Are brother Calvinists up to this challenge ?

[holeinone]

http://www.christianforums.com/t1916590-are-myths-the-basis-of-protestantism.html

 

[Knight]

Too long and involved for me.

Looks to be the same old arguments reformatted and repackaged.

 

[Jon_]

Same old "you Protestants are going to Hell." I used to play those games. Not anymore.

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

 

[Paleoconservatarian]

I've argued with the same couple of Catholics, one of whom was the poster of that thread, on a few issues, especially sola scriptura, and it's not worth it. Nobody gets anywhere.

 

[ksen]

We don't argue to convince those we are arguing with, we argue for the benefit of those who may be reading along.

I'm glad Calvin, Luther, et.al. didn't just shrug off their battles by saying, "What's the point? I won't change anyone's mind."

It's the same with witnessing. We don't change a single soul. We just spread the seed and God gives the increase where He will.

That said, the thread linked to is very long so I'd need to start in at the end of the conversation.

 

[Jon_]

We don't argue to convince those we are arguing with, we argue for the benefit of those who may be reading along.

I'm glad Calvin, Luther, et.al. didn't just shrug off their battles by saying, "What's the point? I won't change anyone's mind."

It's the same with witnessing. We don't change a single soul. We just spread the seed and God gives the increase where He will.

That said, the thread linked to is very long so I'd need to start in at the end of the conversation.

I fully understand and concur with your point, but the only people who visit GT are those looking for an argument. It's the same old people rehashing the same old arguments. If the debates were more structured and had a greater scope, then I would be encouraged to participate; however, when it's just the same half dozen Catholics and half dozen Protestants spouting out centuries-old arguments, the discussion doesn't go anywhere.

This is precisely why I only jump into threads on new points of view or new ideas concerning theology, etc. There is no point in arguing soteriology with someone who has made up their mind. Only the grace of God will change their point of view. Arguing only aggrevates their pride and makes them resist Reformed Theology even more. Instead, I'd rather discuss high philosophical issues, especially new arguments and new perspectives. There's simply no point in recreating the Reformation day in and day out for me. That's not my burden--but perhaps it is others'.

Don't get me wrong, if confronted, I will absolutely defend Reformed Theology; however, I refuse to go out looking for arguments.

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

 

[holeinone]

I thought God ordained the time and place where He would convict men.

I do not think Luther expected to begin a revolution.

What a pathetic bunch of reformers we have here, hide in our own little cove and the gospel unpreached.

Those that died for the gospel must be crying under the altar "When Oh Lord"

 

[Jon_]

I thought God ordained the time and place where He would convict men.

I do not think Luther expected to begin a revolution.

What a pathetic bunch of reformers we have here, hide in our own little cove and the gospel unpreached.



Those that died for the gospel must be crying under the altar "When Oh Lord"

(Prov. 9:8 KJV) Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.



(Prov. 18:2 KJV) A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.


(Prov. 18:6 KJV) A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

(Prov. 23:9 KJV) Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

(1 Cor. 2:14 KJV) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

(Eph. 6:12 KJV) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
​

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

 

[Paleoconservatarian]

I go into GT very often. But I don't like to argue with those couple of Catholic posters because I can't see any benefit, even for the readers. I've participated in several threads all on the same topic, Sola Scriptura, and ended up reposting the same propositions over and over, and having them either distorted or ignored, because my opponents would rather argue against the modern fundamentalist conception of sola scriptura. I am more than willing to participate in debate where my young and limited knowledge can serve to benefit others and myself, but you have to pick and choose where you get involved in GT. More often than not, it's just a bunch of inane contention for the sake of contention alone.

 

[Knight]

We don't argue to convince those we are arguing with, we argue for the benefit of those who may be reading along.

I'm glad Calvin, Luther, et.al. didn't just shrug off their battles by saying, "What's the point? I won't change anyone's mind."

It's the same with witnessing. We don't change a single soul. We just spread the seed and God gives the increase where He will.

That said, the thread linked to is very long so I'd need to start in at the end of the conversation.

I just thought that it was way too long to bother getting involved in. I don't have the time to read all of that thread.....

 

[StAnselm]

Jesus says something about pearls and pigs that may be of some relevance here...

but the only people who visit GT are those looking for an argument.

This might be a bit harsh, but I know what you mean. Personally, I prefer the smaller sub-forums like Exposition and Bible Study and Bibliology and Hermeneutics.

 

[Jon_]

This might be a bit harsh, but I know what you mean. Personally, I prefer the smaller sub-forums like Exposition and Bible Study and Bibliology and Hermeneutics.

Yeah, it was harsh. Every now and then there is a diamond in the rough to be found, but typically it's the some old thing.

I prefer starting threads of a philosophic nature that go over the heads of 90% of the people there. It's like a built-in filter to keep the usual suspects from shipwrecking the discussion. Then you just get the 10% that really want to have a level debate about the merits of a specific argument or arguments.

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

 

[StAnselm]

I prefer starting threads of a philosophic nature that go over the heads of 90% of the people there. It's like a built-in filter to keep the usual suspects from shipwrecking the discussion. Then you just get the 10% that really want to have a level debate about the merits of a specific argument or arguments.

They're exactly the one's I avoid. I generally only look at threads there with less than 10 replies...