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You don't agree with very sound christians ?
... will church help reveal more to me?
Fasting is denial of self.What does fasting do for a person?
3 steps.(Matthew 16:24) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
(Mark 8:34) And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
(Luke 9:23) And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
In some ways yes. I am just telling this fellow loud and clear that he has the choice to do this or to go back and sit on a sofa and drink beer, eat pizza and watch football if he wants to. God is not going to force him to do anything and God respects his decisoin for the good or for the ill.but you are actually agreeing with his calvinistic friend
I agree. Mere Christianity is a great place to start.I would also recommend reading some of C.S.Lewis' books.
I would say, it depends on the church, I would suggest going to each church in your area, t see them all, to observe to take it. I know that going to church expands my own understanding. Talk to the pastors ask them questions, that is why they should be there.Today I talked to a Calvinist, he told me to know god will not be by my works. I understand the christian concept of this. He told me my studies are good, but are simply works and that I am looking for tangiable solutions to the intangaible. He compared it to having a physicist run experiments to find beauty.
He told me that the fact I am asking questions infers that the Holy spirit is working with me... however, to understand more that I should go worship (go to church). He basically said, "Why would god want to work with you, if you don't want to work with him?" I am sure I have butchered his words, but hopefully conveyed his meaning. Anyways, he gave me the impression that by acknowledging God than maybe I might have more revelation. Also, by merely searching in the first place I am already acknowledging...
This individual is very intelligent... in fact I might safely say he is the smartest man I have ever met... and he is a devout christian. It will bring some very interesting conversations...
Anyways,
will church help reveal more to me?
I would say, it depends on the church, I would suggest going to each church in your area, t see them all, to observe to take it. I know that going to church expands my own understanding. Talk to the pastors ask them questions, that is why they should be there.
FallingWaters said:Baptist churches have a general reputation for putting a lot of emphasis on Bible study, and theologically they are solid.
FallingWaters said:However I think the Baptist view is opposite of the Calvin view on predestination, if that's important to you.
Spurgeon was a Baptist??!! You're kidding!! I love his Morning and Evening Devotional.True. Baptists church are a great place to start looking for a church home.
I don't think this is quite true. While baptist church represent a wide range of theological positions, many are calvinistic. Let's not forget the most famous baptist of all, Charles Haden Spurgeon. Generally, Baptists don't like to call themselves calvinists, but they agree with Calvin on much. There are also baptist churches that strongly appose calvinism. Personally I've never come across any of these but I know they're out there.
Bork, didn't you mention you attended a Baptist college? Do you recall what there perspective was on this?
FallingWaters said:Spurgeon was a Baptist??!! You're kidding!! I love his Morning and Evening Devotional.
FallingWaters said:I guess I kinda jumped to a conclusion there because one of my favorite radio teachers is Dr. Charles Stanley, and he's a Baptist. Is he a Calvinist, do you know?
FallingWaters said:The only thing Calvinist I don't agree with is predestination.
FallingWaters said:My favorite radio theologian is R. C. Sproul he's a Calvinist, and a Presbyterian, I think.
My beef is the part where they say that God elected some to be saved and only extends grace to those.Generally the debate is not over whether predestination is true, but what it was and what it is based on. But nobody really denies it outright.
Calvinists believe individual election is unconditional, not even based on faith. In fact they believe faith itself was predestined along with salvation and glorification.
Some arminians believe individual election was based on God's foreknowledge of future faith. He then predestined future believers to be justified and glorified. But they don't believe that faith was predestined, rather God's foreknowledge of faith was the basis of predestination. Since God transcends time He knows all who will believe beforehand.
Still other arminians believe predestination was general or corporate, and not toward specific individuals. These believe God generally made a decree that all in Christ are destined to be saved. These generally deny eternal security.
I agree. Mere Christianity is a great place to start.
And The Screwtape Letters.
True. Baptists church are a great place to start looking for a church home.
I don't think this is quite true. While baptist church represent a wide range of theological positions, many are calvinistic. Let's not forget the most famous baptist of all, Charles Haden Spurgeon. Generally, Baptists don't like to call themselves calvinists, but they agree with Calvin on much. There are also baptist churches that strongly appose calvinism. Personally I've never come across any of these but I know they're out there.
Bork, didn't you mention you attended a Baptist college? Do you recall what there perspective was on this?
My beef is the part where they say that God elected some to be saved and only extends grace to those.
I believe God extends grace to all, but most say no.
That's my problem with TULIP... I - irresistible grace. I believe grace is resistable.
Thanks for 'splaining that to me.
The college is lenient on most things theologic. In fact only about 14% of the student are baptists... and I get the impression that the faculty follows a similar suit.
I don't know their perspective on calvinism, but most professors I talk to don't typically embrace the irresistable grace...
However, I know quite a few of the presidents have been mason, if that means anything...
I started The Screwtape Letters a while back, it was interesting, but then I got sidetracked.
I have read Mere Christianity, though it was for a class. Maybe I should try again.
I'll try to ask him tomorrow, unfortunately a lot of hectic things just came up (my financial aid is having issues :-/)
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