Sunday, September 16, 2012
Refuting Psychological Egoism
sychological Egoism is the philosophy of thought that says every virtuous act that we engage in is for selfishness and personal gain that there is no intrinsic value in doing good except for the benefit of self that there is no such thing as unselfishness. There is a major flaw in this idea of thought it begs the question it is falsifiable in order for something to be falsifiable it needs something to compare it to ex love is opposite of hate like vs dislike if there is nothing to compare the idea of selfishness to it fails as a philosophical concept it violates the law of non contradiction. Secondly just because man may use virtues such as charity or kindness for his selfish gain does not mean there are not unselfish acts. The reason man does anything of value is cause of the law of God on Mans hearts and restrain Romans 1, the reason he acts selfish and abuses them is do to his fallen nature Romans 3. So thus Psychological Egoism is self refuting.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Christmas: Christian or Pagan? (Jim McClarty of GCA)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtuIqFZOXBY in this video Pastor Mcclarty explores the origins of some of our Christmas traditions and its pagan influences that modern Christianity has adopted.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Debate with a Seventh Day Adventist on Predestination Christopher Cunningham VS Don De Bono
Recently I was challenged on Facebook by a Seventh Day Adventist to debate on the issue of Predestination and the bible the following is the exchange that took place. There were brief moments were I became agitated with my oponent and lost my temper but I feel I was able to position soundly.
Don De Bono (Negative)
Christopher Cunningham (affirmitive)
Don De Bono Calvinists use the absence of freewill to justify their love of sin, so they can listen to music and watch movies that depict sin, grow their hair, live like the world. i have the freewill to turn the TV off!
Christopher Cunningham no don that’s a straw man argument. First off you stated Calvinism denies man hope of salvation this is false. God draws people to salvation via his son Jesus John 6:37-44 all the father draws will come to repentance and saving faith Ezekiel 36:-26 and he uses the foolishness of preaching to do it. Also show me one Calvinist who is happy to be in sin sanctification is a process Phil 1:6 we make mistakes along the way but God grows us and we put these things to death Colossians 3:5.
Don De Bono if they're predestined then there’s no hope who those are predestined for hell
Christopher Cunningham There is no hope for us who are saved if it was not for God's mercy Romans 9:21 says God will have mercy on whom he has mercy. Why did not God spare the 7 nations in Duet 7 or the Canaanites who were exterminated?
Christopher Cunningham The bible says in Romans 9 the Israel of God is like the sands of the seashore who God has called out a remnant who will be saved.
Christopher Cunningham Let me ask you this does God know all things beforehand?
Christopher Cunningham Famous Calvinist have preached the gospel whom God used to bring salvation Spurgeon, Tope lady, Whitefield etc.
Christopher Cunningham Unregenerate man will not hear the gospel apart from God he is dead to sin and the wrath abides on him Ephesians 1 Romans 3:9-19 it is God who must transform him to be made willing John 3:5-6 6:37-44 and verse 65.
Don De Bono just cause he know it beforehand done mean he predetermines it. slice n dice it anyway you like, if predestination is true then god has created most people for no purpose other than to send them to 'eternal hell' with no chance of salvation
Christopher Cunningham Man by his carnal mind and heart must be soft to open his eyes to the gospel. It was God who opened the eyes of Lydia in Acts who heard Paul's preaching.
Christopher Cunningham again you have skipped over my argument .Further you said he does not predetermine well the problem is God predetermined to send his son to die before the foundation of the world as it says in Revelations long before man was created.
Christopher Cunningham your argument makes the mis application of Fatalism which is an event that has no purpose or cause. God is the cause and he does have a purpose all his divine glory is shown in the mercy of his people and administrating justice in punishing evil.
Christopher Cunningham That’s in Romans 9:20-23. The riches of his glory is made known in full.
Christopher Cunningham Don I don’t care for philosophical presuppositions as an objection to the doctrine of election the bible is the final authority on the matter. Just cause you don’t like it and see it as unfair does not negate the bible teaches it.
Christopher Cunningham God is sovereign in all things weather nations and kingdoms Daniel 4:35 or salvation Jonah 2:9 Ephesians 2:8-10
Christopher Cunningham you also skipped over Duet 7 and God's dealing with the pagan nations in regards to election and his divine wrath.
