Whether this is "The End" or "God's Wrath" (or neither), it's Getting Late and Time to Choose!
I haven't been able to focus on anti-Calvinism posts lately because I've been busy writing over at my other blog, My Crazy Faith, and busy getting my house in order with all this coronavirus chaos. (My bedroom looks like a fall-out shelter will all the food stacked all over. I literally trip over it as I climb into bed. I feel like I'm basically cuddling up with giant boxes of almond milk, mac-and-cheese, and Honey Nut Cheerios as I fall asleep.)
And speaking of getting houses in order ...
After seeing the amazing speed with which this virus is affecting our world, basically overnight, I think now would be a great time for people to start getting their spiritual houses in order.
Of course, I may be wrong because prophecy is a hard thing to pin down, but I don't think we have much time left. I think we are rapidly approaching the time of Jesus' return.
Of course, I may be wrong because prophecy is a hard thing to pin down, but I don't think we have much time left. I think we are rapidly approaching the time of Jesus' return.
One of my favorite topics to study over the last couple decades has been The End Times. And I have to say, never have I seen so many signs coming together at the same time, either now or in the very near future as a result of the panic this virus has caused. And so, if our time truly is short here, if Jesus is getting ready to come and take His people home, I think we need to do what we can to get our own spiritual houses in order, to make sure we are doing what God wants us to do, to pray for those around us who are unbelievers, to have biblical answers we can point them to, to share the hope that is found in Him, etc.
Whether or not He is coming soon, many fearful, hopeless people are looking for answers and hope. Many lost people need to be found. Many need to hear that they can have a sure, secure destiny, eternal life in Jesus through His death on the cross for their sins. They can choose life over death, hope over hopelessness, because Jesus died for all and offers salvation to all. The offer has been given to everyone, and I think many people are more willing now than ever to contemplate it, to consider that maybe the Bible really is true, maybe God is really real, maybe they had better get their spiritual houses in order too.
Don't miss this opportunity to share hope and truth with those around you. To let them know that whatever tragedies this world throws at them, their souls can be secure, if only they will choose to believe what God said in His Word and to put their faith in Jesus. (For the original version of this post that has none of the Calvinist stuff in it, click here.)
[I wonder what kind of real hope Calvinists can offer at this time? Hmm, let me guess ... something like this:
"Don't be afraid! Calvi-god preplanned all this disease and tragedy for his glory and purposes. He himself is causing this to happen exactly like it's happening, and nothing we did or do can affect it or the outcome in any way. So if you get the virus, it's because he wanted you to get it and caused you to get it, for your good and for his glory, and you couldn't have done anything to not get it. And if he ordained you wouldn't get it, then nothing you do - even French-kissing every stranger you see in a big city - will cause you to get it. It's all been preplanned by him from the beginning, even the French-kissing of every stranger. So relax, you have no ability to affect or change what happens in any way, no influence over whether you get the virus or not, no control over your own actions. And even no control over your own thoughts and beliefs and whether you go to heaven or not.
I know everyone is afraid, wondering if this is the end of the world and where you're going when you die. But don't worry, your eternal destiny has been preplanned too. It's already secure, and you have no control over it and can do nothing to change it. If Calvi-god chose you for salvation, then he'll make sure you get saved by causing you to want to believe in him. But if you weren't chosen, if Calvi-god created you for hell, then ... too bad for you, I guess. You really have no hope because Calvi-god himself decided you would go to hell ... for his glory. And you can't do anything about it. But, hey, be thankful that your eternal damnation will bring him glory! Isn't that what it's all about, after all!
Oh, and if Calvi-god caused you to think you're saved when you're really not, then that's for his glory too. He does that sometimes, causing people to think they're saved when they're not. It's called 'evanescent grace'. Look it up. And they won't know for sure they weren't really saved till they're dead, when they wake up in hell. Surprise, suckers!
In fact, none of us can really know whether or not we are truly saved until we are dead. Because it's all Calvi-god's choice. He controls our thoughts and actions fully, and we can't do anything to affect it. So we can hope he chose us for salvation, but we can't really know for sure. So don't think about it too much because you can't do anything about it anyway. Everything has already been preplanned and will happen exactly like Calvi-god causes it to. So sit back and let it all happen and hope that you don't get this virus and hope that you make it to heaven in the end. Good luck to you all! May you be one of the few lucky ones that win the salvation lottery!"
