Pilgrim wrote to Evangelist:

Quote
Then, it is your responsibility to determine from Scripture, which group is in error. Your eternal destiny hinges greatly upon your decision.

Pilgrim,
How is that? Or is it “your decision hinges entirely upon what has already been decided”?

Or is it that if the Holy Spirit has irresistibly led one to agree (choose to decide to agree) with Calvinism, then this might be evidence that one ‘might be’ elect? And this agreement is some type of decision that man is responsible to make? I especially think that Calvinism replaces, confuses and substitutes the ‘true’ Gospel call for sincere repentance, faith and trust with ‘submission’ to doctrine/portrait of “God’s character” aka ‘the Gospel according to Calvinism’ (And I think it’s defamation of His character and creation).

According to Calvinism, the ‘good news’ for mankind is that one’s eternal destiny hinges entirely on one thing, and whether or not you decide/choose to agree (submit in humility- a work) that you are a miserable puppet creature doesn’t matter one iota as to your eternal destiny. So, if you do ‘agree’, what you agree to is the distilled portrait painted of God by Calvinism... and the only thing one can do is ‘agree’ and (thus believe... a verb) ‘as if’ he/she is elect... called to agree/choose Calvin’s theology. Called or not... apparently decision is important. Agreeing to this portrait of God’s character requires the Calvinist to reject their earlier (usually ‘Arminian’) first understanding of what the ‘good news’ is... which some would call their ‘conversion’ or their decision to believe in Christ (repentance, faith, trust)... and call this evil... and submit to a different God, who can’t be trusted, because of his ‘secretive will’ and double-speak. Who delights in the destruction of souls? According to Calvinism... God does. Besides, according to Calvinism the only souls that can be destroyed are just fulfilling their destiny to His Glory. So... Go TBN... empowered by the Sovereignty of God.

I read a thought provoking article concerning this type of world-view. The entire focus of Calvinism is man’s depraved status and sinful state against God. And it is more than clear that the entire discussions of Calvinism are bent around accepting this Calvinistic portrait of God’s character... period.... and idolatry of doctrine. Yet, when man sins... it is against his neighbor, friend, wife, business associate, stranger... and although I don’t think the following verse by itself sums up ‘the Gospel’, (because, apparently there are many) it comes to my mind as how Christians honor Christ “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me.” And if God has a secretive will, I think it has more to do with such. And I know Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants and yes, Bahai persons who live like this and take it to their depraved hearts... and think that this matters more than making one’s priority to be defending or submitting to a doctrine, for doctrine’s sake, in which man selfishly focuses on whether or not he’s a saved puppet... which is a pointless effort for puppets (and damn everyone else)... because if you look at the picture long enough, how does one not begin to look the same way?


Helpless !
-- by “vilmos”

I sit on the subway.
Someone is crawling inside my hat.
There's an ant on the floor too.
I am helpless ! How could I save it ?
How to save all the ants in the wrong places ?

I am dozing in the grass.
Slowly I raise my eyelids.
An ant is standing on its hind legs
waving its antennas.

"YOU KILLED GRANPA!" I recieve its accusation.
Then : "Granpa is no more !"

What can one do ?