Christopher Cunningham God also chose Israel beforehand as a nation set apart out of all the nations around them. So your saying he can choose Israel out of his own will but he can’t do so in salvation of man?
Don De Bono say what you will, all his purpose is according to you is sending people to hell with no chance of escape.
Christopher Cunningham Don you have not address my arguments and putting words in my mouth by strawmaning and misrepresenting what I said.
Don De Bono I’m not putting words in anyone's mouth im talking about Calvinism as a whole
Christopher Cunningham Yes you are you stated I believe God sends people to hell with no escape and thats not my position or anyone who is a Calvinist would say.
Christopher Cunningham And I gave you biblical evidence to show it. So dont assume and make claims without biblical evidence.
Christopher Cunningham Merely saying I said something is rhetoric and circular reasoning.
Christopher Cunningham You claimed I had no evidence for my position.
Christopher Cunningham Now stop dodging my arguments and try to address them.
Christopher Cunningham an your whole tirade on hell is addressed in Romans 9:21-23 among other passages.
Don De Bono it’s not the Calvinist position? tell me than simply, how can a person who has been 'predestined to hell' have a chance of escape? and enough of the 10 replies in a row hey?
Christopher Cunningham Your claims were addressed in the passages I posted Don in the previous statements please address those I will not post anymore till you give counter argument.
Don De Bono it’s based on common sense. the bible teaches of a just God of love. This is the God whom Christ revealed. 'Predestined to hell' is a direct contradiction.
Christopher Cunningham God is love yes but you forget he is wrathful and full of anger with the wicked everyday Psalm 5:5 Psalm 7:11 and in vengeance on his enemies 2 Thess 1:8-9. Will he pour out. Isaiah 14:24 Jehovah of hosts hath sworn, saying, surely, as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand. So we see God has a purpose for their destruction even before the foundation of the world if God had his son prepared before the world then his wrath was as well, you cannot get around that.
Don De Bono Yes I do, god is love. God is just. God sent Christ so that whosoever believes... we can play whose verse wins till the cows come home but it’s the overall theme of the NT that takes precedence.
Christopher Cunningham Don you have not answered my scriptures which I believe proved my point Don emotional rhetoric and simple labeling true sound biblical doctrine of predestination as fatalism and hyper Calvinism is not a defense. all I hear is that’s not fair and oh that’s not loving.
Don De Bono no not not fair, just an understanding of the true character of god, which Calvinism misrepresents.
Don De Bono Calvinists makes the mistake of using flawed human reasoning when interpreting the Bible (such as texts like Rom 8.7 Eph 2:1. Col 2:13) which I know are Calvinist cliché verses. Calvinism, I feel, turns faith into a work, which it is not. Romans 10:13 says "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Don De Bono It stands to reason than that whoever is calling on God and is being saved, must have been given the ability to respond to the call from God. The Holy Spirit brings certainty to the soul and supernaturally enables man to respond. God knows who will respond, this doesn’t mean he ‘predestines it’ Verse 17 of the same chapter says “"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. “So obviously when a person hears the word of God, the Lord makes it possible for him to believe and accept it. This does not mean that man is contributing to his own salvation by agreeing to the truth that the Holy Spirit has enabled him to understand.
Christopher Cunningham Don you cannot defend your position and have not. you may claim victory for the mere fact of non-participation but the fact of the matter is you have only proved my point in that man cannot submit in full to God because his flesh and carnal mind do not want to be subjected to it Romans 8:7 so he creates the idol of his freewill that he may boast in his righteousness but as Paul says when the flesh comes under God's control and spirit takes control that is removed and transformed Ezekiel 18:21-31 36:25-26.
Christopher Cunningham Don I have not used human reasoning but have allowed the text to speak for themself. You quote Romans 10 which actually refutes you because God through preaching draws his people to him it does not refute me it actually proves my point that apart from the working of God in declaring the gospel his people cannot be saved whom he will draw.
Christopher Cunningham The same type of phrase is used with Paul preaching to Lydia in which her eyes were opened because God drew her by his spirit and gave her the fullness of truth. Once more Don ad hominems and straw man are not a defense.
