More Love And Fellowship between Calvinists and Non-Calvinists

[Awaken4Christ]

Despite the insults, bickering, presenting of law, and lack of presenting love, I still feel we could do better than this.

To the Calvinists: Not every problem is going to be solved by saying "Learn Proper Doctrine." Dead men could spout such things. Some may say they are always saying these things out of love. But is love always so one dimensional? If a parent disciplines a child, could it be an act of love?... Yes, but what if that parent only disciplines the child and does nothing else; doesn't comfort them, doesn't pray with them, doesn't encourage them, doesn't spend quality time with them. Is that an ideal relationship?

Is it always safe to tell other people they are worshiping a different God? Can you exegete out of the text that all non- Calvinists or all Arminians are unsaved? I don't think you can. It would be quite dangerous to say so. If I were to look at all your posts, how many would I find of you comforting others, especially towards those that do not bare the mark of Calvinism?.
How many posts would I find of you simply refuting someones doctrine?
Did God create you for the sole purpose of correcting doctrine? That can't be since we are called to be disciples of Jesus. Jesus' love manifests itself with more than just doctrinal conviction or perfection.

I see sometimes that Calvinists are like an army fighting against another army. But the army they fight has family in the midst of them; non-combative brothers and sisters in Christ. But some Calvinists blindy swing their blade across the whole mass of people, slaughtering both heretic and brethren in a single blow. Arminians do the same thing sometimes, And it is way too prevelant for either side.

God is A Perfect Judge, But he is also Perfect Love. I pray that we all consider his full council.

To the Arminians: Arminianism can encompass a large amount of varying ideas and people. But to those who are true believers; have you not considered the weight your Calvinist brothers and sisters bare? There is a desire in Calvinism to see God as big and immense as he truly is, but like
all Christians, their view of the immensity of God will fall short for none of us, at least in this lifetime and probably the next, will ever be able to give God his proper amount of Glory he deserves.

Arminians claim to be the loving side but sometimes contradict this by claiming constant heresy and damnation. Just as God has been loving and patient with you, you need to try and emulate God as much as possible don't you think?

To Both: Arminians should Try to make Christ lord of their lives, but they need to also realize and emphasize more that Christ is Lord over all.

Calvinists should try to magnify God and his rightful Sovereignty.
But they also need to try to magnify their love for others.

And of course either statement can be attributed to both sides.

To Those Who Are Neither: Give Love and Patience to both groups. Be a peacemaker to brethren. Just because your not specifically part of the big two arguments, doesn't mean you are exempt from error or your doctrinal distinctiveness that is worth reexamining.


I just feel God is putting it in my heart to pray about this, and I truly hope that we can find more peace and love sooner than later. I'll leave you with this video, though you may not agree with this man's doctrines completely, I think his message brings light on some truth about love and fellowship.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXA5UOkLTyo

 

[MrJim]

 

[twin1954]

Despite the insults, bickering, presenting of law, and lack of presenting love, I still feel we could do better than this.

To the Calvinists: Not every problem is going to be solved by saying "Learn Proper Doctrine." Dead men could spout such things. Some may say they are always saying these things out of love. But is love always so one dimensional? If a parent disciplines a child, could it be an act of love?... Yes, but what if that parent only disciplines the child and does nothing else; doesn't comfort them, doesn't pray with them, doesn't encourage them, doesn't spend quality time with them. Is that an ideal relationship?

Is it always safe to tell other people they are worshiping a different God? Can you exegete out of the text that all non- Calvinists or all Arminians are unsaved? I don't think you can. It would be quite dangerous to say so. If I were to look at all your posts, how many would I find of you comforting others, especially towards those that do not bare the mark of Calvinism?.
How many posts would I find of you simply refuting someones doctrine?
Did God create you for the sole purpose of correcting doctrine? That can't be since we are called to be disciples of Jesus. Jesus' love manifests itself with more than just doctrinal conviction or perfection.

I see sometimes that Calvinists are like an army fighting against another army. But the army they fight has family in the midst of them; non-combative brothers and sisters in Christ. But some Calvinists blindy swing their blade across the whole mass of people, slaughtering both heretic and brethren in a single blow. Arminians do the same thing sometimes, And it is way too prevelant for either side.

God is A Perfect Judge, But he is also Perfect Love. I pray that we all consider his full council.

To the Arminians: Arminianism can encompass a large amount of varying ideas and people. But to those who are true believers; have you not considered the weight your Calvinist brothers and sisters bare? There is a desire in Calvinism to see God as big and immense as he truly is, but like
all Christians, their view of the immensity of God will fall short for none of us, at least in this lifetime and probably the next, will ever be able to give God his proper amount of Glory he deserves.

Arminians claim to be the loving side but sometimes contradict this by claiming constant heresy and damnation. Just as God has been loving and patient with you, you need to try and emulate God as much as possible don't you think?

To Both: Arminians should Try to make Christ lord of their lives, but they need to also realize and emphasize more that Christ is Lord over all.

Calvinists should try to magnify God and his rightful Sovereignty.
But they also need to try to magnify their love for others.

And of course either statement can be attributed to both sides.

To Those Who Are Neither: Give Love and Patience to both groups. Be a peacemaker to brethren. Just because your not specifically part of the big two arguments, doesn't mean you are exempt from error or your doctrinal distinctiveness that is worth reexamining.


I just feel God is putting it in my heart to pray about this, and I truly hope that we can find more peace and love sooner than later. I'll leave you with this video, though you may not agree with this man's doctrines completely, I think his message brings light on some truth about love and fellowship.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXA5UOkLTyo

The first thing you need to realize is that this is an internet sight. It isn't a personal one on one encounter in which you can show love by your tone and your actions. Those on the internet most often consider meekness to be weakness. Anonymity on the internet makes people say things that they would never dare say to you in person.

Moreover there is a stark contrast between the Arminian and the Calvinist which must not be ignored. And yes I can exegete from the Scriptures that there are different Gods being worshipped.

Truth is truth and it must be contended for. Otherwise every wind of doctrine will be believed and truth is lost in the avalanche. Satan is a great deceiver and part of his work is to make everybody call each other brother when it isn't the fact. Thinking like Rodney King is foolishness. It denies truth and turns a blind eye on the deception of devils.

Now could we be nicer in our debates? Sure we could but as I said this is the internet where we are free to act like idiots and fools because no one really knows us.

BYW, Paul Washer's point wasn't about the debate about Calvininism and Arminianism it was about the difference in the gospel of the Arminian and the Calvinist. There is only one Gospel and this generation has rarely heard it.

 

[skypair]

I believe you are right Awaken4 Jesus. It is like one is threatened with banning for not believing like those they are ministering to. Of course, they never see the person that you talk about that is seriously engaged with the Bible and not with Arminiamism or Calvinism. Neither side knows enough about the Bible to know the difference.

But the other thing is that those theologies have men's names for a reason — they were the "doctrines of men." And, of course, they will quote other men like CH Spurgeon saying, "Calvinism is the gospel" and swell up till their buttons burst with pride.

So some folks come in the Spirit of Love teaching what the scriptures really say .. and both sides say, "Unorthodox!" There IS a side that is loving, Awaken .. but you'd hardly know it from hear the catcalls they get in reply.

skypair