Hogwash! Hopeless hogwash! (And they won't say it like this, but this is their theology.)
No! Now is the time to tell people that they have a choice and that their decision matters, that it will affect the rest of their lives and their eternities. That God interacts with us and responds to us. That our prayers matter and make a difference. That He gave us a certain amount of freedom to make decisions and affect what happens and to decide whether we want to go to heaven in the end or stay on the default path to hell.
The God of the Bible did not pre-decide who gets saved and who doesn't. His offer of salvation is available to everyone. No one is beyond the reach of God's grace. No one is unloved by God. No one is unforgivable. No one is eternally hopeless.
We can all trust that if we do what He said we need to do (repent and believe) then He will do what He promised He would do (forgive our sins, give us eternal life, fill us with the Holy Spirit, work good out of the bad things in our lives, and help us on our journey through this life, bringing us home in the end).
We can all have this hope because this truth is available for all people. Calvinists cannot say this, but I can, based on the Bible: God truly, deeply loves you all, and Jesus died for your sins so that you could have eternal life, and you can choose right now to repent and believe. He wants you all in heaven with Him. And He extends this invitation to everyone, giving everyone the chance to accept it or reject it. And all you have to do to receive eternal life is to open your heart, reach out your hand, and accept the free gift of forgiveness, of salvation, that He offers to each and every person. Repent of your sins, turn to Him, believe in Him, and you will be saved. And no matter what turmoil and chaos this life throws at you, your eternal soul will be secure!
This is real hope! The only real, dependable, sure-fire hope we have in a time like this!]
Anyway, here is a post I recently put up on my other blog (not related to Calvinism at all, but related to the end times and people's responsibility to decide):
To start with, here is a post worth reading and taking seriously right now:
Whether or not He is coming soon, many fearful, hopeless people are looking for answers and hope. Many lost people need to be found. Many need to hear that they can have a sure, secure destiny, eternal life in Jesus through His death on the cross for their sins. They can choose life over death, hope over hopelessness, because Jesus died for all and offers salvation to all. The offer has been given to everyone, and I think many people are more willing now than ever to contemplate it, to consider that maybe the Bible really is true, maybe God is really real, maybe they had better get their spiritual houses in order too.
Don't miss this opportunity to share hope and truth with those around you. To let them know that whatever tragedies this world throws at them, their souls can be secure, if only they will choose to believe what God said in His Word and to put their faith in Jesus. (For the original version of this post that has none of the Calvinist stuff in it, click here.)
[I wonder what kind of real hope Calvinists can offer at this time? Hmm, let me guess ... something like this:
"Don't be afraid! Calvi-god preplanned all this disease and tragedy for his glory and purposes. He himself is causing this to happen exactly like it's happening, and nothing we did or do can affect it or the outcome in any way. So if you get the virus, it's because he wanted you to get it and caused you to get it, for your good and for his glory, and you couldn't have done anything to not get it. And if he ordained you wouldn't get it, then nothing you do - even French-kissing every stranger you see in a big city - will cause you to get it. It's all been preplanned by him from the beginning, even the French-kissing of every stranger. So relax, you have no ability to affect or change what happens in any way, no influence over whether you get the virus or not, no control over your own actions. And even no control over your own thoughts and beliefs and whether you go to heaven or not.
I know everyone is afraid, wondering if this is the end of the world and where you're going when you die. But don't worry, your eternal destiny has been preplanned too. It's already secure, and you have no control over it and can do nothing to change it. If Calvi-god chose you for salvation, then he'll make sure you get saved by causing you to want to believe in him. But if you weren't chosen, if Calvi-god created you for hell, then ... too bad for you, I guess. You really have no hope because Calvi-god himself decided you would go to hell ... for his glory. And you can't do anything about it. But, hey, be thankful that your eternal damnation will bring him glory! Isn't that what it's all about, after all!
Oh, and if Calvi-god caused you to think you're saved when you're really not, then that's for his glory too. He does that sometimes, causing people to think they're saved when they're not. It's called 'evanescent grace'. Look it up. And they won't know for sure they weren't really saved till they're dead, when they wake up in hell. Surprise, suckers!