Don De Bono If God has already elected those who are going to heaven, then why evangelize, seek to be saved, or even follow God's path?Your traditional Calvinist would proclaim, "Because God told us so!" But if God has already elected those who will be going to heaven, no amount of influence from Christians will change who is elected or not. Evangelism may be the means of how God saves the elect, but our conscience decision to not evangelize will not affect the elect.The interesting counter-argument would be when Calvinists say to non-Calvinists, "But why bother evangelizing... God already knows if a particular person will ever accept the message or not." But, as will be discussed below, this is argument is a fallacy due to the lack of comprehension of time.
Christopher Cunningham I already addressed your argument multiple times over and over with scripture concerning this and anyone else can see I have given evidence. You keep attacking straw man arguments red herrings and attacking me personally. Now are you going to give scripture and not philosophical objections parroted by a typical Arminian?
Don De Bono I have just shown you scripture that refutes you.
Don De Bono If God predestined everything, and then God created sin.
This is where Calvinists disagree among themselves. There are several camps; some that believe every little detail has been predestined, those who believe that God predestined all major events (including salvation), and those who believe that God only predestines those who will be saved. I suppose this point would address the first camp; If indeed God did predestine every little thing, then God did create sin. He caused man to act a specific way knowing in advance what it would lead to.
Christopher Cunningham You gave me one proof text is all. Don I’m not interested in copy and paste from something you found. Engage and defend your position.
Don De Bono what specifically do you want me to defend
Don De Bono it’s not like i could convince you anyways your minds made up, no one convinces anyone on here it’s not the right format for it’s just a soap box
Christopher Cunningham Don you made the charge if you cannot back up your statements with evidence which is what the group is about do not make them as proverbs says those who bring charges without reproof will be as a fool.
Don De Bono really because I find it a poor argument against the whole theme of the bible.
Christopher Cunningham Don what bible evidence did you bring?!
Christopher Cunningham Don since you have nothing worthy to say further in this debate we are finished and I will allow the viewers to decide and read the post.
Don De Bono (Negative)
Christopher Cunningham (affirmitive)
Don De Bono Calvinists use the absence of freewill to justify their love of sin, so they can listen to music and watch movies that depict sin, grow their hair, live like the world. i have the freewill to turn the TV off!
Christopher Cunningham no don that’s a straw man argument. First off you stated Calvinism denies man hope of salvation this is false. God draws people to salvation via his son Jesus John 6:37-44 all the father draws will come to repentance and saving faith Ezekiel 36:-26 and he uses the foolishness of preaching to do it. Also show me one Calvinist who is happy to be in sin sanctification is a process Phil 1:6 we make mistakes along the way but God grows us and we put these things to death Colossians 3:5.
Don De Bono if they're predestined then there’s no hope who those are predestined for hell
Christopher Cunningham There is no hope for us who are saved if it was not for God's mercy Romans 9:21 says God will have mercy on whom he has mercy. Why did not God spare the 7 nations in Duet 7 or the Canaanites who were exterminated?
Christopher Cunningham The bible says in Romans 9 the Israel of God is like the sands of the seashore who God has called out a remnant who will be saved.
Christopher Cunningham Let me ask you this does God know all things beforehand?
Christopher Cunningham Famous Calvinist have preached the gospel whom God used to bring salvation Spurgeon, Tope lady, Whitefield etc.
Christopher Cunningham Unregenerate man will not hear the gospel apart from God he is dead to sin and the wrath abides on him Ephesians 1 Romans 3:9-19 it is God who must transform him to be made willing John 3:5-6 6:37-44 and verse 65.
Don De Bono just cause he know it beforehand done mean he predetermines it. slice n dice it anyway you like, if predestination is true then god has created most people for no purpose other than to send them to 'eternal hell' with no chance of salvation
Christopher Cunningham Man by his carnal mind and heart must be soft to open his eyes to the gospel. It was God who opened the eyes of Lydia in Acts who heard Paul's preaching.
Christopher Cunningham again you have skipped over my argument .Further you said he does not predetermine well the problem is God predetermined to send his son to die before the foundation of the world as it says in Revelations long before man was created.
Christopher Cunningham your argument makes the mis application of Fatalism which is an event that has no purpose or cause. God is the cause and he does have a purpose all his divine glory is shown in the mercy of his people and administrating justice in punishing evil.
