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just How Do the DoG Provide "sinner an excuse?"

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quantumfaith

Active Member
I can't believe that with all the vitriol coming from certain posters that this thread has not been closed yet. Even if I was not a calvinist, the ongoing "god of calvinism" quip gets old and highly offensive. I appreciate Icon's vigor to call people to repentance, but I would even argue that such a call does not have a place in academic, reasoned discussion (at least not the way he pontificates it around as if he is the arbiter of repentance; no offense, just what I observe). Therefore, this thread has very much deteriorated into pettiness. I am partially to blame. I say... we end this debate and start over with a more level-headed discussion.

Excellent post and attitude. Blessings
 

Van

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Total Spiiritual inability is a false doctrine, but it is true that all our righteousness, or "good works" are as filthy rags to God. What Calvinism does is equate the two, since it is "good" to seek God and put our trust in Christ, we cannot do that because it is "good." But this argument, like the rest of Calvinism, is a phony as a 3 dollar bill.

What the Bible actually says is God credits our faith, even though it is a filthy rag from God's perspective, as righteousness. Thus, the Bible teaches we can seek God and put our faith, as worthless as it might be, in Christ. Therefore, Total Spiritual Inability is false doctrine and the filthy rag argument is ... well just another filthy rag.
 

Van

Well-Known Member
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Unconditional individual election to salvation is also a false doctrine. James 2:5 tells anyone who reads with understanding, that God chooses those who are (1) poor in the eyes of the world, (2) rich in faith, and (3) heirs to the promise made to those who love God. Highly conditional election is what the Bible actually teaches.
 

Van

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The Calvinist view of Limited Atonement is false doctrine. Christ became the propitiation for the whole world, or means of salvation for the whole world, 1 John 2:2. When John uses the term translated "world" he is referring to mankind or the corrupt system of mankind.
 

Van

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The Calvinist doctrine of Irresistible Grace, or whatever they are calling it this week, is false doctrine. Matthew 23:13 teaches men were entering heaven, and therefore according to the false doctrine of Irresistible Grace had been regenerated, quickened, etc, but then those supposedly altered men are turned aside by false teachers. Therefore the grace needed to enter heaven is not irresistible.
 

Van

Well-Known Member
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In summary, four of the five DoG are clearly unbiblical, and are supported by rewriting scripture by redefining the meaning of words. Choice includes the meaning of non-choice, world means elect here and non elect there, and so it goes.

BTW, Jesus said things happen by chance, teaching God does not exhaustively determine everything, as so Calvinists assert.
 

seekingthetruth

New Member
Great posts Van

I believe that even though God is already in the future, and He therefore knows the future, that He still allows us to make choices and control our own lives.

In other words, God knows what choices I will make, but He still allows me to make those choices.

If Calvinism is true, then there sure are alot of unneeded instructions in the Bible.

John
 

humblethinker

Active Member
In summary, four of the five DoG are... supported by... redefining the meaning of words. Choice includes the meaning of non-choice, world means elect here and non elect there, and so it goes.

This point is one of my biggest issues when discussing things with a calvinist. I'd like to make a list of these instances where words seem to be redefined and see if I can get some clarity.
 

mandym

New Member
Total Spiiritual inability is a false doctrine,

I am not a calvinist but this is clearly a scriptural doctrine

1Co 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
 

jbh28

Active Member
The Calvinist doctrine of Irresistible Grace, or whatever they are calling it this week, is false doctrine. Matthew 23:13 teaches men were entering heaven, and therefore according to the false doctrine of Irresistible Grace had been regenerated, quickened, etc, but then those supposedly altered men are turned aside by false teachers. Therefore the grace needed to enter heaven is not irresistible.

so you have born again people in hell?
 

InTheLight

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Another post where you cannot face the truth. Jesus commanded them to do what they could not do. That is the point that you avoid.

I'm not avoiding it, I'm drawing a distinction. The people you mentioned that responded to a command they could not carry out were physically affected. Repentance is a change of mind. Someone changing their mind happens quite frequently, and is easily carried out by the person.

