saturneptune
New Member
This thread will probably result in some "I told you so" or "I was right all the time" responses, but this is something that needs to be said. The Lord has taken me through the ringer over the last several days over my posts on this board. I believe Paul calls it self examination
I grew up as a PCA Presbyterian, and have strong beliefs in doctrines of grace and sovereignty. The two personal encounters with Paul Washer really did happen, and it is still true there is much about John Calvin's life I do not care for. However that is not the point. To a degree it left a dislike in myself for both men. The truth is, both men have/had a lot to contribute to the work of the Lord. There is no telling how many people came to Christ through the works of both. There is a positive aspect to everyone's spiritual gifts.
On the negative side, no, I did not like the words of and the congregation's reaction to Paul Washer. I did not care for lots of John Calvin's beliefs and the way he governed. On the positive side, Paul Washer's ministry pierces a lot of souls and wakes up a lot of people pretending to be Christian, while Calvin contributed an amazing amount of understanding of doctrine about the sovereignty of God.
Basically, and this is the hard part, I used the records of these two men in this ongoing back and forth (which is now over) as a way to push buttons. I was wrong to do. Despite my genuine dislike of certain aspects of each man, the Christ like thing to have done would have been to say nothing about them, as it harmed what good both men did/are doing.
This thought process over the last few days also gives me a much better appreciation of moderators and administrators. I know, for example, that Dr. Bob thinks highly of Calvin, and maybe Paul Washer, (not sure about that), yet, when he reads posts like the ones that bashed Calvin, since they do not break the rules, had to swallow his anger to be fair and impartial. That goes for DHK probably in different areas. It takes a special person to be able to read exactly what one is against since you all are the ones that have to make judgments.
Being a moderator/administrator must be like the guys on Pawn Stars, you never know what is coming next. A good recent example is the guy that denied the deity of Christ that dressed up like a monk and posted in Baptist only sections.
I grew up as a PCA Presbyterian, and have strong beliefs in doctrines of grace and sovereignty. The two personal encounters with Paul Washer really did happen, and it is still true there is much about John Calvin's life I do not care for. However that is not the point. To a degree it left a dislike in myself for both men. The truth is, both men have/had a lot to contribute to the work of the Lord. There is no telling how many people came to Christ through the works of both. There is a positive aspect to everyone's spiritual gifts.
On the negative side, no, I did not like the words of and the congregation's reaction to Paul Washer. I did not care for lots of John Calvin's beliefs and the way he governed. On the positive side, Paul Washer's ministry pierces a lot of souls and wakes up a lot of people pretending to be Christian, while Calvin contributed an amazing amount of understanding of doctrine about the sovereignty of God.
Basically, and this is the hard part, I used the records of these two men in this ongoing back and forth (which is now over) as a way to push buttons. I was wrong to do. Despite my genuine dislike of certain aspects of each man, the Christ like thing to have done would have been to say nothing about them, as it harmed what good both men did/are doing.
This thought process over the last few days also gives me a much better appreciation of moderators and administrators. I know, for example, that Dr. Bob thinks highly of Calvin, and maybe Paul Washer, (not sure about that), yet, when he reads posts like the ones that bashed Calvin, since they do not break the rules, had to swallow his anger to be fair and impartial. That goes for DHK probably in different areas. It takes a special person to be able to read exactly what one is against since you all are the ones that have to make judgments.
Being a moderator/administrator must be like the guys on Pawn Stars, you never know what is coming next. A good recent example is the guy that denied the deity of Christ that dressed up like a monk and posted in Baptist only sections.