Christopher Cunningham That’s in Romans 9:20-23. The riches of his glory is made known in full.
Christopher Cunningham Don I don’t care for philosophical presuppositions as an objection to the doctrine of election the bible is the final authority on the matter. Just cause you don’t like it and see it as unfair does not negate the bible teaches it.
Christopher Cunningham God is sovereign in all things weather nations and kingdoms Daniel 4:35 or salvation Jonah 2:9 Ephesians 2:8-10
Christopher Cunningham you also skipped over Duet 7 and God's dealing with the pagan nations in regards to election and his divine wrath.
Christopher Cunningham God also chose Israel beforehand as a nation set apart out of all the nations around them. So your saying he can choose Israel out of his own will but he can’t do so in salvation of man?
Don De Bono say what you will, all his purpose is according to you is sending people to hell with no chance of escape.
Christopher Cunningham Don you have not address my arguments and putting words in my mouth by strawmaning and misrepresenting what I said.
Don De Bono I’m not putting words in anyone's mouth im talking about Calvinism as a whole
Christopher Cunningham Yes you are you stated I believe God sends people to hell with no escape and thats not my position or anyone who is a Calvinist would say.
Christopher Cunningham And I gave you biblical evidence to show it. So dont assume and make claims without biblical evidence.
Christopher Cunningham Merely saying I said something is rhetoric and circular reasoning.
Christopher Cunningham You claimed I had no evidence for my position.
Christopher Cunningham Now stop dodging my arguments and try to address them.
Christopher Cunningham an your whole tirade on hell is addressed in Romans 9:21-23 among other passages.
Don De Bono it’s not the Calvinist position? tell me than simply, how can a person who has been 'predestined to hell' have a chance of escape? and enough of the 10 replies in a row hey?
Christopher Cunningham Your claims were addressed in the passages I posted Don in the previous statements please address those I will not post anymore till you give counter argument.
Don De Bono it’s based on common sense. the bible teaches of a just God of love. This is the God whom Christ revealed. 'Predestined to hell' is a direct contradiction.
Christopher Cunningham God is love yes but you forget he is wrathful and full of anger with the wicked everyday Psalm 5:5 Psalm 7:11 and in vengeance on his enemies 2 Thess 1:8-9. Will he pour out. Isaiah 14:24 Jehovah of hosts hath sworn, saying, surely, as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand. So we see God has a purpose for their destruction even before the foundation of the world if God had his son prepared before the world then his wrath was as well, you cannot get around that.
Don De Bono Yes I do, god is love. God is just. God sent Christ so that whosoever believes... we can play whose verse wins till the cows come home but it’s the overall theme of the NT that takes precedence.
Christopher Cunningham Don you have not answered my scriptures which I believe proved my point Don emotional rhetoric and simple labeling true sound biblical doctrine of predestination as fatalism and hyper Calvinism is not a defense. all I hear is that’s not fair and oh that’s not loving.
Don De Bono no not not fair, just an understanding of the true character of god, which Calvinism misrepresents.
Don De Bono Calvinists makes the mistake of using flawed human reasoning when interpreting the Bible (such as texts like Rom 8.7 Eph 2:1. Col 2:13) which I know are Calvinist cliché verses. Calvinism, I feel, turns faith into a work, which it is not. Romans 10:13 says "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Don De Bono It stands to reason than that whoever is calling on God and is being saved, must have been given the ability to respond to the call from God. The Holy Spirit brings certainty to the soul and supernaturally enables man to respond. God knows who will respond, this doesn’t mean he ‘predestines it’ Verse 17 of the same chapter says “"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. “So obviously when a person hears the word of God, the Lord makes it possible for him to believe and accept it. This does not mean that man is contributing to his own salvation by agreeing to the truth that the Holy Spirit has enabled him to understand.
Christopher Cunningham Don you cannot defend your position and have not. you may claim victory for the mere fact of non-participation but the fact of the matter is you have only proved my point in that man cannot submit in full to God because his flesh and carnal mind do not want to be subjected to it Romans 8:7 so he creates the idol of his freewill that he may boast in his righteousness but as Paul says when the flesh comes under God's control and spirit takes control that is removed and transformed Ezekiel 18:21-31 36:25-26.