In fact, none of us can really know whether or not we are truly saved until we are dead. Because it's all Calvi-god's choice. He controls our thoughts and actions fully, and we can't do anything to affect it. So we can hope he chose us for salvation, but we can't really know for sure. So don't think about it too much because you can't do anything about it anyway. Everything has already been preplanned and will happen exactly like Calvi-god causes it to. So sit back and let it all happen and hope that you don't get this virus and hope that you make it to heaven in the end. Good luck to you all! May you be one of the few lucky ones that win the salvation lottery!"
Hogwash! Hopeless hogwash! (And they won't say it like this, but this is their theology.)
No! Now is the time to tell people that they have a choice and that their decision matters, that it will affect the rest of their lives and their eternities. That God interacts with us and responds to us. That our prayers matter and make a difference. That He gave us a certain amount of freedom to make decisions and affect what happens and to decide whether we want to go to heaven in the end or stay on the default path to hell.
The God of the Bible did not pre-decide who gets saved and who doesn't. His offer of salvation is available to everyone. No one is beyond the reach of God's grace. No one is unloved by God. No one is unforgivable. No one is eternally hopeless.
We can all trust that if we do what He said we need to do (repent and believe) then He will do what He promised He would do (forgive our sins, give us eternal life, fill us with the Holy Spirit, work good out of the bad things in our lives, and help us on our journey through this life, bringing us home in the end).
We can all have this hope because this truth is available for all people. Calvinists cannot say this, but I can, based on the Bible: God truly, deeply loves you all, and Jesus died for your sins so that you could have eternal life, and you can choose right now to repent and believe. He wants you all in heaven with Him. And He extends this invitation to everyone, giving everyone the chance to accept it or reject it. And all you have to do to receive eternal life is to open your heart, reach out your hand, and accept the free gift of forgiveness, of salvation, that He offers to each and every person. Repent of your sins, turn to Him, believe in Him, and you will be saved. And no matter what turmoil and chaos this life throws at you, your eternal soul will be secure!
This is real hope! The only real, dependable, sure-fire hope we have in a time like this!]
Anyway, here is a post I recently put up on my other blog (not related to Calvinism at all, but related to the end times and people's responsibility to decide):
To start with, here is a post worth reading and taking seriously right now:
A World Turned Upside Down by Jan Markell from the Rapture Ready website
To be honest, I am not surprised at all by what's going on right now. Not necessarily about the virus itself, but about the changes and potential changes we are seeing in the near future because of the virus's impact on the world and society. To me, we are watching all the pieces fall into place. Rapidly. And I don't think there's much time left. As Pastor Tony Evans said in a sermon I recently watched, "It's getting late!" (And that was from several years ago.)
Anyway, after seeing certain things that have gone on after Trump got elected - his stand with Israel; his efforts to create a Middle East Peace Plan; the extreme polarization of our country which leaves very little "middle ground" anymore; the leftist's horrible reaction to him and everything about him and everyone who supported him; the media showing their true colors/motives/allegiance when they removed their fake "journalists aren't biased" mask after he got elected; the headlong rush of people into all things immoral, to the point of seeking to prosecute people who hold traditional values, who believe differently than they do (Hello, Orwell's 1984! Gives me nightmares! I suspect that they are just so angry that Trump got elected that they are willing to boldly dive into the deep-end of the immoral cesspool just to make their point, to take their stand against him and values he upholds, flipping morality on its head, calling evil "good" and good "evil"); and not to mention the events of the Middle East (Israel and Syria, in particular) and the "natural" events around the world (wildfires, locust plagues, volcanic activity, crazy weather patterns, etc.), etc. - I have often wondered these last few years if the end (the rapture followed by the tribulation) would come sometime before Trump got out of office, whether he served 4 or 8 years.
But I didn't really wonder it too seriously ... until now.
I hope and pray that this virus isn't God's wrath being poured out on us, caused by Him as punishment for all the stands that we have taken against Him in so many ways. I hope it's not a case of Romans 1:18: "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,".
Because if God Himself is against us, then whom can we turn to for help?
"It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands on the living God!" Hebrews 10:31
"But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God 'will give to each person according to what he has done.'" Romans 2:5-6
(Also see these posts:
But I hope and pray that this worldwide upheaval is something God is allowing to turn many men's hearts back to Him, before Jesus returns to take His people home. I hope and pray that we haven't pushed Him too far. That this is simply a last wake-up call to shake men from their spiritual stupor. And I agree with Dr. Evans ... it's getting late!
