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Saved in a Calvinistic Baptist Church

rockytopva

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
So what? If you were supposedly saved in a Calvinistic Baptist Church, why look elsewhere? Especially among Pentecostals, the exact opposite?
I have a friend in India (who I have also financially supported) who emailed me this... I would not consider these folks Laodicean or Sardisean either one, more Philadelphian than anything. I wish I could find ministries like this in my area! For this cause I do not feel I have wholly grasped the mystery of the Laodicean church. It may be the American church in the time in which I lived in. I do not know the exact time and geographies of all of this as it is declared in scripture a mystery...

You know bro. rockytopva, I finished college and was thinking of applying for job but persecution happened to dad, in Aug 2010, who is an independent Pastor, and we went hiding for 2 months than I went to elder sis. Check this website at 29 it speaks of Persectuion to dad( Sikandar Singh)

https://www.worthynews.com/2543-orissa-violence-continues-to-escalate-against-christians

Who was working in another state, than I went to YWAM delhi( youth with a mission) did a discipleship course in 2010, and was staying in Delhi and got involved in YWAM, and than I returned to my home in Orissa state for 2 years I did children ministry in a village with the help of a bro.Check this website. You can see me dad and the Children in village,
https://cornerstonendt.com/community/

And than as the help stopped I came to elder sister house got married than started helping in sister's orphanage, than before 2 years as God guided I prayed and as God blessed I have given around 450 Hindi Bibles to others in different places, even God blessed me to give rice Bags during lockdown.

as Bible giving is a sensitive matter, I have clicked pic not made video, i tried but no option to send here, check this Rice giving video. In one video you can see dad praying , mom wife daughter me sis and her husband. Check these videos, you can see other videos of giving rice bags in this youtube channel (he shared many videos here).

You know, bro. rockytopva I have no experience and no job,but have been working independently, lived a life of faith only, so praying God lead me in this direction so that I can work for Him only. if God opens a door with a project like giving more Bibles or feeding children I will be more happy, I have a heart for Bibles4India & Feed India, to feed spiritual give His Words and physical food to needy Feed India. Check this video its dad and me infront of our house in Orissa due to persecution we left and now staying in another state in elder sister house.


I share this bro. rockytopva because I want God bless me to continue do His work.

Thanks!
 

1689Dave

Well-Known Member
I have a friend in India (who I have also financially supported) who emailed me this... I would not consider these folks Laodicean or Sardisean either one, more Philadelphian than anything. I wish I could find ministries like this in my area! For this cause I do not feel I have wholly grasped the mystery of the Laodicean church. It may be the American church in the time in which I lived in. I do not know the exact time and geographies of all of this as it is declared in scripture a mystery...

You know bro. rockytopva, I finished college and was thinking of applying for job but persecution happened to dad, in Aug 2010, who is an independent Pastor, and we went hiding for 2 months than I went to elder sis. Check this website at 29 it speaks of Persectuion to dad( Sikandar Singh)

https://www.worthynews.com/2543-orissa-violence-continues-to-escalate-against-christians

Who was working in another state, than I went to YWAM delhi( youth with a mission) did a discipleship course in 2010, and was staying in Delhi and got involved in YWAM, and than I returned to my home in Orissa state for 2 years I did children ministry in a village with the help of a bro.Check this website. You can see me dad and the Children in village,
https://cornerstonendt.com/community/

And than as the help stopped I came to elder sister house got married than started helping in sister's orphanage, than before 2 years as God guided I prayed and as God blessed I have given around 450 Hindi Bibles to others in different places, even God blessed me to give rice Bags during lockdown.

as Bible giving is a sensitive matter, I have clicked pic not made video, i tried but no option to send here, check this Rice giving video. In one video you can see dad praying , mom wife daughter me sis and her husband. Check these videos, you can see other videos of giving rice bags in this youtube channel (he shared many videos here).

You know, bro. rockytopva I have no experience and no job,but have been working independently, lived a life of faith only, so praying God lead me in this direction so that I can work for Him only. if God opens a door with a project like giving more Bibles or feeding children I will be more happy, I have a heart for Bibles4India & Feed India, to feed spiritual give His Words and physical food to needy Feed India. Check this video its dad and me infront of our house in Orissa due to persecution we left and now staying in another state in elder sister house.