Christopher Cunningham Don I have not used human reasoning but have allowed the text to speak for themself. You quote Romans 10 which actually refutes you because God through preaching draws his people to him it does not refute me it actually proves my point that apart from the working of God in declaring the gospel his people cannot be saved whom he will draw.
Christopher Cunningham The same type of phrase is used with Paul preaching to Lydia in which her eyes were opened because God drew her by his spirit and gave her the fullness of truth. Once more Don ad hominems and straw man are not a defense.
Don De Bono If God has already elected those who are going to heaven, then why evangelize, seek to be saved, or even follow God's path?Your traditional Calvinist would proclaim, "Because God told us so!" But if God has already elected those who will be going to heaven, no amount of influence from Christians will change who is elected or not. Evangelism may be the means of how God saves the elect, but our conscience decision to not evangelize will not affect the elect.The interesting counter-argument would be when Calvinists say to non-Calvinists, "But why bother evangelizing... God already knows if a particular person will ever accept the message or not." But, as will be discussed below, this is argument is a fallacy due to the lack of comprehension of time.
Christopher Cunningham I already addressed your argument multiple times over and over with scripture concerning this and anyone else can see I have given evidence. You keep attacking straw man arguments red herrings and attacking me personally. Now are you going to give scripture and not philosophical objections parroted by a typical Arminian?
Don De Bono I have just shown you scripture that refutes you.
Don De Bono If God predestined everything, and then God created sin.
This is where Calvinists disagree among themselves. There are several camps; some that believe every little detail has been predestined, those who believe that God predestined all major events (including salvation), and those who believe that God only predestines those who will be saved. I suppose this point would address the first camp; If indeed God did predestine every little thing, then God did create sin. He caused man to act a specific way knowing in advance what it would lead to.
Christopher Cunningham You gave me one proof text is all. Don I’m not interested in copy and paste from something you found. Engage and defend your position.
Don De Bono what specifically do you want me to defend
Don De Bono it’s not like i could convince you anyways your minds made up, no one convinces anyone on here it’s not the right format for it’s just a soap box
Christopher Cunningham Don you made the charge if you cannot back up your statements with evidence which is what the group is about do not make them as proverbs says those who bring charges without reproof will be as a fool.
Don De Bono really because I find it a poor argument against the whole theme of the bible.
Christopher Cunningham Don what bible evidence did you bring?!
Christopher Cunningham Don since you have nothing worthy to say further in this debate we are finished and I will allow the viewers to decide and read the post.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Is speaking in tongues proof one has the Holy Spirit? a Biblical examination
In this video I discuss if Speaking in Tongues is proof one has the Holy Spirit and if it is proof one is saved.
Daily Devotional
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.-1st Corinthians Chapter 13:1-2
When Paul speaks of tongues of men and angels in 1st cor 13:1-2 he speaks of the challenges of the christian walk and commands us that through these challenges that we continue to walk in the spirit of Christian love despite them.Galatians 5:22-27 commands this through the fruit of the spirit.
When Paul speaks of tongues of men and angels in 1st cor 13:1-2 he speaks of the challenges of the christian walk and commands us that through these challenges that we continue to walk in the spirit of Christian love despite them.Galatians 5:22-27 commands this through the fruit of the spirit.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Lies that create Cognitive dissonance: A Critique of straw man arguments against Reformed Theology a response to Facebook user Nathaniel Green
I will be reviewing an article by a person named Nathaniel Green. He has proceeded to write an article against Reformed Theology which I feel is nothing more then the usual straw man arguments as presented by all Arminian Free will theists. His first tirade against the doctrines of grace proceed as follows:
“I know people won't totally understand how wrong anything is until they first realize that it is wrong in the first place. Many people have already shown the evidence, Matthew 23:37. But it's like this, you'll see at least 2 groups; each of them claiming that their position is backed up by the Bible”(1)
He first quotes Matthew 23:37 which reads as follows:
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not! “(2)
This passage is speaking of God wanting to draw the unbelieving Jewish leaders’ (Jerusalem’s) children (Jewish people) to salvation but they (the leaders) were not willing that, the children be drawn. How this proves his point, we are not told, for he does not elaborate. The point of Christ’s statements is to show that the unbelieving Jewish leaders were so corrupt that they were not willing that the people come to him do to the sin of unbelief that is in their hearts. Paul confirms this in Romans 8:7 and attested by Jeremiah 17:9-10 which read as follows:
“Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." (3)
The prophet Jeremiah confirms the wickedness of man’s heart in the following verse of chapter 17:9-10:
"The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?
