Author	Thread: I thought about the forums here when I heard this...
Admin	I thought about the forums here when I heard this... Posted : 26 Jun, 2010 09:53 AM Just got back from a Bible camp with some of the youth. The speaker was talking to a few of the councilors a day or two ago and the subject of Calvinism and Arminian views came up. This is what he said... He held up a cylinder-shaped shaker. He held one of the ends facing us and asked, "In a 2D world, what is this?" "A circle." Pretty easy answer. He then turned it so we were looking at the side. He asked the same question, and we all answered, "A rectangle." "Good." He smiled as he asked this last question. "In a 3D world, what is this?" Before we could answer, he said, "The answer is yes." We were all a little puzzled by this at first. He went on to explain that it IS a circle, and that is IS a rectangle. That's what makes a cylinder. So, there wasn't one specific answer. It was simply yes. We are still in our 2D world, and can never seem to see the full picture. Different people look at it from different perspectives, but that doesn't always mean one is right and the other is wrong. It means we are responding to God's involvement in our lives. After he gave us the answer to the third question, he said, "Did God choose us? Yes. Did we choose God? Yes." He put the shaker down, and we continued on with our usual conversations. I just thought I'd share this. I don't want this thread to become another debate about specific points in "differing, same religion-views". In fact, I'd be okay if there wasn't a single response here. I just wanted to post this so people can read it... think about it... and pray about it. I hope it will be an encouragement to you. Peace! In Christ Garrett Post Reply
View Profile History	I thought about the forums here when I heard this... Posted : 27 Jun, 2010 02:46 PM Nor did the word of God come by the will of man Post Reply
View Profile History	I thought about the forums here when I heard this... Posted : 27 Jun, 2010 06:26 PM Hi Garrett, The example you gave was nice, but I have to reject it. You are talking about the deepest divide in Christendom. A tube is a circle and rectangle, but What the Arminians demand is the opposite of what the Bible teaches. You can't say both are true in the five points. 1. Fallen mankind either HAS the ability to come to God, or they don't. 2. God either chose certain people for reasons we don't know about, OR He 'chose' them because He saw they would repent and have faith. 3. Jesus died for everyone, OR He died specifically for His people. 4. God's grace can either be resisted or it can NOT. 5. A True Christian can lose their salvation or they can NOT lose their salvation. There is just no way you can say that both can be true in the five points. And, it goes beyond that because doctrines are hooked together. In Christ, James Post Reply
gracegrace View Profile History	I thought about the forums here when I heard this... Posted : 27 Jun, 2010 06:57 PM Leon, It is nice to know that someone else has experienced that kind of life lesson. To me the beauty was not only the encouragement that young man received but also the strength of character, love, confidence, caring and gentleness that my uncle projected in that moment. He added value to the guy instead of taking it away and it was clear that he did not feel that he was devalued himself in any way by it. Don'tHitThatMark, You said exactly what I have always felt in my heart. I don't think it sounds bad though. I think it sounds like a humble position to take. You said: " I know this sounds bad...but we should really question our beliefs to the core. Even to the point of unlearning them to learn them again and see if they come out the same. Test them with fire. People that believe they have all truth are in a extremely dangerous position." Anytime someone criticizes or corrects me I make myself look at it objectively to see what level of truth there is in their statements. I have learned that all criticisms do hold some level of truth...even if it is just a very small crumb. No matter what the truth might be in the criticism, if I see the truth in it then it is a legitimate complaint and I force myself to admit it. If I deny it then I am only hurting myself. God probably sent the criticism as His favor to me. I want my heart right before God, so when criticism comes I try to face it and make the adjustments necessary to learn from my mistakes and become a better person. The saying, God doesn't waste anything comes to mind...even our mistakes can be used to make us more Christlike in the end if we allow it. Post Reply
springrose10 View Profile History	I thought about the forums here when I heard this... Posted : 27 Jun, 2010 09:18 PM Garrett, Debbie, Great Parables! Matthew 7:6 Rose Post Reply

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