It occurs to me.....

[Thomas Helwys]

that I may be in the wrong place here. It seems this forum is a place for fundamental, Particular Baptists who don't believe in free will, or for Baptists-turned-Roman Catholic, or for Charismatics masquerading as Baptists.

While I love theological debate and discussion, I don't like constant battles at every turn, or acrimonious ones.

I believe so strongly in the position of the first English Baptists and in the freedom of the will, but it seems not many Baptists believe this.

Maybe I'll take a break from the forum for a while, or maybe permanently.

I've made some good friends here, a couple who are 5-point Calvinists, and I don't mind having discussions with those whose positions are opposite mine, but it seems there is too much anger here sometimes, and yes I have been guilty of it, too.

I think doctrine is very important, but when it prevents us from loving our brothers and sisters in Christ, or harms our relationship with each other, that is very wrong.

All of us know so very little anyway, despite what we think we know.

So, I'm not sure what I'll do. I'll take a while to think about it.

God bless all here!

 

[Yeshua1]

that I may be in the wrong place here. It seems this forum is a place for fundamental, Particular Baptists who don't believe in free will, or for Baptists-turned-Roman Catholic, or for Charismatics masquerading as Baptists.

While I love theological debate and discussion, I don't like constant battles at every turn, or acrimonious ones.

I believe so strongly in the position of the first English Baptists and in the freedom of the will, but it seems not many Baptists believe this.

Maybe I'll take a break from the forum for a while, or maybe permanently.

I've made some good friends here, a couple who are 5-point Calvinists, and I don't mind having discussions with those whose positions are opposite mine, but it seems there is too much anger here sometimes, and yes I have been guilty of it, too.

I think doctrine is very important, but when it prevents us from loving our brothers and sisters in Christ, or harms our relationship with each other, that is very wrong.

All of us know so very little anyway, despite what we think we know.

So, I'm not sure what I'll do. I'll take a while to think about it.

God bless all here!

actually, think more 'free willers" than Cals here on BB, and we can agree to disagree on that issue, but we BOTH agree Charasmatic chaos/SDA are "bad news!"

 

[BobRyan]

that I may be in the wrong place here. It seems this forum is a place for fundamental, Particular Baptists who don't believe in free will, or for Baptists-turned-Roman Catholic, or for Charismatics masquerading as Baptists.

I would miss your objective posts and hearty amens.

Hope you choose to stay. I count you as having pointed me to the key documents such as the Baptist Confession of Faith.

I am always happy to find among the Baptists an actual Bible reader - and not someone who is merely married to name-calling. I find your posts here to be a breath of fresh air and thank you for them. And where is the challenge to your fellow Free Will Baptists and General Baptist? How can we get them to be more vocal here?

You are one of those who is serving to raise the level of discourse that can had from Baptists on this board - and I think a number of them as well as myself would be loathe to see you leave.

In Christ,

Bob

 

[Thomas Helwys]

actually, think more 'free willers" than Cals here on BB, and we can agree to disagree on that issue, but we BOTH agree Charasmatic chaos/SDA are "bad news!"

Thank you, Yeshua1. But actually, Bob has been very civil and kind to me. Some Baptists have not.

 

[Thomas Helwys]

I would miss your objective posts and hearty amens.

Hope you choose to stay. I count you as having pointed me to the key documents such as the Baptist Confession of Faith.

I am always happy to find among the Baptists an actual Bible reader - and not someone who is merely married to name-calling. I find your posts here to be a breath of fresh air and thank you for them. And where is the challenge to your fellow Free Will Baptists and General Baptist? How can we get them to be more vocal here?

You are one of those who is serving to raise the level of discourse that can had from Baptists on this board - and I think a number of them as well as myself would be loathe to see you leave.

In Christ,

Bob

Bob, I really appreciate all you said to me in your post. It means more to me than I can adequately put into words at this time.

Some here bring out the worst in me, and it saddens me that I have apparently not proceeded far enough on the road to sanctification to refrain from responding to them in kind. I must say that this forum has revealed some things to me concerning myself, some things I need to work on, because no matter how much knowledge a person thinks he has, that loses some of its value if one's manner of discourse does not reflect love of the brethren. And of this I have been guilty. There is a place for strong words, as Jesus Himself showed, but I have gone beyond the pale, I believe, and I continue to do so, so I am trying to pull back a bit.

I like it here, and I'd like to stay. I must try harder to balance passion for the truth with true Christian love.

A footnote: I'm not sure if there are any Free Will or General Baptists here.