I the LORD search the heart, [I] try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his doings." (4)
However, this doesn’t mean Jesus’ will was stopped for, “who can resist His will?” (Rom. 9:19). Moreover, everyone the Father gives to Christ will receive Christ and be saved (John 6:37). Therefore, everything that happened in Matthew 23:37 was part of God’s sovereign or decretive will, although it went against His prescriptive will which is that all men be saved. The great Reformed scholar John Calvin had this to say in his following Commentary on Matthew 23:37:
"The ones the Lord desired to gather are not the ones who "were not willing"! Jesus speaks to the leaders about their children that they, the leaders, would not allow Him to "gather." Jesus was not seeking to gather the leaders, but their children. This one consideration alone renders the passage useless for the Arminian seeking to establish freewillism. The "children" of the leaders would be Jews who were hindered by the Jewish leaders from hearing Christ." (5)
As seen above White confirms the fact that this passage is referring to the unbelieving Jews hindering those under them from hearing Christ.
Mr. Nathaniel Green then goes on to claim in his article:
“We will go into the evidence in a moment but first let’s say you realize that Calvinism is wrong or that evolution is wrong. 1 side says again and again that God died on the cross for us while making it impossible to be saved. While the other side will show verse after verse from the bible to show that this is wrong. But the Calvinist return to repeat the same story.”
He states that Calvinists believe Christ died on the cross making salvation impossible but this is a straw man and not what Reformed Theology teaches. Reformed Theology teaches that due to depravity no one seeks to receive what Christ did on the cross and so therefore it is God who must first draw us to the knowledge of that salvation through regeneration as a gift. The Old Testament confirms this in Ezekiel 36:25-27 and Jonah 2:9 which State:
"Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do [them]." (6)
"…Salvation [is] of the LORD." (7)
These are two of many passages of Scripture which demonstrates that God is in control of the ends and means of salvation. You can also find similar statements in places such as Daniel 4:35,Proverbs 16:33 Deuteronomy 7:6, Phil 1:6, Jeremiah 10:33 among a host of other passages. The Scriptures indeed teach that the Holy Spirit is the only source that brings us to this wonderful revelation. The fact remains is that he accuses us of not having any text to back up our position which I have demonstrated is absurd and dishonest.
Mr. Green goes on to state in his article:
"Remember Calvinism is like any other Roman lie just like Evolution. There are many degrees of Evolution and Calvinism the slightest difference doesn’t matter it only matters that the mission is accomplished."
This statement is an equivocation fallacy Mr. Green is trying to compare Calvinism to Evolution and Roman Catholicism when these two areas are completely foreign to the subject having nothing to do with the discussion. Mr. Green has committed a red herring here by diverting from the subject. This is mere accusation without evidence. Rome teaches the concept of free will as opposed to the Biblical doctrine that men are bound by sin and can only be brought into subjection to God by God’s own mercy and grace.
An example that the doctrine of free will can be found within the roots of Romanism is the historical account in the fact that Rome had commissioned Erasmus a Roman Catholic to debate Martin Luther on the will of man. Luther argued that man’s will was in bondage to sin and Erasmus argued that the will of man is free much like Arminians, Pelagians and Open theists teach today. So if anyone is holding onto the beliefs of Roman Catholicism it is the freewill theists like our friend Mr. Green.
Mr. Green’s final argument comes to a close with this last statement:
“Remember Calvinism is a make believe story! The lies are so wrong and bizarre. The idea that they claim that the God has died for them has made it impossible for many to be saved. They take Yahshua and try to make him into a Roman or Greek God."
