Cheryl Schatz

Mark,
You said to Kay:

Let me encourage you to look at the passage exegetically. In my experience i rejected reformed theology, but after I studied this text my arminianism was shattered. My arminian theology simply could not hold up under the pressure of Romans 9-11. We must be faithful as bible believing people to accept it’s teaching.

I am able to can see both sides but after working through Romans exegetically, my faith has been strengthened by the amazing message of Paul and Calvinism has been shattered in front of my eyes because of that. Perhaps some day we can go through the passage together and I can show you what you missed. What I feel sad about is that so many reject their first Biblical roots to go after Calvinism without reading an apologetic for non-Calvinism that deals with the passages in context. It seems to me that for the most part once one has “found” Calvinism, the mind shuts down to anything that might contradict Calvinism.

In a former church where I attended it was so bad that no one was allowed to even quote a verse that appeared to contradict Calvinism and we could no longer mention man’s free will even in our prayers. The control that happened once Calvinism came in was difficult and unbending. I am glad that we have some Calvinists here who are willing to dialog in an open fashion. It doesn’t happen very often without the Calvinist getting mad and leaving, in my experience. I have often wondered why. I have come to the conclusion that Calvinism is like a security blanket for them that makes them special as well as safe in the fold and they don’t tolerate anyone pulling at their safety blanket.

But here we are willing to make our measurement of truth as the Bible itself with the inspired words and the inspired grammar in context so that we can allow it to speak for itself without forcing it into a theological pre-conceived box. I like that and hope that we have as much respect for God’s Word as we continue in John 6. It’s a great passage!