I'll counter your examples with the woman with the blood issue, had been ill for 12 years. She fought through crowds, willingly seeking out the Lord. She touched his robe and was immediately healed. Now if I were to use this physical action and physical ailment as a metaphor for spiritual things, I see that this woman: 1. Sought the Lord, 2. Had the ability to come to him on her own, 3. Was healed by God through actions she took. I think that violates a few tenets of Calvinism. My point is, let's not be quick to spiritualize historical events and try to apply them to theology.


What you refer to as calvinist dogma...is biblical truth.
You just want to put down the teaching...you do not welcome it.

Of course I do not welcome things that I see as untruths.
 

jbh28

Active Member
I am really having a hard time keeping up with the flow of this thread.

Folks here are saying that they believe the points of TULIP on one side of their mouth, and then deny the truth about the actual application of TULIP on the other side of their mouth. And then they ridicule the folks questioning that theology, even using words like "ignorant".
The problem is your "application" comes from your point of view of your theology. So it twists what we believe into something else. Those on the Calvinistic side vs those on the other side come at this at 2 angles. When you look at our doctrine from your angle, it will have these "problems." You are looking at our doctrine with at a faulty premise.


For instance, have i been wasting my time trying to seek out God's will for me and my family? Is it not true that if I am one of the elect that there is no need for me to seek out God's will because He is going to force it on me. If He chooses for me to go to hell then seeking Him out is a waste of my time. And if He chooses to let me into heaven, then I cannot "resist" the Grace he will someday bestow on me, and seeking Him out is still a waste of my time.

According to Calvinists theory, I can't do anything to improve my spiritual state or bring myself and family closer to God, so why bother to even try?
You also will never want to.
Doesn't that make it a waste of time to teach the Bible to my son. He is in a Fundamental Baptist school, am I wasting money on that if God is going to reject Him anyway?
God rejects no one. No Calvinist would say that God rejects one that comes to him. Also, the gospel is the means by which God saves people.
So why do I need to make any effort at all? Either He saves me, no matter what, or He rejects me, no matter what.
Why do you eat? You will die the day that God has decided(unless you deny the sovereignty of God) so why eat? (actually, a Ryrie illustration.)
I know that my beliefs on this will be ridiculed by the Calvinists, and they will think I am "ignorant".
Get over it. You are still demonstrating your lack of understanding of the Calvinist doctrine here.
But if you believe the theory of TULIP, then this example I gave is the only way for it to play out in actual application. There is no way to deny it.
What you are describing is extremely hyper Calvinism or fatalism, not Calvinism.
By the way, if God makes the choice for us, then why did Jesus die on the cross?
To pay for our sins.
 

Skandelon

<b>Moderator</b>
I am not a calvinist but this is clearly a scriptural doctrine

1Co 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

We agree with this verse. The question is: How does God make his mysterious spiritual truths known to man? In other words, what means has God chosen to make His mysteries known to man?

1. A supernatural internal and irresistible working by which the mind just knows spiritual mysteries.

OR

2. God has chosen messengers (like Paul) to be authoritative apostles. They are inspired by the Holy Spirit to write down and preach these mysteries in the language of man (which is happening for the very first time as Paul is writing this very letter in question). The gospel truth was first revealed in this manner and some believed it while others did not. The brethren in Corinth, believed the gospel, which had been spiritually discerned for them, but they were still not accepting of the "deep things of God" (the meat) because they were being "carnal." (see versus following)
 

InTheLight

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I think it is instructive to look at the following exchange for it illustrates the Calvinist method of parsing words and phrases. It also shows that if you can't explain Total Depravity you can't have the rest of TULIP.

seekingthetruth said:
According to Calvinists theory, I can't do anything to improve my spiritual state or bring myself and family closer to God, so why bother to even try?

You also will never want to.

seekingthetruth said:
Doesn't that make it a waste of time to teach the Bible to my son. He is in a Fundamental Baptist school, am I wasting money on that if God is going to reject Him anyway?

jbh28 said:
God rejects no one. No Calvinist would say that God rejects one that comes to him.

And there you have it. You have a total inability to want to seek God, to improve your spiritual state, furthermore you don't even want to do these things. Yet, if only you were to come to God, He would save you!

If you like this sort of gymnastics of logic and language you might like Calvinism.
 