I'm ready!
Are you?
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
And of course, I may be wrong. It may be a long, long time before Jesus comes back again. But why take the chance, especially since death is coming for each of us soon enough, usually at a time we don't expect?
And on a different note, specifically for Calvinists:
If Jesus really is on His way back soon, are you ready to stand before Him and defend your belief that ...
... He didn't die for all people
... salvation isn't really available for all people
... God doesn't really love all people
... people go to hell because He planned they would go to hell and He never gave them a real chance to be saved
... He gets glory for deliberating sending people to hell and for causing people to sin
... He punishes people for the sin He causes (and yet you call that "just and righteous")
... He is the kind of God who causes people to do what He commands them not to do (sin and reject Him) and prevents them from doing what He commands them to do (obey and believe in Him)
... etc.?
Are you really ready to stand before God and defend those beliefs?
Beliefs that you chose to believe, not that God caused you to have. You decided to accept these as truth, to let Calvinists convince you to view Scripture through their Calvinist lenses. You decided to be led astray from the clear, easily-understood Gospel message, into some sort of mysterious, self-contradictory, "secret knowledge" religion which contradicts the plain teachings of Scripture and then excuses its contradictions with "But it's all a mystery that we can't really understand. God is so mysterious and can do whatever He wants. He is the Potter, we are the clay. Who are we to talk back to Him?"
(Most likely, it was your desire to be humble and to honor God which caused you to allow yourself to be led astray. Because you let Calvinists convince you that their theology is the most humble, God-honoring theology out there. But when the blind lead the blind, they both fall into a trap. And Satan knows how to disguise himself as an angel of light, to make his teachings sound so close to the truth when they are really so far away, in direct opposition to the truth. But regardless of your heart's motives for accepting Calvinism, you will still be accountable for what you believe and spread to others. When it comes to the accuracy of your theological views and what you teach others about God's Word, it's not the thought that counts. Do not accept what others tell you without examining Scripture for yourselves to see if what they say is true!)
So, are you ready to defend these beliefs, a theology that even most Calvinists themselves can't really understand? Will you be able to hold your head up proudly before Jesus when you meet Him and declare "I am a Calvinist"? If Calvinism gives you even the slightest pause, if it just doesn't sound right but you can't quite put your finger on it, now is the time to figure it out. Because you'll be standing before Him soon enough, having to explain why you believed and taught things that contradict the plain teachings of Scripture (see note at end of post)! Are you ready!?!
Here are a bunch of songs worth watching. Watch them all at least once. I know you've got the time, with all this social distancing and lockdowns. Don't let this chance pass you by.:
I Wish We'd All Been Ready (Whether you watch this one with hope or horror depends on where you're headed in the end. And you wanna see what horrifying looks like? Watch this.)
Home (Looking forward to it!)
If you're interested, see this post: Starting Your Own Relationship With Jesus Christ. And understand that I don't get "brownie points" with God for spending so much time writing about this and sharing this information with you. I am not doing this for my sake. My soul is secure. But I am doing it for your sake. Because I care. Because each person's soul matters. Because you matter to Him, and He doesn't want to spend eternity without you! But it's up to you.
"So if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve ... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord!" Joshua 24:15
[And I highly recommend my all-time, favorite Christian movie: "Do You Believe?" It's not a happy-go-lucky kind of movie. It's very deep and full of pain and turmoil, and it makes me cry every time I watch it. But it's also a great reminder to me of the hope we have in the midst of turmoil, and how God loves everyone and can redeem everyone and can make everyone new again, no matter what kind of person you were or what you've gone through. Watch it, cry, and be filled with hope!]
[Note:
Here are some plain teachings of Scripture, the Gospel message without any
Calvinist spin:
“Jesus said to them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17, NIV, emphasis added in all verses. Who are the sinners? Every one of us! Not just the elect. If only the elect are truly called by God, then it stands to reason that only the elect are truly sinners. Because God calls sinners – not “a few sinners” - to repent.)
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23. See! All really are sinnners, and therefore all really are called!)
