Cheryl Schatz

Mark,

Calvinists often say that they LOVE the doctrines of grace. They are joyful that God has picked so many to go unconditionally to hell. They are ecstaticly happy that they have been unconditionally picked while the mass of humanity is given over to sin, the devil and eternal punishment. It appears that they want it this way and choose to see unconditional spiritual election. But it is odd that Paul didn’t have this same kind of joyful love of a doctrine that would see most of humanity into hell.

Romans 9:3 (NASB)
3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,

Here we see Paul longing for the salvation of the ones who were lost and who would stay lost so much that he wished that he could exchange himself for them so that he would be accursed and separated from Christ for them. Paul greated wished that he could save those who would not come to Christ. He would even give up a relationship with Christ if he could change their stubborn will. But this would be totally against God’s will for Paul to long for the salvation of the reprobate. Shouldn’t Paul be longing for God to give in to allow these ones to be saved rather than longing for those who have been pre-elected to turn their backs on Christ? Nothing fits together in the Calvinist system when you look closely at the doctrine of salvation. Scripture after Scripture shows a faulty foundation that cannot be reconciled even when one tries by removing the inspired words and placing uninspired words in their place.

“These are Calvinist doctrines but they cannot be proven from the actual Scriptures since to believe them one must add to what is written. That is why I don’t believe in Calvinism. I would rather believe in what is actually written in the Scriptures.”

That is a ridiculous statement. If Calvinism wasn’t proven from the scriptures then you have just condemned a lot of reformed people in Church history.

Mark, there is a huge difference between revealing the inconsistencies and the Scriptures that have been twisted with condemning my brothers in Christ. I think that this is where a huge difference comes between non-Calvinists and Calvinists. I can affirm Calvinists as my brothers in Christ even though I believe that they have been misled and are blind in many areas, but they are still my brothers in Christ. But Calvinism from its beginning has called the opposing doctrine as heresy and they removed pastors banishing them from their presence as heretics.

It would be far safer to say that you give a different ‘interpretation’ to the same passages rather than saying Calvinism is not based on scripture.

The problem is that the claims of Calvinism are just not there. I ask where is there a Scripture that says that Jesus died only for the elect and there is silence. The claims to being based on Scripture falls short in so many areas. It is true that Calvinism is based on teachings by several prominent men, but it is not based on the Scriptures when the Scriptures say nothing at all about such doctrine.

Perhaps you don’t believe in Calvinism for other reasons, since the whole theology is based on Biblical support. Be honest with yourself at least.

No, I have to be honest. I don’t believe in Calvinism because when I look at the Scriptures, they don’t say what the Calvinists say is in there. I look for even one Scripture that says that Christ died for only the elect and just like you, I can’t find a single Scripture that says this. And this is the key to the whole system because if the teaching on who Christ died for is not in the Scripture, then the doctrines based on that foundation fall to the ground as well. I love truth too much to set aside my desire for all to be saved by believing the failed doctrine that Jesus died for only the elect.

more…