Mr. Green claims Calvinism is a make believe story. However it was never a story to begin with but is in fact a mere nickname used to separate the truth from the false man-centered free will theology. He pits sound Biblical teaching of Reformed Theology against Hyper-Calvinism which is in fact mere fatalism and not even Scriptural as it denies the essence of the preaching of the Gospel. He then post a you tube video about mind control as if it is relevant and proceeds to quote 2nd Timothy 2 as a supposed refutation when it in fact confirms the Calvinist position that man is bound to sin and only God can save them out of it. God has indeed made salvation possible and Mr. Green is right but this salvation can only come by God drawing us to that knowledge which leads to justification - Scripture confirms this:
"He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken." Isaiah 53:8(8)
"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21(9)
"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." John 6:44-45 (10)
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned." 1st Corinthians 2:14 (11)
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1st John 5:1 (12)
In conclusion as you can see this young man has actually proved the Scriptural teaching that salvation is of God and not of ourselves. The evidence shows that God shows mercy and saves- men do not save themselves nor do they have the capacity. It is for this reason people reject the truth: they create the idol of free will making the creator bow to our demands instead of listening to the words of Jesus Christ who said in Matthew 26:42:
"He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done." Matthew 26:42 (13)
I pray this article has been helpful in refuting the misconceptions about the doctrines of the precious faith we hold so dearly – Biblical doctrines that so many are fighting against. I leave you with this final statement which is summed up by the great preacher Charles Spurgeon:
"No doctrine in the whole Word of God has more excited the hatred of mankind than the truth of the absolute sovereignty of God." (14)
Footnotes:
1.http://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/nathaniel-green/lies-that-create-cognitive-dissonance/168834236496234
2.Matthew 23:37
3. Romans 8:7
4. Jeremiah 17:9-10
5. James R. White, Potter's Freedom, 2nd ed, p. 138
6.Ezekiel 36:25-26
7. Jonah 2:9
8. Isaiah 53:8
9.Matthew 1:21
10. John 6:44-45
11.1st Corinthians 2:14
12. 1st John 5:1
13.Matthew 26:42
14.http://www.spurgeon.us/mind_and_heart/quotes/g.htm#sovereignty
“I know people won't totally understand how wrong anything is until they first realize that it is wrong in the first place. Many people have already shown the evidence, Matthew 23:37. But it's like this, you'll see at least 2 groups; each of them claiming that their position is backed up by the Bible”(1)
He first quotes Matthew 23:37 which reads as follows:
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not! “(2)
This passage is speaking of God wanting to draw the unbelieving Jewish leaders’ (Jerusalem’s) children (Jewish people) to salvation but they (the leaders) were not willing that, the children be drawn. How this proves his point, we are not told, for he does not elaborate. The point of Christ’s statements is to show that the unbelieving Jewish leaders were so corrupt that they were not willing that the people come to him do to the sin of unbelief that is in their hearts. Paul confirms this in Romans 8:7 and attested by Jeremiah 17:9-10 which read as follows:
“Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." (3)
The prophet Jeremiah confirms the wickedness of man’s heart in the following verse of chapter 17:9-10:
"The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?
I the LORD search the heart, [I] try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his doings." (4)
However, this doesn’t mean Jesus’ will was stopped for, “who can resist His will?” (Rom. 9:19). Moreover, everyone the Father gives to Christ will receive Christ and be saved (John 6:37). Therefore, everything that happened in Matthew 23:37 was part of God’s sovereign or decretive will, although it went against His prescriptive will which is that all men be saved. The great Reformed scholar John Calvin had this to say in his following Commentary on Matthew 23:37:
"The ones the Lord desired to gather are not the ones who "were not willing"! Jesus speaks to the leaders about their children that they, the leaders, would not allow Him to "gather." Jesus was not seeking to gather the leaders, but their children. This one consideration alone renders the passage useless for the Arminian seeking to establish freewillism. The "children" of the leaders would be Jews who were hindered by the Jewish leaders from hearing Christ." (5)
As seen above White confirms the fact that this passage is referring to the unbelieving Jews hindering those under them from hearing Christ.
Mr. Nathaniel Green then goes on to claim in his article:
“We will go into the evidence in a moment but first let’s say you realize that Calvinism is wrong or that evolution is wrong. 1 side says again and again that God died on the cross for us while making it impossible to be saved. While the other side will show verse after verse from the bible to show that this is wrong. But the Calvinist return to repeat the same story.”