I share this bro. rockytopva because I want God bless me to continue do His work.

Thanks!
It doesn't atone for your twisted use of scripture.
 

1689Dave

Well-Known Member
Well then, if you feel you know more about this than I do pat yourself on the back and give yourself a blessing!
Misapplying God's word says something different about you no matter the heart-tugging stories you try to associate yourself with.
 

rockytopva

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Armenian Baptist yes! In which I would love to go back and partake of the old Freewill Baptist communion/foot washings!
 

rockytopva

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Maybe, since the Baptist church did not come about until 1600, they are cross between two of the church ages...

Sardis - Especially Calvinistic
Philadephian - Especially Armenian

I do not consider the Sardis church all that bad as they were very steadfast in the faith. But... As a Sardis is also a gem, very unchangeable in their beliefs. So it is not a good idea to try to change a whole lot!
 

rockytopva

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I have read about all of John Bunyan's many works.I believe in Grace Abounding he said, "And some men call me Ana-Baptist." In which, I would consider him of Philadelphian stock. Especially as he would spend time in prison for going against the state church.
 

AustinC

Well-Known Member
I have read about all of John Bunyan's many works.I believe in Grace Abounding he said, "And some men call me Ana-Baptist." In which, I would consider him of Philadelphian stock. Especially as he would spend time in prison for going against the state church.
Does it bother you that John Bunyan would openly disagree with you?
 

rockytopva

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
John Bunyan's methods of a full salvation...

1. Salvation - As the Christian leaves the City of Destruction and makes his way to the Celestial City.
2. Sanctification - At the interpreter's house
3. The Witness of the Spirit - At the porter's house

The City of Destruction The place where evangelists set people on their journey to the Celestial City
The Slough of Despair This represents the mire that well intentioned religious people bring to the way
Legalities Mountain The enemy attempt to indoctrinate pilgrims with doctrine designed to inhibit spiritual light
Plain of Instruction The evangelist sets the pilgrim on the right direction from the “Mr. Worldly Wiseman”
The Wicket Gate The sinners prayer. Salvation.... The pilgrim now enters into the Lord’s country
The Interpreters House This is a time of instruction where caring people instruct and disciple. Sanctification.
Porters House The journey to a higher place where one receives the witness of the spirit.
Valley of Humiliation Time for some trials and testing!
Valley of the Shadow of Death Time to overcome the wicked one!
Vanity Fair Discipled and proven Christians now witness to their present world.
Doubting Castle Christians choose path that takes them down to the terrible giant despair.
Lucre Mountain Temptations of material goods
Demas Silver Mines Represents those trapped by their material possessions and come to a place of all work.
Delectable Mountains Represents revival and a season of refreshing
An Entangling Net The flatterers will try to flatter pilgrims unto a place of high minded spiritual bondage
Enchanted Ground ground to a sound spiritual sleep!
Beulah Land Experienced Christian faith, hope, and charity that shine brightly night and day!
Great River The river flows through various places in the Pilgrims Progress and represents death.
Final Destination After crossing the river, either the Celestial City or the Underworld… Which will it be?

John Bunyan would agree with me that the Laodicean church is similar to those trapped at the Demas Silver Mine.
 

AustinC

Well-Known Member
First, no dispensationalism would exist so he would reject your church age theory. Second, Bunyan was a Particular Baptist so he would disagree with your synergist views regarding salvation.

I am glad you enjoy Bunyan, but perhaps consider understanding his theology and embrace it.
 

rockytopva

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
John Bunyan was a non-conformist. He said in his works that, "sometimes men call me Anabaptist," but he never claimed to be one. He was what we would call today non-denominational.

John Calvin....

1. Was out to control and to dominate - John Bunyan was not
2. Would kill you over doctrine - John Bunyan would not
3. Would lock you up if you slighted him - John Bunyan would be the one locked up

John Bunyan in his young years was slothful for the things of heaven himself. In his Grace Abounding book Bunyan notes how he picked up the habit of swearing (from his father), suffered from nightmares, and read the popular stories of the day in cheap chap-books, "Until I came to the state of Marriage, I was the very ringleader of all the Youth that kept me company, in all manner of vice and ungodliness".