 

[BobRyan]

Where can we find those illusive Free Will Baptists? I saw a post over at ChristianForums by someone who said they were FWB.

in Christ,

Bob

 

[The Biblicist]

Bob, I really appreciate all you said to me in your post. It means more to me than I can adequately put into words at this time.

Some here bring out the worst in me, and it saddens me that I have apparently not proceeded far enough on the road to sanctification to refrain from responding to them in kind. I must say that this forum has revealed some things to me concerning myself, some things I need to work on, because no matter how much knowledge a person thinks he has, that loses some of its value if one's manner of discourse does not reflect love of the brethren. And of this I have been guilty. There is a place for strong words, as Jesus Himself showed, but I have gone beyond the pale, I believe, and I continue to do so, so I am trying to pull back a bit.

I like it here, and I'd like to stay. I must try harder to balance passion for the truth with true Christian love.

A footnote: I'm not sure if there are any Free Will or General Baptists here.

Those who are of the "Free will" Baptist denomination reject eternal security of the believer. However, there are Baptists who reject Calvinism who believe in the security of the believer but also believe in free will. I would say there are quite a number of the latter on this board. However, I don't know of any who are of the "Free Will" Baptist denomination on this board but you.

 

[Yeshua1]

Thank you, Yeshua1. But actually, Bob has been very civil and kind to me. Some Baptists have not.

perhaps so, but he is wedded to a group that has false teachings though!

 

[Yeshua1]

Those who are of the "Free will" Baptist denomination reject eternal security of the believer. However, there are Baptists who reject Calvinism who believe in the security of the believer but also believe in free will. I would say there are quite a number of the latter on this board. However, I don't know of any who are of the "Free Will" Baptist denomination on this board but you.

I assumed "free Will" to mean non cals, any here who posts that would not see sotierology as a calvinist does!

Know even MOST of them hold to eternal security, rare to find one holding to loss of salvation of a real christian!

 

[Rippon]

I assumed "free Will" to mean non cals, any here who posts that would not see sotierology as a calvinist does!

Know even MOST of them hold to eternal security, rare to find one holding to loss of salvation of a real christian!

Arminius:"I never taught that a true believer can fall away from the faith..."

In the Articles of Remonstance it says that "no believer can be plucked from Christ's hand..."

I've had those notes for a while. Don't know the references off-hand.

 

[BobRyan]

I don't know of any who are of the "Free Will" Baptist denomination on this board but you.

Maybe we try to find some and get them to join the Baptist Board.

 

[Yeshua1]

Arminius:"I never taught that a true believer can fall away from the faith..."

In the Articles of Remonstance it says that "no believer can be plucked from Christ's hand..."

I've had those notes for a while. Don't know the references off-hand.

True, for he held that a true believer"might" be able towalk away, but was confident and as sure as that point as rest of his points!

So he would be a "maybe!"

 

[Thinkingstuff]

What I find odd is the hostility towards Baptist who aren't denominationally "Free Will" Baptist. But still hold a view closer to Armenius on election than Calvin. Historically Baptist have been both. Though I shouldn't be suprised when RC Sproul writes articles like

“The Pelagian Captivity of the Church”

Which Places Anabaptist at odds with their decendents. As I remember didn't Bryant Wright of the SBC say

"If we pride ourselves more on being a traditional Southern Baptist or more on being a Calvinist or a Reformed theologian than we are thankful that we are Christ-centered and biblically-based, then it is time to repent of theological idolatry."


Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/o...eological-idolatry-76951/#qsXdXF8qHxSfOoFY.99

Maybe he has a point.

 

[Thomas Helwys]

What I find odd is the hostility towards Baptist who aren't denominationally "Free Will" Baptist. But still hold a view closer to Armenius on election than Calvin. Historically Baptist have been both. Though I shouldn't be suprised when RC Sproul writes articles like Which Places Anabaptist at odds with their decendents. As I remember didn't Bryant Wright of the SBC say Maybe he has a point.

Good post. I agree with it.

 

[Thomas Helwys]

Well it's time for me to go on hiatus, either temporarily or permanently. A few more posts, and I am out of here. This place has become less than edifying.

I'll probably be sent packing anyway for my replies to the Biblicist, a feud I did not initiate, but when I get repeatedly called a fool, a heretic, and a servant of Satan, I will respond. I'll turn the other cheek at first because this is what Jesus said to do, but I am out of cheeks to turn.

Anyway, I probably won't be missed. Biblicist could keep the forum going all by himself, as he is 100% correct and righteous enough to make up for the loss of every other member on here.