Setting records straight and all

I feel the greatest threat of the salvation of fellow human beings is false understanding of scripture. Specifically, there are three notions that are in direct violation of what God has set up as His plan of Salvation:
- Atheism (that nobody can be saved).
- Universalism (that all people will be saved regardless)
- Calvinism (that God will only save specifically chosen people)

From my point of view, these are the three most common and basic heresies out there.

Atheism is an outright denial of God. This is a person who realizes God exists and intentionally ignores it. These people are people who know they will wind up in Hell and either want that outcome, or do not really care.

Universalism is an outright denial of God's plan of salvation. It is the belief that a loving God would not condemn, even though He said He would condemn. This is ultimately a belief that God is a liar. Since this is clearly not the case, Universalism is easily swept away with the understanding that what God says is true.

Calvinism is a small cancer in Christianity today. Save a small number of people (could be counted on one hand with a few fingers folded), I've never met one that wasn't militant about their beliefs, and wound up pushing people away from God and His church due to their hardened hearts and sharp tongues. The basis in Calvinism is the concept of predestination. This is the tenet upon which all the others rely and are founded.

Satan does his best work not by telling a lie that is 180 degrees from the truth, but by telling a lie that is 1 degree off the truth. This is what Calvinism and predestination represent - Satan's tool to attempt to thwart God's perfect plan of salvation. Naturally Satan will lose. At the same time,

II Peter 2:1 warns of this:

But false prophets also arose among the people. In the same way, false teachers will come among you. They will introduce destructive opinions and deny the master who bought them, bringing quick destruction on themselves.

Therefore, starting next month, you will find an 8-part series in which I debunk the concept of predestination bit by bit. These posts will be written up by the time this one posts, and will in turn, post once per month every month in 2012 (barring the return of Jesus Christ).

I will make this my life's work, as God called us to spread the Gospel... and the spreading of false doctrine is contrary to His command.  Telling people what is true and of Him is all that is important. Cool thing is, there are three things on my side here:

1. God's Word:
His scriptures are there, are easily understood being written for the common man, and are the eternal Truth.

2. God will destroy the false teachers:
II Peter 2:12-13 (same link as above) talks about this:

These false teachers are like irrational animals, mere creatures of instinct, born to be captured and destroyed. They slander what they don’t understand and, like animals, they will be destroyed. In this way, they will receive payment for their wrongdoing.

3. Calvinists do not have a need to evangelize:
Let's face it, if God predestined everything, then takes over a person's will to save them, then it really doesn't matter if they hear God's word or not. This is what Calvinists who are being honest with themselves believe.

Will some Calvinists be saved?
Yes. Provided they ask God's forgiveness earnestly (which would have to happen before they are aware of the concept of predestination, more likely than not) and put their faith in Him. This will be hard for them to do after becoming convinced of predestination. Still, God is capable of anything, so His Grace will be sufficient.

Why the attack?
Because Calvinists and those who believe in predestination are the pharisees of today. Jesus did not spare any words for the pharisees in His day, and I firmly believe that they need similar treatment today as their work only pulls people away from God.

The main, root problem:
The root of the problem with Calvinistic thinking - specifically with the notion that God predetermines who goes to Heaven (and by default, whom goes to Hell) - is pride. These people feel a need to be better than other people in some way and have found no other way to be better. It is a warped way of thinking and it is founded in pride.



Will I succeed?
Nope. Doesn't matter. God will succeed and His truth is all that will matter.

Will the Calvinists and predestination cultists succeed?
For a time, yes. As long as mankind lives, there will be arrogance - the root of Calvinism and the predestination cultist mindset. 


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