By his own account, Bunyan had as a youth enjoyed bell-ringing, dancing and playing games including on Sunday. One Sunday the vicar of Elstow preached a sermon against Sabbath breaking, and Bunyan took this sermon to heart. That afternoon, as he was playing tip-cat on Elstow village green, he heard a voice from the heavens "Wilt thou leave thy sins, and go to Heaven? Or have thy sins, and go to Hell?" Bunyan then joins the Bedford Free Church movement and begins to take his religion more seriously, and to write and to preach, until the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. The act of Uniformity would put him at odds against the English establishment and almost get him deported. John Bunyan spent most his years at odds against the established church. John Bunyan's life at that point was a run from the life of sin. So told in the Pilgrims Progress, The Heavenly Footman, and other books. At one point he declares, "and some call me Anabaptist" but he never confessed of becoming Anabaptist. I am sure John Calvin would have had John Bunyan locked up in prison if he lived long enough to get his hands on him. John Bunyan's ministry can be summarized as a run from the life of sin, and can be summarized with this short work....
 

rockytopva

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
THE EPISTLE TO ALL THE SLOTHFUL AND CARELESS PEOPLE

Friends,

Solomon saith, that The desire of the slothful killeth him; and if so, what will slothfulness itself do to those that entertain it? (Prov 21:25). The proverb is, He that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame (Prov 10:5). And this I dare be bold to say, no greater shame can befall a man, than to see that he hath fooled away his soul, and sinned away eternal life. And I am sure this is the next way to do it; namely, to be slothful; slothful, I say, in the work of salvation. The vineyard of the slothful man, in reference to the things of this life, is not fuller of briars, nettles, and stinking weeds, than he that is slothful for heaven, hath his heart full of heart-choaking and soul-damning sin.

Slothfulness hath these two evils: First, To neglect the time in which it should be getting of heaven; and by that means doth, in the Second place, bring in untimely repentance. I will warrant you, that he who shall lose his soul in this world through slothfulness, will have no cause to be glad thereat when he comes to hell.

Slothfulness is usually accompanied with carelessness, and carelessness is for the most part begotten by senselessness; and senselessness doth again put fresh strength into slothfulness, and by this means the soul is left remediless.

Slothfulness shutteth out Christ; slothfulness shameth the soul (Cant 5:2-4; Prov 13:4).

Slothfulness, it is condemned even by the feeblest of all the creatures. Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways and be wise (Prov 6:6). The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold (20:4); that is, he will not break up the fallow ground of his heart, because there must be some pains taken by him that will do it; therefore shall he beg in harvest, that is, when the saints of God shall have their glorious heaven and happiness given to them; but the sluggard shall have nothing, that is, be never the better for his crying for mercy, according to that in Matthew 25:10-12.

If you would know a sluggard in the things of heaven, compare him with one that is slothful in the things of this world. As,
1. He that is slothful is loth to set about the work he should follow: so is he that is slothful for heaven.
2. He that is slothful is one that is willing to make delays: so is he that is slothful for heaven.
3. He that is a sluggard, any small matter that cometh in between, he will make it a sufficient excuse to keep him off from plying his work: so it is also with him that is slothful for heaven.
4. He that is slothful doth his work by the halves; and so it is with him that is slothful for heaven. He may almost, but he shall never altogether obtain perfection of deliverance from hell; he may almost, but he shall never, without he mend, be altogether a saint.
5. They that are slothful, do usually lose the season in which things are to be done: and thus it is also with them that are slothful for heaven, they miss the season of grace. And therefore,
6. They that are slothful have seldom or never good fruit: so also it will be with the soul-sluggard.
7. They that are slothful they are chid for the same: so also will Christ deal with those that are not active for him. Thou wicked or slothful servant, out of thine own mouth will I judge thee; thou saidst I was thus, and thus, wherefore then gavest not thou my money to the bank? &c. (Luke 19:22). Take the unprofitable servant, and cast him into utter darkness, where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt 25:26-30).

