Who wins souls?

Here is a quick example within this thread. You objected to the notion that men “win souls”. I responded with Paul’s statements in 1 Corinthians 9:

You reject 1 Corinthians 9:

And then you pretend you never rejected that Paul was correct to say that he “won” people to Christ and that he “saved” people.

You have a point about divine sovereignty and the necessity of God’s drawing in salvation, but then you overstate your position to deny Scripture. When confronted you pretend it never happened and press on. But the fact remains that you have contradicted yourself. Either Paul “won” people and “saved” people or you reject 1 Corinthians 9. You can’t have it both ways.

This is but one of many examples I could have offered. I give this one because it is readily available to you for your consideration. As an addition, you once affirmed that while Scripture did not forbid drinking alcohol it was better to abstain. You once posted “Rules for the Christian Family” which included a command for husbands to love their wives as they loved themselves…which you say is a “present active imperative which implies to ‘keep on loving them’”). Yet you are a divorced drinker.

I'm not gong to "beat you down" with such instances because I do care for you and you are my brother. But I think that somewhere inside you may suspect that you have compromised truth for what you would like to be true.


CERM Church Education Resource Ministries

 

I'm not trying to beat you down, brother. But this comment says it all. Your life is not about you just as mine is not about me. I'm not bringing these things up for debate but to give you some insight into the idea some have that you are a reed blown by the wind if your own desires. Maybe that's a wrong take, but here are the reasons some make those accusations.

 

Now pay attention. I am only going to say this once. Jon left out all of your excuses because, now listen, because as he said "IT IS NOT ALL ABOUT YOU!"

 

Yes, I cut them out. The reason you gave for divorcing your wife is that she refused to leave her family and cleave to you. I think young couples wrestle with this as men often struggle for independence as a family unit and women often hold on to their family bonds. I think you misinterpret "leave" and "cleave" to mean abandonment and servitude. When you married you also inherited a responsibility to your wife's family. I do not know why you want to bring this up again (please don't blame anyone but yourself), but your grounds for divorce (she "stresses" you out and won't leave her family to cleave to you) was unbiblical. Had you fulfilled your responsibilities perhaps things would have turned out differently down the road (most of us who have been married for some time have gone through difficulties, but we've chosen love over abandonment.

So....I cut out those pathetic excuses you offered for leaving your wife and transgressing the covenant you made before God. I did this to get at the heart of the matter:

Our marriages are not about us, they are about our spouses. I hope you learn this before entering into another marriage.

BUT, NOW THAT WE'RE HERE:

You say that you are a Calvinist so your position:

1. Denies that Paul sought to win those under the Law.
2. Denies that Paul sought to win those not under the Law.
3. Denies that there are lost people to win who are not under the Law.
4. Denies that Paul sought to save some.

In other words, what you are doing is using Calvinism to justify your denial of Paul's statements in 1 Corinthians 9. That doesn't cut it. As @JohnDeereFan pointed out, God acknowledges our role. Your argument against "soul winning" is an argument against Scripture. That said, I think you are just stumbling over the words and not actually denying what is said.

 

Reasons or excuses ?????

 

Not until you grow up and act like an adult.