"He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord ...” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9)
And who is responsible for our ignorance and rebellion? We are. “But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears. They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the Lord Almighty was very angry. ‘When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (Zechariah 7:11-13)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
"For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all." (Romans 11:32)
“God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)
"The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men." (Titus 2:11)
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9, salvation by grace through faith is the gift, not just faith itself.)
“For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already ...” (John 3:16-18. How can Calvinists say that God sent Jesus to condemn the reprobate, those He supposedly predestined to hell, when God Himself says He sent Jesus to save, not condemn!?!)
"... so also the result of one act of righteousness [Jesus' death on the cross] was justification that brings life for all men." (Romans 5:18)
"This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.… [Jesus] who gave himself as a ransom for all men ..." (1 Timothy 2:3-6. I don't see how much clearer God's Word could have been!)
“Jesus said to them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17, NIV, emphasis added in all verses. Who are the sinners? Every one of us! Not just the elect. If only the elect are truly called by God, then it stands to reason that only the elect are truly sinners. Because God calls sinners – not “a few sinners” - to repent.)
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23. See! All really are sinnners, and therefore all really are called!)
"He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord ...” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9)
And who is responsible for our ignorance and rebellion? We are. “But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears. They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the Lord Almighty was very angry. ‘When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (Zechariah 7:11-13)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
"For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all." (Romans 11:32)
“God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)
"The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men." (Titus 2:11)
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9, salvation by grace through faith is the gift, not just faith itself.)
“For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already ...” (John 3:16-18. How can Calvinists say that God sent Jesus to condemn the reprobate, those He supposedly predestined to hell, when God Himself says He sent Jesus to save, not condemn!?!)
"... so also the result of one act of righteousness [Jesus' death on the cross] was justification that brings life for all men." (Romans 5:18)
"This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.… [Jesus] who gave himself as a ransom for all men ..." (1 Timothy 2:3-6. I don't see how much clearer God's Word could have been!)
“if
you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that
God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with
your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that
you confess and are saved.... ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the
Lord will be saved.’” (Romans 10:9-10, 13)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9. Does this kind of faithful, just, forgiving God sound like the kind of God who glorifies Himself by causing people to sin, to reject Him, and to go to hell!?!)
"[The Lord] is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)
“Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die …?’” (Ezekiel 33:11. Questions: Why would Calvi-god ask “why” if he knows that he himself caused them to reject him, never really giving them a chance to turn from their wicked ways? And if he causes people to be evil, to reject him and die because he gets glory from it, why would he then say he doesn’t delight in them dying? If it’s for his glory, why wouldn’t he delight in it? Does he not delight in getting glory? Why would he tell them to turn from their wicked ways if them rejecting him is supposedly what will bring him the most glory? Does he actually want less glory? That Calvi-god is a strange, strange god!)
“… They perish because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved.” (2 Thessalonians 2:10)
"But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God 'will repay each person according to what they have done.'" (Romans 2:5-6)
“… But they were broken off because of unbelief … And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in.” (Romans 11:20-23)
“The god of this age [the devil] has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ…” (2 Corinthians 4:4. And yet Calvinists say that God blinds people so that they won’t believe.)
“But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” (2 Corinthians 3:16. Yet Calvinists say that first the veil has to be taken away from the minds of the elect, by the Holy Spirit … and then they can turn to the Lord.)
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12. Yet Calvinists say that only those who are predetermined children of God have the right to receive him and believe in his name. Do you see how Calvinism flips the Gospel on its head!)
"But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul." (Deuteronomy 4:29. And yet Calvinists say no one can seek God, unless God causes them to.)
"Seek me and live ..." (Amos 5:4. Calvinists say the elect have to be brought to life by the Spirit before they can seek Him. But God says seek Him to find life.)
"Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38. Every one of you ... expect all of you who are predestined to hell, which would be most of you! Right, Calvinists? Also, Calvinists say that the elect have to receive the Holy Spirit first in order to repent, that receiving the Holy Spirit is what enables them to repent. But the Bible says we repent first and then we receive, that our genuine repentance is what leads to receiving the Spirit. So I ask, which one got it wrong!?!)
“since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” (Romans 1:19-20. Wouldn’t God causing people to reject Him be the best excuse ever!?! Yet God says no one has an excuse for why they don’t believe in Him. So I guess Calvinists would have to say that God causing you to reject Him is no excuse, that you still should have believed even though Calvi-god made it impossible for you to believe. And they would not see any contradiction in this.)