WHAT SHALL I SAY? Time runs; and will you be slothful? Much of your lives are past; and will you be slothful? Your souls are worth a thousand worlds; and will you be slothful? The day of death and judgment is at the door; and will you be slothful? The curse of God hangs over your heads; and will you be slothful? Besides, the devils are earnest, laborious, and seek by all means every day, by every sin, to keep you out of heaven, and hinder you of salvation; and will you be slothful? Also your neighbours are diligent for things that will perish; and will you be slothful for things that will endure for ever? Would you be willing to be damned for slothfulness? Would you be willing the angels of God should neglect to fetch your souls away to heaven when you lie a-dying, and the devils stand by ready to scramble for them? Was Christ slothful in the work of your redemption? Are his ministers slothful in tendering this unto you? And, lastly, If all this will not move, I tell you God will not be slothful or negligent to damn you, whose damnation now of a long time slumbereth not, nor the devils will not neglect to fetch thee, nor hell neglect to shut it's mouth upon thee.

Sluggard, art thou asleep still? art thou resolved to sleep the sleep of death? Wilt neither tidings from heaven or hell awake thee? Wilt thou say still, Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, and a little folding of the hands to sleep? (Prov 6:10). Wilt thou yet turn thyself in thy sloth, as the door is turned upon the hinges? O that I was one that was skillful in lamentation, and had but a yearning heart towards thee, how would I pity thee! How would I bemoan thee! O that I could with Jeremiah let my eyes run down with rivers of water for thee! Poor soul, lost soul, dying soul, what a hard heart have I that I cannot mourn for thee! If thou shouldst lose but a limb, a child, or a friend, it would not be so much, but poor man it is THY SOUL; if it was to lie in hell but for a day, but for a year, nay, ten thousand years, it would (in comparison) be nothing. But O it is for ever! O this cutting EVER! What a soul-amazing word will that be, which saith, Depart from me, ye cursed, into EVERLASTING fire! &c.
 

rockytopva

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Object. But if I should set in, and run as you would have me, then I must run from all my friends; for none of them are running that way.
Answ. And if thou dost, thou wilt run into the bosom of Christ and of God, and then what harm will that do thee?
Object. But if I run this way, then I must run from all my sins.
Answ. That is true indeed; yet if thou dost not, thou wilt run into hell-fire.
Object. But if I run this way, then I shall be hated, and lose the love of my friends and relations, and of those that I expect benefit from, or have reliance on, and I shall be mocked of all my neighbours.
Answ. And if thou dost not, thou art sure to lose the love and favour of God and Christ, the benefit of heaven and glory, and be mocked of God for thy folly, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; and if thou wouldst not be hated and mocked, then take heed thou by thy folly dost not procure the displeasure and mockings of the great God; for his mocks and hatred will be terrible, because they will fall upon thee in terrible times, even when tribulation and anguish taketh hold on thee; which will be when death and judgment comes, when all the men in the earth, and all the angels in heaven, cannot help thee (Prov 1:26-28).
Object. But surely I may begin this time enough, a year or two hence, may I not?
Answ. 1. Hast thou any lease of thy life? Did ever God tell thee thou shalt live half a year, or two months longer? nay, it may be thou mayst not live so long. And therefore, 2. Wilt thou be so sottish and unwise, as to venture thy soul upon a little uncertain time? 3. Dost thou know whether the day of grace will last a week longer or no? For the day of grace is past with some before their life is ended: and if it should be so with thee, wouldst thou not say, O that I had begun to run before the day of grace had been past, and the gates of heaven shut against me. But, 4. If thou shouldst see any of thy neighbours neglect the making sure of either house or land to themselves, if they had it proffered to them, saying, Time enough hereafter, when the time is uncertain; and besides, they do not know whether ever it will be proffered to them again, or no: I say, Wouldst thou not then call them fools? And if so, then dost thou think that thou art a wise man to let thy immortal soul hang over hell by a thread of uncertain time, which may soon be cut asunder by death?

But to speak plainly, all these are the words of a slothful spirit. Arise man, be slothful no longer; set foot, and heart, and all into the way of God, and run, the crown is at the end of the race; there also standeth the loving fore-runner, even Jesus, who hath prepared heavenly provision to make thy soul welcome, and he will give it thee with a willinger heart than ever thou canst desire it of him. O therefore do not delay the time any longer, but put into practice the words of the men of Dan to their brethren, after they had seen the goodness of the land of Canaan: Arise, say they, &c., for we have seen the land, and behold it is very good; and are ye still, or do you forbear running? Be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land (Judg 18:9).

Farewell. I wish our souls may meet with comfort at the journey's end.

Bunyan.Signature.GIF
 

AustinC

Well-Known Member
John Bunyan's methods of a full salvation...