He states that Calvinists believe Christ died on the cross making salvation impossible but this is a straw man and not what Reformed Theology teaches. Reformed Theology teaches that due to depravity no one seeks to receive what Christ did on the cross and so therefore it is God who must first draw us to the knowledge of that salvation through regeneration as a gift. The Old Testament confirms this in Ezekiel 36:25-27 and Jonah 2:9 which State:
"Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do [them]." (6)
"…Salvation [is] of the LORD." (7)
These are two of many passages of Scripture which demonstrates that God is in control of the ends and means of salvation. You can also find similar statements in places such as Daniel 4:35,Proverbs 16:33 Deuteronomy 7:6, Phil 1:6, Jeremiah 10:33 among a host of other passages. The Scriptures indeed teach that the Holy Spirit is the only source that brings us to this wonderful revelation. The fact remains is that he accuses us of not having any text to back up our position which I have demonstrated is absurd and dishonest.
Mr. Green goes on to state in his article:
"Remember Calvinism is like any other Roman lie just like Evolution. There are many degrees of Evolution and Calvinism the slightest difference doesn’t matter it only matters that the mission is accomplished."
This statement is an equivocation fallacy Mr. Green is trying to compare Calvinism to Evolution and Roman Catholicism when these two areas are completely foreign to the subject having nothing to do with the discussion. Mr. Green has committed a red herring here by diverting from the subject. This is mere accusation without evidence. Rome teaches the concept of free will as opposed to the Biblical doctrine that men are bound by sin and can only be brought into subjection to God by God’s own mercy and grace.
An example that the doctrine of free will can be found within the roots of Romanism is the historical account in the fact that Rome had commissioned Erasmus a Roman Catholic to debate Martin Luther on the will of man. Luther argued that man’s will was in bondage to sin and Erasmus argued that the will of man is free much like Arminians, Pelagians and Open theists teach today. So if anyone is holding onto the beliefs of Roman Catholicism it is the freewill theists like our friend Mr. Green.
Mr. Green’s final argument comes to a close with this last statement:
“Remember Calvinism is a make believe story! The lies are so wrong and bizarre. The idea that they claim that the God has died for them has made it impossible for many to be saved. They take Yahshua and try to make him into a Roman or Greek God."
Mr. Green claims Calvinism is a make believe story. However it was never a story to begin with but is in fact a mere nickname used to separate the truth from the false man-centered free will theology. He pits sound Biblical teaching of Reformed Theology against Hyper-Calvinism which is in fact mere fatalism and not even Scriptural as it denies the essence of the preaching of the Gospel. He then post a you tube video about mind control as if it is relevant and proceeds to quote 2nd Timothy 2 as a supposed refutation when it in fact confirms the Calvinist position that man is bound to sin and only God can save them out of it. God has indeed made salvation possible and Mr. Green is right but this salvation can only come by God drawing us to that knowledge which leads to justification - Scripture confirms this:
"He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken." Isaiah 53:8(8)
"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21(9)
"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." John 6:44-45 (10)
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned." 1st Corinthians 2:14 (11)
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1st John 5:1 (12)
In conclusion as you can see this young man has actually proved the Scriptural teaching that salvation is of God and not of ourselves. The evidence shows that God shows mercy and saves- men do not save themselves nor do they have the capacity. It is for this reason people reject the truth: they create the idol of free will making the creator bow to our demands instead of listening to the words of Jesus Christ who said in Matthew 26:42:
"He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done." Matthew 26:42 (13)
I pray this article has been helpful in refuting the misconceptions about the doctrines of the precious faith we hold so dearly – Biblical doctrines that so many are fighting against. I leave you with this final statement which is summed up by the great preacher Charles Spurgeon:
"No doctrine in the whole Word of God has more excited the hatred of mankind than the truth of the absolute sovereignty of God." (14)
Footnotes:
1.http://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/nathaniel-green/lies-that-create-cognitive-dissonance/168834236496234
2.Matthew 23:37
3. Romans 8:7
4. Jeremiah 17:9-10
5. James R. White, Potter's Freedom, 2nd ed, p. 138
6.Ezekiel 36:25-26
7. Jonah 2:9
8. Isaiah 53:8
9.Matthew 1:21
10. John 6:44-45
11.1st Corinthians 2:14
12. 1st John 5:1
13.Matthew 26:42
14.http://www.spurgeon.us/mind_and_heart/quotes/g.htm#sovereignty
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