Iconoclast

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I can't believe that with all the vitriol coming from certain posters that this thread has not been closed yet. Even if I was not a calvinist, the ongoing "god of calvinism" quip gets old and highly offensive. I appreciate Icon's vigor to call people to repentance, but I would even argue that such a call does not have a place in academic, reasoned discussion (at least not the way he pontificates it around as if he is the arbiter of repentance; no offense, just what I observe). Therefore, this thread has very much deteriorated into pettiness. I am partially to blame. I say... we end this debate and start over with a more level-headed discussion.

Hello Greektim,
but I would even argue that such a call does not have a place in academic, reasoned discussion (

GT........so if I understand you correctly.....you see nothing wrong with these statements found in this thread?? You correctly reacted against many of these falsehoods in posts...19,21,25,52,59,65,68,69....but now you say you are partly to blame......and that when i react to these falsehoods with some saying God causes sin...that I am pontificating?:confused::confused:
Read these again...and think it over!

You are exactly right Winman. Calvinists love their doubletalk. They've taken something that's so simple (the Gospel) that a child an easily understand it and twisted it into a false religion [using false religion implies the person does not have salvation which is against board rules] that you need a doctorate to defend it. [Deleted due to implication of Calvinist not being a Christian which is against board rules.]

What an unmerciful god the god of Calvinism is.

Thanks for succinctly describing Calvinism

That's an unmerciful god. One that elects a few and gives no chance to the rest.
The unmerciful god of calvinism gives many no chance at all.
[QUOTECalvinists say the unelect will be justly condemned for their sins. If Calvinism is true this is incredibly false. If a person is born a sinner and only has the ability to sin, it is wicked and unjust to punish them for doing the only thing they are able to do.
][/QUOTE]
I would have God extend the gift of salvation to all people.
The god of calvinism causes people to be unable to believe in him. That's an unmerciful god
The god of calvinism programs people to unbelief and then sends them to hell for not believing. That's unmerciful.
But this is exactly what Calvinism teaches, that God punishes a man for eternity for his inability.

That is not justice, it is monstrous and cruel
A red faced, puffing, out of breath calvinist yelling at me "WHO ARE YOU TO QUESTION HIM!!!".

[snipped]
I simply don't believe that the god of calvinism is the God of the Bible
You must think rather highly of yourself that the god of calvinism would choose you to be saved and not choose so many others.
Sin is not why people go to hell in Calvinism, the elect sin all their lives.

No, God deciding to pass over a man and not enabling him to believe is why he goes to hell.
the god of calvinism is lazy
Yes, the elect in calvinism have their sins forgiven because they are more special than the rest of humanity and the god of calvinism liked them better
[QUOTEI agree that sin is why people go to hell, but in calvinism, the god of calvinism is responsible for people's sin. ][/QUOTE]
You won't openly admit it, but the calvinist line of thinking leads to the calvinist {God} being responsible for sin.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GT......in post 21 you make this statement....
You don't preach calvinism at all??? Sure you do.....you might not refer to the terms ...but if you preach the word you do.
It seems politically correct to state it this way,,,but are you being honest about it?
If you know it as the truth of God...why would you not want people to believe it when you say this...
not because I have a complex or desire for everyone to believe what I believe
If you have come to truth,you should preach sounding a clear distinct note describing that truth scripturally. Not try and sneek up on people straining to avoid any terms that might cause them to think....oh no pastor tim is a calvinist......The fear of man bringeth a snare!


That's an intriguing thought. I don't preach calvinism at all. I preach the Word. I believe the word teaches the DoG. Therefore I preach that as well. But I do it based on my observation of Scripture, not because I have a complex or desire for everyone to believe what I believe
 

jbh28

Active Member
And there you have it. You have a total inability to want to seek God, to improve your spiritual state, furthermore you don't even want to do these things. Yet, if only you were to come to God, He would save you!

That's correct. Of course we are talking about something that's not going to happen. The point is that when one says that Calvinist believe that people will come to God and be rejected, that's a totally untrue picture of what is believed. What we believe is that the non-elect people will never want to come to Christ. It's not that people are wanting to come and cannot come. It's not that people are coming and being rejected.
 
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