Why do so many Christians have a hard time with the concept of Election?

Question

I know that this is a general question of whether we have free will. But I think that scripture is pretty clear on the fact that we are all dead in our sins until we are saved by the grace and mercy of God.

Answer 1

Because election is an idea foreign to Christianity until a few hundred years ago. It is a modern tradition of men, something the Apostles never heard of, and which the Bible clearly warns us against.

Answer 2

Election isn't about us being dead in our sins until we are saved by the grace and mercy of God.

Election is about who decided that we should be saved?

Did God decide?

Or did we decide we wanted to let God save us?

Which came first the chicken or the egg?

The Bible says the Rooster came first.

Which came first Election or Free Will?

The Bible tells us the answer and sadly since the day of John Calvin, Christians have been arguing about it.

And I don't think we'll solve that 480 year old debate this week here on Yahoo.

Pastor Art

Answer 3

God is omniscient, Alpha and Omega but with that said we have free will.

I live in a small town with 30+ reformed, Calvin believing churches. The town is dead, they have no outreach, evangelism, missions. Calvinism breed complaisantly and a "lukewarm church" Rev 3:14-22. With this outlook everything is predestined why bother.

We absolutely have free will.
John 12:32
"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself."

You may want to list your clear scripture.

God Bless

Answer 4

Well God knows everything that will happen and this is true but that does not negate free-will in any way. God made it in his plan to give us free will. Please read below - St.Augustine's "On Grace and Free Will"

Chapter 7, Chapter 10 etc.

Answer 5

I don't know, because The Gospel is about Christ not about creation vs. evolution! God bless.