“God did this [created people] so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.” (Acts 17:27)
“… that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.” (1 Timothy 4:10)
"So if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve ... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord!" (Joshua 24:15)
“He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 11:15)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9. Does this kind of faithful, just, forgiving God sound like the kind of God who glorifies Himself by causing people to sin, to reject Him, and to go to hell!?!)
"[The Lord] is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)
“Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die …?’” (Ezekiel 33:11. Questions: Why would Calvi-god ask “why” if he knows that he himself caused them to reject him, never really giving them a chance to turn from their wicked ways? And if he causes people to be evil, to reject him and die because he gets glory from it, why would he then say he doesn’t delight in them dying? If it’s for his glory, why wouldn’t he delight in it? Does he not delight in getting glory? Why would he tell them to turn from their wicked ways if them rejecting him is supposedly what will bring him the most glory? Does he actually want less glory? That Calvi-god is a strange, strange god!)
“… They perish because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved.” (2 Thessalonians 2:10)
"But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God 'will repay each person according to what they have done.'" (Romans 2:5-6)
“… But they were broken off because of unbelief … And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in.” (Romans 11:20-23)
“The god of this age [the devil] has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ…” (2 Corinthians 4:4. And yet Calvinists say that God blinds people so that they won’t believe.)
“But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” (2 Corinthians 3:16. Yet Calvinists say that first the veil has to be taken away from the minds of the elect, by the Holy Spirit … and then they can turn to the Lord.)
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12. Yet Calvinists say that only those who are predetermined children of God have the right to receive him and believe in his name. Do you see how Calvinism flips the Gospel on its head!)
"But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul." (Deuteronomy 4:29. And yet Calvinists say no one can seek God, unless God causes them to.)
"Seek me and live ..." (Amos 5:4. Calvinists say the elect have to be brought to life by the Spirit before they can seek Him. But God says seek Him to find life.)
"Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38. Every one of you ... expect all of you who are predestined to hell, which would be most of you! Right, Calvinists? Also, Calvinists say that the elect have to receive the Holy Spirit first in order to repent, that receiving the Holy Spirit is what enables them to repent. But the Bible says we repent first and then we receive, that our genuine repentance is what leads to receiving the Spirit. So I ask, which one got it wrong!?!)
“since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” (Romans 1:19-20. Wouldn’t God causing people to reject Him be the best excuse ever!?! Yet God says no one has an excuse for why they don’t believe in Him. So I guess Calvinists would have to say that God causing you to reject Him is no excuse, that you still should have believed even though Calvi-god made it impossible for you to believe. And they would not see any contradiction in this.)
“God did this [created people] so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.” (Acts 17:27)
“… that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.” (1 Timothy 4:10)
"So if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve ... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord!" (Joshua 24:15)
“He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 11:15)
So
Calvinists, where in these verses do you see that God controls our thoughts and
beliefs, that He causes sin, that we have no real control over or influence on our
beliefs or actions? That Jesus' sacrifice was only for a few
people? That God really loved only a few people? That there are two
kinds of sinners: those predestined to heaven and those predestined to
hell? That God only really offered salvation to a few people and only really
calls the prechosen people to believe in Him? That the offer of salvation
He gives to the non-elect is phony because He has preplanned that they will
reject it and He causes them to reject it because He didn't really want them in
heaven but wanted them in hell for His glory? That the calls to seek Him
are fake because we can’t seek Him unless we were predestined for heaven and He
causes us to seek Him? Etc.?
If
you have to add secret, hidden layers to the Bible's clear, plain teachings,
there is something wrong! If you explain away all the contradictions with
"Well, we can't really understand it anyway. And besides, it's
dishonoring to God to look into it too closely, to question Him," there is
something wrong!
Do
you not see the cult-like mentality of Calvinism? The same kind of word tricks Satan used in
the Garden of Eden to twist what God said into something completely different?
“For
such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as
an angel of light. It is not surprising,
then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”
(2 Corinthians 11:13-15)
Are
you ready to stand before the Lord, Calvinists, and explain how and why you twisted
Scripture or allowed the spread of twisted Scripture? Was God not clear enough in His Word? Does He really need men to help Him clarify
what He meant to say? Does He not say
what He means or mean what He says?
Are you ready?]
Are you ready?]