1. Salvation - As the Christian leaves the City of Destruction and makes his way to the Celestial City.
2. Sanctification - At the interpreter's house
3. The Witness of the Spirit - At the porter's house

The City of Destruction The place where evangelists set people on their journey to the Celestial City
The Slough of Despair This represents the mire that well intentioned religious people bring to the way
Legalities Mountain The enemy attempt to indoctrinate pilgrims with doctrine designed to inhibit spiritual light
Plain of Instruction The evangelist sets the pilgrim on the right direction from the “Mr. Worldly Wiseman”
The Wicket Gate The sinners prayer. Salvation.... The pilgrim now enters into the Lord’s country
The Interpreters House This is a time of instruction where caring people instruct and disciple. Sanctification.
Porters House The journey to a higher place where one receives the witness of the spirit.
Valley of Humiliation Time for some trials and testing!
Valley of the Shadow of Death Time to overcome the wicked one!
Vanity Fair Discipled and proven Christians now witness to their present world.
Doubting Castle Christians choose path that takes them down to the terrible giant despair.
Lucre Mountain Temptations of material goods
Demas Silver Mines Represents those trapped by their material possessions and come to a place of all work.
Delectable Mountains Represents revival and a season of refreshing
An Entangling Net The flatterers will try to flatter pilgrims unto a place of high minded spiritual bondage
Enchanted Ground ground to a sound spiritual sleep!
Beulah Land Experienced Christian faith, hope, and charity that shine brightly night and day!
Great River The river flows through various places in the Pilgrims Progress and represents death.
Final Destination After crossing the river, either the Celestial City or the Underworld… Which will it be?

John Bunyan would agree with me that the Laodicean church is similar to those trapped at the Demas Silver Mine.
This is your interpretation of Bunyan. Bunyan would disagree with you.
Bunyan's allegory shows us that we are justified by faith alone. We are sanctified in Christ alone. We are glorified in Christ alone.

Bunyan would roll over in his grave if he saw your legalistic "methodology" to salvation. You don’t find a "method" to "full salvation" in Pilgrims Progress. You find Christian learning to trust his King (sanctification) and ultimately entering the Celestial city (glorification). What you have outlined is something that would make Bunyan cringe.
 

AustinC

Well-Known Member
works that, "sometimes men call me Anabaptist," but he never claimed to be one. He was what we would call today non-denominational.

John Calvin....

1. Was out to control and to dominate - John Bunyan was not
2. Would kill you over doctrine - John Bunyan would not
3. Would lock you up if you slighted him - John Bunyan would be the one locked up

John Bunyan in his young years was slothful for the things of heaven himself. In his Grace Abounding book Bunyan notes how he picked up the habit of swearing (from his father), suffered from nightmares, and read the popular stories of the day in cheap chap-books, "Until I came to the state of Marriage, I was the very ringleader of all the Youth that kept me company, in all manner of vice and ungodliness".

By his own account, Bunyan had as a youth enjoyed bell-ringing, dancing and playing games including on Sunday. One Sunday the vicar of Elstow preached a sermon against Sabbath breaking, and Bunyan took this sermon to heart. That afternoon, as he was playing tip-cat on Elstow village green, he heard a voice from the heavens "Wilt thou leave thy sins, and go to Heaven? Or have thy sins, and go to Hell?" Bunyan then joins the Bedford Free Church movement and begins to take his religion more seriously, and to write and to preach, until the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. The act of Uniformity would put him at odds against the English establishment and almost get him deported. John Bunyan spent most his years at odds against the established church. John Bunyan's life at that point was a run from the life of sin. So told in the Pilgrims Progress, The Heavenly Footman, and other books. At one point he declares, "and some call me Anabaptist" but he never confessed of becoming Anabaptist. I am sure John Calvin would have had John Bunyan locked up in prison if he lived long enough to get his hands on him. John Bunyan's ministry can be summarized as a run from the life of sin, and can be summarized with this short work....
You have no assurance at all regarding either Bunyan or Calvin. It seems you are less versed in either person than you think.
 

rockytopva

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
You have no assurance at all regarding either Bunyan or Calvin. It seems you are less versed in either person than you think.
The thought that John Bunyan was anything at all like John Calvin is pure, Butterball brand bologna!
 
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