No, it's not a "lie from the pit of hell," Helen. The greatest missionary enterprises in church history are calvinistic. The greatest evangelistic churches in our nation's history are calvinistic. To say it is "a lie from the pit of hell" is absurd, and sadly misinformed, both in terms of theology and history. I can disagree with arminians without calling it a "lie from the pit of hell." I understand that there are some good reasons to be arminian. I am unconvinced by the weight of them, but I have studied Scripture enough with objectivity to note those places. You have not. Your attempt at the use of Scripture is severely inadequate. It does not deal with the words and the progression of thought in the context of the passage. It simply cannot be taken seriously.
You list 8 things, all of which are wrong, or have serious problems.
1. God's character of love must be denied
False. We fully affirm God's love. We could actually say we have a higher view of it, since in our view, his love if effective, not merely an emotional desire.
2. God does want a great number of people to perish, contrary to what Peter says
Not true at all.
3. What God wants and what He does are at odds with each other, as Jesus mourns "O Jerusalem, Jersalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing."
This is the case with your view. You say he wants all to be saved, but then you also affirm that he does not save all. This charge is hardly coherent.
4. Jesus did not die for all sin for all time, contrary to what is stated in Hebrews
False. If you have studied, then you know the issue of limited atonement is one of efficiency, not sufficiency.
5. "Choose this day whom you will serve" has absolutely no meaning.
False. It has great meaning. Everyone has that choice.
6. John 3:17 is a lie: "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (No, I am not advocating universalism, just pointing out a part of John 3:16+ which Calvinism calls a lie)
Totally false. We fullly affirm John 3:16f..
7. It is possible, nay, probable, that one human being can love another human being, as a mother loving a child, more than God loves that person. In reality, this is inconceivable.
False again. You misunderstand love.
8. The writer to the Hebrews, in begging, "do not harden your hearts" was wasting his time and energy, for it was not up to the people to harden or not harden their own hearts; it had been chosen for them before time began as to whether they would be hard-hearted or not.
False, it has great meaning.
You say,
In trying to define the majesty and omnipotence of God in human terms and to human understanding, you have boxed God up and only 'allowed' Him to be what you think you can cope with. But this is exactly what you have done. You have boxed God into something you can deal with. You can't understand how man can have a choice and yet God have determined it. And because you can't understand it, you reject it. You can't understand how God can love someone and not elect them. And because you can't understand it, you reject it. Your whole list of eight points is based on your box, a box that is too small for the God of the Bible.
We, at least I, am willing to let seeming paradoxes stand without resolution in my human mind. You are not, apparently.
You accuse Calvinists of nastiness, but I have seen none. Admittedly, I haven't read everything closely, but I haven't seen nastiness from this side. You have been particularly harsh in yoru comments, and unjustifiably so.
It is very sad to see you continue in the same old misunderstandings after so long a time. It grieves my heart to see someone treat Scripture in such a frivolous manner as you have. Time after time, we have made the case from Scripture. There is not much more we can do. At some point, you have to submit your mind to what God has said.
If God said "He chose you to salvation," then that means He chose you. That doesn't mean he chose a method, or a group. It means He chose you. But you resist because your box for God is too small. Sadly.
In the end, this issue will only be solved by appeals to the correct exegesis of Scripture. Until then, we will continue this useless back and forth that is no farther along now than it was a year ago when you bailed out and promised to not come back. IT doesn't bother me that you are back; it does bother me that the handling of Scripture hasn't improved, nor has your vitriolic language (and I don't mind a good brouhaha from time to time). Just keep it clean and on topic. But "lie from the pit of hell" is unacceptable, and I think you know that. Please refrain.
