Let`s just take a little walk down Logic lane.
Does man have Free Will?
If "no" then all Theological discussions are merely academic. Neither the questions, nor the answers make any material difference.
If "no" we are either Eternally Saved or Eternally Lost and nothing can change that.
If "no" why did God bother with all the gymnastics of Human life, Prophets, Commandments, Judgments, Jesus or anything else?
You see, Free Will is what makes us in the Image of God. We can Choose and so we are like God.
Without Free Will we are not like God in any meaningful way.
So, Calvinism is an utterly un Godly concept which came from the mind of Satan.
Why is it Un Godly? Because it attributes Evil to God. It makes Him into a manipulator. It makes Him into a respecter of persons. It makes Him cruel. It makes Him unjust.
The question is: " Why did Calvin or any of his followers adopt this satanic philosophy?"
To answer that question we need to answer the following questions:
Why are there Christian Denominations?
Why are there church splits?
Why do Christians argue and fight among themselves?
Answer: Pride.
For a minister to not see results from his heartfelt preaching and teaching is a blow to his Pride. "I know I preached a convincing sermon tonight. There must be some reason why the people did not respond."
So, the prideful minister determines that God did not call any of the people he was preaching to. That those people were not predestined. And so, he is able to maintain his pride in the excellence of his preaching after placing the blame on God.
Such arrogance ignores the reality of Jesus` own Life. Virtually everyone forsook Him! Why? Because the people rejected Him and His message.
Even the Apostle Paul had very little success among the Jews. Why? Because they rejected the message of Jesus Christ?
No doubt Paul preached the same message to the Gentiles. Why the different response?
It wasn`t his preaching that determined the success or failure in terms of converts. It was the ground he was sowing into. It was the hearts of the hearers.
I can understand the consternation of Paul or John Calvin or any other preacher who delivers the message of the Gospel under the anointing of the Holy Spirit only to see people walk away.
However, I refuse to blame God for the rejection by Unbelievers. I place the blame on the hearer who has ears to hear but refuses to hear.
If you have a friend or loved one who has rejected the Gospel of Christ, don`t blame God. Blame the sorry Unbeliever.
That is exactly what God will do in the Judgment. All those whose names are not written in the Lamb`s Book Of Life will be cast into the Lake Of Fire.
He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. -
God would be Unrighteous if He Condemned people who could not help themselves. So, Repent of impuning the Character of God in the name of Sovereignty. Believe what the Scripture says unequivocably:
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. -
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. -
Never doubt that the Grace of God has been extended to every man.
It is up to us to share the Truth of God`s Love and Grace.
It is up to the Hearer to respond.
The elements of Calvinism which deny Free Will in favor of Providence come from the false religion of Deism.
Calvinism is heresy because it relieves man of any responsibility for his choices (because he has none). CHOOSE this day whom you will serve. Whosoever WILL, let him come. Preach the Gospel (why?).
The worst thing about it is that it engenders fatalism rather than faith and without faith it is impossible to please God.
The reason the world is in the shape it is in now is because Calvinism neutered Christians, keeping them from taking charge of the world which Christ Jesus shed His blood to redeem.
An objective view of Calvinism leads one to conclude that it was inspired by Satan to steal the inheritance we have in Christ.
Do Not Be Deceived by Barry Bennett
If God was controlling all things, then the earth would be like heaven. Adam and Eve would never have sinned. Cain would not have killed Abel. There would be no sickness, no suffering, and no tragedies.
Jesus would not have taught us to pray for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, if God is already willing what happens on earth. Jesus would not have come to destroy the works of the enemy if the works of the enemy were His will.
Paul would not have prayed that we would have a knowledge of His will and His love if His will is already known through the darkness in the hearts of men. In fact, if God is controlling all things, evil, sickness, suffering, crime, war, and calamity should all be celebrated.
Who is the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy? Is God controlling works of darkness for His glory? How many are coming to God through witnessing human trafficking, drug addiction, cancer in children, and senseless crime?
If God is controlling all things, why do we pray? We have no right to question His will. We have no right to hope for something better. God’s best appears to be suffering and heartache.
These false teachings are repeated daily around the world. Instead of believers demonstrating God’s goodness and power , many are demonstrating confusion, and even blame God for evil. Why do we need a Redeemer? If God is controlling all things, what do we need to be redeemed from?
Do not be deceived. “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”