I do not agree with Calvinism. If you want to further your knowledge on this subject, I have some books for you. “Debating Calvinism” by Dave Hunt and James White (you get both sides here); “What Love is This” by Dave Hunt; “The Potter's Freedom” by James R. White. This will cover arguments on both sides. I agree with the arguments of Dave Hunt. See for yourself what you think.

There are many verses in the Bible which appear to oppose each other somewhat, yet all are true. I could cite many verses which point to salvation being available to all and yes, I'm aware of verses which can be used to argue against this. I think salvation being available to all is the stronger argument. The “Debating Calvinism” book is excellent as is “What Love is This?”.

Good luck to you.

Phil (Akron, Ohio)

I do not agree with calvinism. If you want to further your knowledge on this subject, I have some books for you. “Debating Calvinism” by Dave Hunt and James White (you get both sides here); “What Love is This” by Dave Hunt; “The Potter's Freedom” by James R. White. This will cover arguments on both sides. I agree with the arguments of Dave Hunt. See for yourself what you think.

There are many verses in the Bible which seem to contradict each other, yet all are true. I could cite the verses which seem to oppose the idea that Jesus died only for some but I'm sure you are aware of these. Myself, I believe he died for all.

Good luck to you.

Phil (Akron, Ohio)

Read Romans 9. The whole chapter is great. But I won't type it all out. “What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For He says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.' so then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'For this very purpose I have raised you up that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.' So then He has mercy on whomever He wills, and He hardens whomever He wills.” This whole chapter is clearly not talking about the exclusive Israel as a nation. I don't believe in replacement theology where you completely replace God's purposes for Israel-but I also don't believe in exclusive theology where you ignore the the clear facts that the gentiles (us) are now called the Israel of God. rom 9:6-8, rom 9:25-26.

So to me the chapter seems to be saying that God is just and trustworthy and sovereign. “Though they were NOT YET BORN and HAD DONE NOTHING EITHER GOOD OR BAD-in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of His call-she was told 'the older will serve the younger.' As it is written, 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.'

The first time someone presented calvinism to me I told them to get that garbage out of here. It offended me completely…but after taking an honest look at it my heart started to change and it gave me a huuuuge picture of who God is. The calvinistic theology seems to give more glory to God-we can take no credit for our salvation. We must respond yes-but He wills it. Even our righteous acts are as filthy rags before Him. Isa 55-His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts.

Study the scriptures.

I recently discovered your blog and am enjoying it. I am a worship leader in Shreveport, LA. The discussion you have going here is great! I would encourage you, however, to base all of your positions on scripture alone. Make sure you study the best examples of Calvinism and the best examples of Arminianism, and then compare them to your Bible. I’ll pray for you. Thanks for the forum, and thanks for what you do in the church. You rock!!! Grace and peace.

So I’m wondering, as you dive deeper in this issue, what is God revealing about himself to you in it? (I’m curious if that part of the discovery could be more profound than the answer to the Calvin/Armenian debate.)

Ålso, I remember reading John Calvin saying the greatest of theologians could only be at the most 80% accurate. So on his own scale, four out of five could be right (good odds).

Whenever I am confronted with the an issue as big as this, I am reminded that the Lord’s thoughts are higher than my own. In response, though, I can only say that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and his resurrection are fully sufficient to redeem all things, regardless of who they are applicable for. The entire creation groans for redemption, and one day God will make all things as he has intended for them to be, fo r his glory and praise.

So in our discerning out who the elect are, let us be careful not to diminish the power and sufficiency of Christ’s death and resurrection. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us raising us to new life today, so let us give glory and praise to the One who redeems and restores and makes new!

For about a year I really believed in Calivinism but must have had a wrong understanding of it because I used (no free will) pre-destination to justify my laziness. I would wake up and know that I was supposed to not just sit around all day but then I would think “maybe today I was pre-destined to be lazy”. I struggled daily with an identity crisis. The enemy would lie to me all the time…”you aren’t God’s child…God pre-destined you for destruction and a life of sin”

I would feel a stirring inside to share the gospel with someone…then, at the first bit of opposition I would just give up…I would think…oh that road block must have been God (not realizing the opposition was the devil and not my pre-destination).

I’ve run into this other places as well. There was a lady at my work that was so firmly Calvinist that I could never inspire her to go deeper with God. She just always said…if I’m supposed to be on-fire….”God will make me on fire.” I have no free will of my own. I watched as she drifted further and further away from God.

Me, having the Holy Spirit inside and knowing the love of the Father…my heart was breaking. I thought…God really doesn’t want anyone to perish…this breaks His heart. She used to have joy and talk about Jesus and now all she does is complain and smoke cigarettes. I kept telling the lady…hey.. part of your pre-destination is to have me come up to you and tell you to get out of sin (nicely put though) and surrender your life to Jesus.

She kept thinking that her desire for sin was out of her hands…”Just like Pharoah, she thought…God must be hardening my heart..what can I do but perish?” No lady, God is not hardening your heart you are being drawn away by your own lusts..and the deceit of the enemy!! God loves you and sent His Son to set you free from the bondage of sin. God hates to see His creation (who was made to worship Him) in sin, compromise, and bondage.

Jesus chose to come and die for us. Will we choose each day to live sold-out and abandoned to Him? Regardless of our theology (which is not bad to discuss) will we be able to fully trust in Him and lean not on our own understanding? Will we believe for big things in God and for God? Whatever we believe at the end of the day should lead us to more fully living out the Great Commandment and Great Commission!

Whatever we believe…let’s purpose in our hearts to love Jesus with all that we are. Some would say they don’t choose to love Jesus. Lot’s of Muslims don’t choose to love Jesus. I choose to love Jesus and give Him my entire life!!! Thank you Lord for your real GRACE MERCY AND LOVE.

P.S. Vicky when are you going to do a rap song for Jesus?