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Calvinism Vs Arminian

Josiah

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I like Calvinism.....

I like the passionate embrace of Monergism.... and heaven knows, Luther and Calvin were very close brothers (not identical twins, however, lol).

And I find that at the root of much of TULIP is something good and right and biblical: Monergism.



The problem, IMO, is a radicalism that uses "speculation" to take things too far and at times end up in direct contradiction of Scripture and at other times simply find themselves with nothing in support. There is a reason why the traditional understanding of TULIP was NEVER widely embraced in Calvinism and today is largely repudiated as "hyper-Calvinism." My wife, raised in a conservative Reformed church, indicates to me that TULIP is rarely mentioned and generally regarded as interesting speculation but simply unfounded. She doesn't mention "Four Point TULIP" or "Three Point TULIP" but rather than TULIP was a radical invention of a few latter-day Calvinists and just went too far. That's my perspective, too.

Calvinists are wonderful when they stick to Monergism, to Scripture, and agree to Sola Gratia - Solus Christus - SOLA FIDE. And the great majority of Calvinists do just that. When they get into all this radical, unbiblical SPECULATION, all in a tight interconnected system ("A is right so B ergo must be right and ergo C must be right") - even if it contradicts Scripture - well, that's when they loose me. And when they insist that there can be only two positions: the radical new inventions of Arminianism in the 16th Century OR the radical new inventions of TULIP in the late 16th Century, nothing else exists, well... that's just silly and not true. NO, TULIP is not right simply because the opposite speculation by a few hyper-Arminianists is clearly wrong.





MennoSota said:
I suggest people read the Bible instead of their catechism


That's my hope for you. That you'll stop simply blindly parroting the (terrible) "logic" and speculations of a tiny few latter-day hyper-Calvinists and instead give us the Scripture. Where does the Bible say that God's grace is irresistable? Oh, and still waiting for the verse that says, "Jesus died only for the church." Yes, you are very good at verbatim parroting the position of TULIP but you don't show anything in the Bible that agrees and you just twist 180 degrees all that state the opposite (where such exists). And when someone suggest we go to the bible instead, you shout how horrible "proof texting" is.




.
 
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MennoSota

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Most Lutherans are synergists who think they are monergist, when they are not. They tend to stop at justification and cannot comprehend atonement. Luther struggled with this because he still had so much Roman culture in his being. Melanchthon did not help as he was even closer to Rome than Luther on many of his doctrines. And we all know Melanchthon wrote up the majority of the tenets that Lutherans follow.
Thus, like Rome, there has been a large flow of syncretism in Lutheran thought as it has been in Roman thought.
Understanding atonement, for syncretists ultimately becomes an exercise in rationalism/utilitarianism that does not view scripture as the primary source of enlightenment. They may claim the Solas, but they rarely apply them in exegesis.
 

Andrew

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I like Calvinism.....

I like the passionate embrace of Monergism.... and heaven knows, Luther and Calvin were very close brothers (not identical twins, however, lol).

And I find that at the root of much of TULIP is something good and right and biblical: Monergism.



The problem, IMO, is a radicalism that uses "speculation" to take things too far and at times end up in direct contradiction of Scripture and at other times simply find themselves with nothing in support. There is a reason why the traditional understanding of TULIP was NEVER widely embraced in Calvinism and today is largely repudiated as "hyper-Calvinism." My wife, raised in a conservative Reformed church, indicates to me that TULIP is rarely mentioned and generally regarded as interesting speculation but simply unfounded. She doesn't mention "Four Point TULIP" or "Three Point TULIP" but rather than TULIP was a radical invention of a few latter-day Calvinists and just went too far. That's my perspective, too.

Calvinists are wonderful when they stick to Monergism, to Scripture, and agree to Sola Gratia - Solus Christus - SOLA FIDE. And the great majority of Calvinists do just that. When they get into all this radical, unbiblical SPECULATION, all in a tight interconnected system ("A is right so B ergo must be right and ergo C must be right") - even if it contradicts Scripture - well, that's when they loose me. And when they insist that there can be only two positions: the radical new inventions of Arminianism in the 16th Century OR the radical new inventions of TULIP in the late 16th Century, nothing else exists, well... that's just silly and not true. NO, TULIP is not right simply because the opposite speculation by a few hyper-Arminianists is clearly wrong.








