my studies now took on a furver for understanding Gods plan....NOT the worlds. So I'm free to select my own path but it has been greatly influenced by my understanding of God and his agenda.

 

So would the new Covenant Theologians in this branch of calvinism be getting more towards a central position regarding salvation/isreal/and the Church, much the same way the progressive dispy movement has tried to move towards what they seen as a more balance central viewpoint in these issues?

So you would place the major emphasis on salvation itself?

 

The main thing to understand is that there is no real "calvinism" proper, as many hold to the presby view of it, some with the reformed Baptist, and still others focus the main importance on Sotierology, such as the New calvinists and even the Dispy ones like myself and John M!

 

I don't know what others would say, frankly.

The Archangel

 

And, some folks who call themselves Calvinists are on the fringes (or beyond) of what almost all Calvinists would agree upon.

Sampling the BB is no way to get a consensus of what Calvinists believe, as the bulk of Calvinists would be found in Presbyterian circles. Even still, of corse there are disagreements within those groups as well.

No two people hold the exact same theology, in my experience, and we often disagree most strongly with the people who hold views which are very close to our own.