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primoa1970
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I can only speak from the Baptist point of view:
We believe in the Scriptures as 100% genuine and God-breathed.
We believe in eternal security for the true believer in Christ
We hold to Calvinism (or the acronym TULIP):
Basic Calvinism
T. Total Depravity: People are completely sinful and depraved and can do no good on their own
U. Unconditional election: Since people cannot choose for themselves, before the beginning of time, without any goodness on their part, God has chosen for Himself a select number of people to be counted as righteous.
L. Limited Atonement: The effects of God's atonement on sinful humanity is limited only to those he has chosen
I. Irresistible Grace: The grace God extends to the chosen cannot be refused since it has been decreed by God.
P. Perserverence of the Saints: (Once saved always saved): Since God has decreed the salvation of the elect, it cannot be changed.
2007-09-26 03:29:22 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Does the concept of reveled religion argue against free will?
2007-09-26 03:30:10 · update #1
Linda,
Then you are not Baptist, you only go to a Baptist church. One of the founding principals of the Baptist church IS a belief in the teachings of John Calvin.
Look to the history of your church. I too was raised SBC
2007-09-26 03:38:09 · update #2
Here is the problem. The Baptist Faith and Message...which is the Southern Baptist Church's mission statement, if you will....states that Southern Baptists believe in free will in the idea of "priesthood of the believer". ...the concept that anyone at any level can pray to God, seek his guidance, read the Bible, and that God can speak to anyone....one does not need an intercessory, (priest), as a go-between.
While the Baptists give this idea lip-service, they do not put it into practice. Because, if one was to read the scripture and come away with a different meaning then the Baptists traditional line of thought, then that person is told that they are probably not a Christian, and definitely not a Baptist.... how is that free will, or "priesthood of the believer"?
2007-09-26 03:41:15 · answer #1 · answered by G.C. 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't know that all Baptist's are Calvinistic. Are you saying this particular poster argued for free will or others have?
I am a Calvinist (but a Presbyterian) and do not believe in free will. I believe you cannot surprise God with your decisions/choices. He lets you choose, but knows which path you will take well before you were born.
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.
Psalm 139
ETA: Linda, 'Whosoever' does fit in to Calvinism. The part non-calvinists forget is the "believes in Him" It does not say 'whosoever whether they believe or not' but whosoever believes in Him. The believers are the elect.
2007-09-26 10:36:20 · answer #2 · answered by Me 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
All Baptists are NOT Calvinist. I'm Southern Baptist and totally disagree with Calvinism! So please don't assume all Baptists believe this way. I believe in John 3:16.... For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believes in Him shall have everlasting life.
WHOSOEVER doesn't fit into the Calvinist theology. I can't agree with it at all.
I assure you, the congregation of my church does not believe in Calvinism. There are a lot of Baptists than are Calvinist, but there are also a lot who are not!
2007-09-26 10:32:55 · answer #3 · answered by Elle 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The freewill of man and the sovereignty of God work together....
No one can explain how.....it just does.
We are still commissioned to preach the Word to the "whosoever".......it is not our job to decide who that may be.......only God knows.
I cannot explain it to you fully......but it's still the truth.
Read Romans 9 if you don't believe me.....
God makes some vessels for honor and some for dishonor.
2007-09-26 10:32:35 · answer #4 · answered by primoa1970 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