Decisional Regeneration

RB,

Why do you suddenly change from speaking modern English to Elizabethan English when you begin theologizing?

Les

 

That should be obvious. Some folks don't want to give up a sinful lifestyle, some are convinced there is no God, some think they are just pretty good old boys (or gals) and that ought to be good enough, some believe in a false god or philosophy, some don't want to humble themselves - this list could go on forever, but I think I made my point.

Les

 

lbaker,

I do agree with your statement on the surface.
That of course is the reason that many do not believe.
All who do not believe are too proud etc to believe.

The question is:
Why are you more humble so that you believe and others don't?

Why do some not want to give up the lifestyle?


We would ALL choose sin over God if left to our own will and nature.

 

The answer is:

The same reason some folks rob, cheat, and murder, vote Democrat, drive Fords, hate football, love golf, cheat on their spouse, don't like huntin' and fishin', and do all kinds of things - free will.

We are free to make poor (IMHO) choices.

Les

 

I figured it was something like that. I was trying to make a joke.

Les

 

You could answer this until you turned blue in the face, and it would not be accepted. It is an old tatic taught to the Calvinist when in debate with a non-cal.

 

You ever listen to George Jones, "we have choices". I think it is a pretty good song. If you come to a dark alley, you have a choice whether to go down that dark alley, or walk in the light.

 

Sure, like when my wife (Melinda) and I get up and go to work in the morning. My desire is to keep rolling over and hitting the snooze button, or throw the stinkin' clock out the window, but I choose to get on up and start getting ready. (and I'm the "good" one)

Les

 

Bob, I have never been taught "tactics" to defend calvinism
I was taught to denounce it. I was taught to mock it. I was taught it was false teaching.

BUt God would not let me go. He kept after me until I admitted He was right and I was wrong!

 

So you admit you are wrong?

 

I think you asked the wrong question there, RB. :tongue3:

We (as Christians especially) make free-will choices everyday that go against our desires.

I have nursed both my parents through years and years of cancer, heart disease and many, many major surgeries. They were both in the hospital at the same time at one point. During this time I had a young son that I had to leave for days at a time and drive 2 hours to the hospital to stay with my mother because my dad was too sick to be with her. My "desires" were to be with my son and my husband but being an only child I had to go when I was needed. My dad passed away 5 years ago, but my mother now lives with us because of her poor health.
I could go on and on about my son's teenage years when he was sooo horribly rebellious and tell you all kinds of "desires" that I had at the time that are definitely not Godly, but he's still alive :laugh: thanks to God!
So, yeah we can set our own desires aside for the needs of others. How do I know this is my own free will doing this? Because sometimes I don't set my desires aside. Sometimes I do things out of selfishness and I am ashamed to say so, but God always forgives. And even when I ask forgiveness, it's of my own free will to do so.

 

...every day when I go to work

 

Dale I feel God led me the other way. I was reared in a home and went to a church that taught calvinism every day. I went to a seminary that was Calvinistic and Presbyterian.

I think where we differ, is the mechanics of salvation, I think God knew who would accept and reject his offer of salvation, but man must use his volition to accept or reject the offer, if man can't use his volition, there was no offer. We only know in part while on earth and we both can quote Scripture to prove our point. As A. W. Tozer said, God dwells in eternity and time in God and man in time, so ther is much we don't know.

 

I too was taught to debunk Calvinism, but it eventually debunked me.