Theology Nerd joke...

Hello, how do you feel about Calvinism?

I have a lot of respect for the system of Calvinism. I once held to the entire system but I no longer do. I'm not one of those 'anti-Calvinist' guys who think the entire system is wrong.

Here is an extra credit reading assignment I had in a bible doctrines class in bible college. This is a PDF of the actual photocopy of the pages of the book along with the notes I wrote on the copied pages. This reading assignment really changed my mind about believing any single system of interpretation "has all the answers."

https://www.scribd.com/document/405679487/Salvation-Divine-Determinism-or-Human-Responsibility

HI James, unfortunately I don't think I'll be able to finish the article anytime soon, but having said that, I know enough of both sides to fully understand your view point. :)

I'm a recent "Convert" to Calvinsm and remembered how much I hated the other point of view. I now realized that both sides have valid arguments. Although I feel quite confident of the soteriology I had recently accepted, I will never see my Arminian Brothers and Sisters as the lesser. Even as there are Anti- on both sides.

Now I've asked you that question in hopes that you're not a vicious anti-Calvinist as I wanted to be among your followers on Imgflip, and now that I've met you, I'm very glad. :)

I hold to what people would call "Reformed" soteriology but not all five points and even less depending on they are defined and what passages of Scripture are used to support them. Here is a small chart that I made from some of the information contained in that article. Hope you can read it. Maybe I can reformat it and make it larger.

Since you are a "recent convert" to Reformed theology, I would like to impart some wisdom to you my brother.

I just hope that you are not in the "cage stage" and are still teachable.

I never went through the "cage stage" as a Calvinist because I was introduced to Calvinism before I was even saved. The first Christian book I ever read was The Canons of the Synod of Dort and shortly thereafter The Sovereignty of God by Author Pink.

I don't have a background of Arminianism or Traditionalism. It is usually those who come from such backgrounds who go "cage stage" when they start to believe the doctrines of grace.

You are going to come across terms such as "double predestination" and "equal ultimacy." First of all those do not mean the same thing. Secondly, "double predestination" is a logical conclusion to the fact that there is predestination.

The image of Table 7.2 is from "What is Reformed Theology?: Understanding the Basics"
By R. C. Sproul. If there is a "double" predestination where the elect are predestined to salvation and glorification and the reprobate are predestined to destruction and damnation, God is not actively causing the reprobate to rebel, He is simply leaving them in their natural fallen state.

Hi Brother, you can trust me that I'm not at that stage, despite my recent departation from Arminianism. :) I don't believe in Double Predestination, nor do I believe that we have not the responisbility to be holy, live a life of repentence and learning, and evangelize.

I'm actually evangelizing on Imgflip via, my memes and engaging the unbelieving, and sharing the Gospel to them.

thank you for your wisdom :)