Cheryl Schatz

Hi Gillian, I will answer your second question first. I would say that within Calvinism there is false doctrine. This false doctrine can have serious consequences and this is the reason why I care so much about defending the truth. Paul helps us in 2 Timothy 2:24-26 to understand the difference between false doctrine and a precious soul who is worth fighting for to help that one to see truth. We can hate the false doctrine, but we should love those who hold to that false doctrine. Loving them will help me grow in patience. Who really are the ones in opposition? Who need to have repentance to escape the snare of the enemy? If I believe that Calvinists who are attacking the gospel that says Jesus died for all, are themselves misled and are snared by their false doctrine, then I must be gentle to them when I correct them so that they will not harden themselves from listening to what I have to say. My goal is to win them through a careful exposition of Scripture as I am gentle and kind to them. It is not my purpose to laugh at them as if I alone have the truth and they are beneath me as I have heard Calvinist apologists do to Christians who do not believe as they do, for I am out to win them not push them away. I have had a lot of experience in having my patience tested by JW’s and former JW’s whom I have reached out to with the gospel. If I lose my cool and my patience, I am not an example of Jesus and they go away made stronger in their belief. But if I learn where the back doors are to the false doctrine and I engage them in areas that they may have never considered before, and I do it with a soft voice and in a gentle manner, I have been able to reach them. It appears to me that this is the way of the Master. Paul was a great example of this and Paul teaches us not to be quarrelsome when we engage those who are steeped in false doctrine. Our goal should be to teach them insights from the Scripture and our gentleness gains us a hearing. If my approach causes their blood to boil, then I have more work to do to gain a hearing. Sometimes all I can do is to ask thought-provoking questions. That may just put a stone in their shoe that will get their attention and cause them to think about the questions when they have left. If that is all I can do, I have planted and I will trust God to send someone to water the seed. That is how I would want someone to treat me if I were the one who were in error. I really appreciate the way you responded. It was gentle and kind and you were very good at getting your point across. It was an excellent question to ask!