Calvinism and "Choosing" a Denomination

[strelok0017]

I'm apologize for my awkward wording there, what I meant was to answer the first question in the OP by saying that Calvinists don't (or shouldn't) have a view of believers who are not in their beliefs pre destined because they have no idea who they are. If Calvinism is right. I would imagine that quite a number of people who prescribe to arminian beliefs would end up being elect.

I love Calvinists and I'm one too myself but going around telling who is elect is wrong. The greatest commandment is to love the LORD our God with all our heart, mind and strength and to love others as ourselves. I fully embrace the doctrine of predestination because it's the way the Bible talks all the time but I will never judge someone elect or non-elect. Love fulfills the whole law.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that you do it, I just want to make sure that people don't start thinking that Calvinists do it. If you see some do it rebuke them. Doesn't matter how big of a theological support they have.
God bless!

 

[RisingSpirit]

I love Calvinists and I'm one too myself but going around telling who is elect is wrong.

True but proclaiming that the Elects are the Elects must be told.
John Calvin even said that tapping into God's predestination too much will bring a believer away from God. It's supposed to be a mystery so saying who is elect or not can lead one down the wrong road. Events change everyday and a new day calls for a new observation. God may have already predestined an unbeliever to be a believer on a different day in the future so that rules out claiming who is elect and who is not.

The Armininians won't give God a chance to rule His Kingdom the way He sees fit. They rather fall for man's beleif in pure free will apart from God

 

[strelok0017]

True but proclaiming that the Elects are the Elects must be told.
John Calvin even said that tapping into God's predestination too much will bring a believer away from God. It's supposed to be a mystery so saying who is elect or not can lead one down the wrong road. Events change everyday and a new day calls for a new observation. God may have already predestined an unbeliever to be a believer on a different day in the future so that rules out claiming who is elect and who is not.

The Armininians won't give God a chance to rule His Kingdom the way He sees fit. They rather fall for man's beleif in pure free will apart from God

Theologically maybe but I think that many Arminians love love God. Jesus never judged anyone on elect/non elect basis which I why we shouldn't do it either (and it's impossible to know). Well, mostly because it is Him who decided who is elect or not but all that election, boiled down to basics means is that those who end up in heaven end up there because God elected them and that God decided who will be saved before the foundation of the world. The greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind and strength and to love others as ourselves. Election never comes in the way of love. One of the great things it does is actually increase assurance because if God saved me it is Him who will keep me saved and work on my faith. And that's awesome!
Us Calvinists may be called rude by some so I think we gotta correct people's view of Calvinism. God's election is sovereign. In fact, all His work is sovereign. All works out for good to those who love them and this hit me a couple days ago when I've been pondering "all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore...". It doesn't only mean to making disciples but that all is in His hands. I believe that is more than a reason enough to be confident in sharing Scripture and pursuing people just as Jesus pursued us.

God bless!

 

[myhopeisfound]

No one seemed to even attempt the question, all you just simply stated what you thought of the ideas of each doctrine in general.
Again, my question is:
To a Calvinist, why does God allow Arminianism to exist in the Christian community? Why not have all the "elect" under 1 and only 1 doctrine.
The question DID NOT ask if Arminianism or Calvinism is correct.
I would have at least expected something along the lines of, "Because this is to bring more glory to God". ... I would have wanted more than that, but I didn't even get that. :o

Hahahahaha! I was thinkin the same thing! I'm still waiting for a good answer. Why don't you go to the Reformed Forum. There are a lot of tulip pickers there...

I would answer your question this way:

Why does God allow Arminianism? Why does God allow Semi-pelagianism or atheism? Or any other "ism"? "Because this is to bring more glory to God" This is why man was created, I believe. For God's glory. So, to me the statement you concluded with really IS the best answer...it's as simple as that.

 

[strelok0017]

Hahahahaha! I was thinkin the same thing! I'm still waiting for a good answer. Why don't you go to the Reformed Forum. There are a lot of tulip pickers there...

I would answer your question this way:

Why does God allow Arminianism? Why does God allow Semi-pelagianism or atheism? Or any other "ism"? "Because this is to bring more glory to God" This is why man was created, I believe. For God's glory. So, to me the statement you concluded with really IS the best answer...it's as simple as that.

Yeah, all things exist for the glory of God but I think it's better to say that God gets glory for everything. Otherwise some people may get to the conclusion that God predestined people to hell for His glory which He never did. Yes, He will get glory for all people who don't repent but that is not so because He wanted evil to happen but because He is holy and just and will be glorified in everything. God is able to use everything for His glory which is why He allows a lot of evil to happen.

 

[ChrisManuel]

The Spirit and the bride say come. The father will have a bride for His Son who makes herself ready. We have been given everything we need for life and godliness, but what are we doing still playing church? Why do we think that God doesn't see our lifestyle? The time is at hand to put up or shut up. We were made to worship and truly rejoice before him with every bit of strength within us, yet we gather with others, once or twice a week, and say God is good and then go our own way the rest of the week. Sorry, overwhelmed with my own complacency. May the Lord receive the reward for which his sacrifice is worthy! My family and I will be fasting all electronic media for 40 days, to grow closer to God. Goodbye CF for 40 days and maybe I'll be back next year.

freedom project

 

[Rescued One]

I'm glad that God knows whom He will save and that He will save them! Then He uses the scripture and the Holy Spirit to teach those who have come to Christ.

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
John 6:37

And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
John 6:39

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:44

As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
John 17:2

I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
John 17:9

All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
Matthew 11:27

All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.
Luke 10:22

No matter where a person is or what denomination(if any) he is most familiar with, God is capable of bringing him to Christ.

 

[alton3]

Why does God allow for Arminianism to exist and its followers to "misunderstand" the [true Calvinist] faith?

Do Calvinists see non-Calvinists as "non-believers";

One may well take this full circle and ask why God allows bad things to happen to good people. I suppose an adequate, if not coy, Calvinistic response to both could be "our sovereign God does what He wills."

As to the second, we are commanded by Scripture to "judge not" lest we be judged ourselves. We cannot presume to know the status of another person's salvation. I suppose if one were to hear someone say something like "a friend of mine goes to a really fun church, I think I'll become a Christian because I'm bored" we might wonder to ourselves, but we must commend them to our God and leave it at that.