That's my hope for you. That you'll stop simply blindly parroting the (terrible) "logic" and speculations of a tiny few latter-day hyper-Calvinists and instead give us the Scripture. Where does the Bible say that God's grace is irresistable? Oh, and still waiting for the verse that says, "Jesus died only for the church." Yes, you are very good at verbatim parroting the position of TULIP but you don't show anything in the Bible that agrees and you just twist 180 degrees all that state the opposite (where such exists). And when someone suggest we go to the bible instead, you shout how horrible "proof texting" is.




.
I don't see how Grace even fits into TULIP, I don't understand the 144,000 Jews fitting into TULIP or the rapture of the Church and afterwords the Tribulations Saints fit into TULIP. I don't understand responding to an atheist with a "who cares" attitude.
I don't understand how John 3:16s "...so loved the world" fits into TULIP. I don't see how God would approve me walking up to my neighbor saying "I have some good news and some bad news, the good news is that God might love you, the bad news is that he most likely doesn't" would fit into Gods plan.
 
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Andrew

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Again...what does God believe about sin?
What humans believe will not change how God deals with sin.
Share the good news. Accept everyone. Approve only what God approves. Be an ambassador of reconciliation. God will either save a person or He won't.
As to your personal opinion of my missionary skills... meh. I don't care what you think of me. I care what God requires of me and that I fulfill the role He has for me. You will never be friends with everyone. Some people just reject truth.
Tell me exactly where in the bible that even slightly suggest that God wills that any man sin and not repent? I am being extremely lenient here, as you propose that the majority are WILLED by God TO sin and never repent.
 

Lamb

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Most Lutherans are synergists who think they are monergist, when they are not. They tend to stop at justification and cannot comprehend atonement. Luther struggled with this because he still had so much Roman culture in his being. Melanchthon did not help as he was even closer to Rome than Luther on many of his doctrines. And we all know Melanchthon wrote up the majority of the tenets that Lutherans follow.
Thus, like Rome, there has been a large flow of syncretism in Lutheran thought as it has been in Roman thought.
Understanding atonement, for syncretists ultimately becomes an exercise in rationalism/utilitarianism that does not view scripture as the primary source of enlightenment. They may claim the Solas, but they rarely apply them in exegesis.

Synergism is cooperation in salvation. Lutherans do not believe that.
 

MennoSota

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Tell me exactly where in the bible that even slightly suggest that God wills that any man sin and not repent? I am being extremely lenient here, as you propose that the majority are WILLED by God TO sin and never repent.
Tell me where I have suggested such a foolish thing.
 

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MennoSota

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Synergism is cooperation in salvation. Lutherans do not believe that.
Unless you believe in universalism, anyone holding to unlimited atonement, yet claiming some die in their sins must be synergists.
 

Andrew

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oops, accidently hit "like" on a wrong post
 

MoreCoffee

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Was he talking about being able to continually resist the Spirit of God so that their will is greater than God's will in saving them?

Let's not enter into flights of fancy. The verse says what it says so there's no need to imagine what might have been. It just says Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. You are most welcome to explain what you think it means. So far you've declined to do that. How about giving it a go now?
 

MennoSota

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Let's not enter into flights of fancy. The verse says what it says so there's no need to imagine what might have been. It just says Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. You are most welcome to explain what you think it means. So far you've declined to do that. How about giving it a go now?
I will leave you to your ignorance, MC.
 

MoreCoffee

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I like Calvinism.....

I like the passionate embrace of Monergism....

I like Coca Cola. I like it's fizzy sweetness. I like it's interesting yet nondescript flavour.

But I know it will contribute to tooth decay.

And it may contribute to obesity.

And it may play a role in developing diabetes.

And it is not filled with vitamins and minerals.

It's just fizzy sweet water with flavours added.

So, using God given wisdom and well researched information avoid Coca Cola and other sweet fizzy drinks like it because in the end they will do far more harm than good.

That is the lesson that best applies to TULIP.

It is unhealthy for the mind.

It gives no nourishment to the soul.

It does not extend life or give eternal life.

TULIP is just a flower or just an acronym signifying unhealthy errors in doctrine.

It leads to bloated unhealthy 'spirituality'.

It may lead to spiritual death.

Now let's move on the the U in Tulip.

It signifies Unconditional election.

Pause for thought. If election is truly unconditional then there is absolutely no condition that applies before election happens.

Do you need to hear the gospel before you believe it? Is that a condition that generally applies to election?

What is said in holy scripture about this?

Romans 10:5-21 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above: ) 7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. 19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. 20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.


There is a condition that applies to election - one must hear the gospel to believe it and one must believe to be elect.
 

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