Without entering into the rights and wrongs of a hotly contested area…
Lots of verses thrown either way.
Add in the fact some are neither Arminian or Calvinist , some disputing parts of both,
So I have a question after a background.
The life of most of us is:
Maybe you had religious upbringing, many of us didnt . except in lip Service Easter and Christmas kind of a way. At some point generally someone you meet , or know influences you , a view of the good news to which you think “ maybe there is something in it”. Maybe the seed was there , but you could not feel it.
A few twists and turns later for most of us ( the lucky ones get a straight line) and you are sufficiently convinced to take the first step of faith. Most view that as baptism ,for some a Jesus prayer.
Then we grow in knowledge and hopefullly a little sanctity.
We all sin despite trying not to, ask forgivenesswith contrition , and try not to sin that way again, but most still do. It’s a life long fight.
Most of us read , and try to discover more. Not just Bible but what others think it means
Most of us seeing a person in need , if we are able to help will do what we can.
Most of us do what we think scripture wants, for many that is a Eucharist too.
Then at the end we hope or expect salvation, having confessed as much as we can…
A few of us have lucky coincidences in our journey of faith, we think are the spirit acting
So now to the question.
The Arminian vs calvinist question is in essence flavours of..
Was it God acting not us, because we sunk to low to even start without Him.
Was it God acting through us once we accepted faith.
Was it God providing the means for the salvation, but the choices were ours to do or not do?
Was our path and outcome inevitable even though we think we had choice.
Was the outcome in doubt but God knew which way we would choose?
My question is how can we possibly know?
Because our journey has at least the illusion of free will and choice.
The people we meet that influence choice , maybe God did put there, but you cannot prove it!
So where does the rubber ever hit the road On this argument?
in the sense that an arminian will do things or make choices a Calvinist doesnt that helps the journey on the way? ( or vice versa)
Or is it all academic in as far as we can tell? God is so far beyond our understanding how can we know, what was really Free will?
The only place I can think it matters, is if you are too certain you are one of the elect , you might be less careful than otherwise.
So where does the Arminian vs Calvinist rubber hit the road as what you actually do?
Can you detect from your own life where one is more likely true?
genuine question! It seems all very academic.
So why do people fall out about it?
Lots of verses thrown either way.
Add in the fact some are neither Arminian or Calvinist , some disputing parts of both,
So I have a question after a background.
The life of most of us is:
Maybe you had religious upbringing, many of us didnt . except in lip Service Easter and Christmas kind of a way. At some point generally someone you meet , or know influences you , a view of the good news to which you think “ maybe there is something in it”. Maybe the seed was there , but you could not feel it.
A few twists and turns later for most of us ( the lucky ones get a straight line) and you are sufficiently convinced to take the first step of faith. Most view that as baptism ,for some a Jesus prayer.
Then we grow in knowledge and hopefullly a little sanctity.
We all sin despite trying not to, ask forgivenesswith contrition , and try not to sin that way again, but most still do. It’s a life long fight.
Most of us read , and try to discover more. Not just Bible but what others think it means
Most of us seeing a person in need , if we are able to help will do what we can.
Most of us do what we think scripture wants, for many that is a Eucharist too.
Then at the end we hope or expect salvation, having confessed as much as we can…
A few of us have lucky coincidences in our journey of faith, we think are the spirit acting
So now to the question.
The Arminian vs calvinist question is in essence flavours of..
Was it God acting not us, because we sunk to low to even start without Him.
Was it God acting through us once we accepted faith.
Was it God providing the means for the salvation, but the choices were ours to do or not do?
Was our path and outcome inevitable even though we think we had choice.
Was the outcome in doubt but God knew which way we would choose?
My question is how can we possibly know?
Because our journey has at least the illusion of free will and choice.
The people we meet that influence choice , maybe God did put there, but you cannot prove it!
So where does the rubber ever hit the road On this argument?
in the sense that an arminian will do things or make choices a Calvinist doesnt that helps the journey on the way? ( or vice versa)
Or is it all academic in as far as we can tell? God is so far beyond our understanding how can we know, what was really Free will?
The only place I can think it matters, is if you are too certain you are one of the elect , you might be less careful than otherwise.
So where does the Arminian vs Calvinist rubber hit the road as what you actually do?
Can you detect from your own life where one is more likely true?
genuine question! It seems all very academic.
So why do people fall out about it?
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