yes, predestination in the calvanistic sense, i'm with you Germ.

I wouldn't be too quick to gun down Calvinism. In reality both Calvinism and Arminianism has its flaws. Calvinism implies that there is not really free will while Arminianism claims that once you saved that you have the ability to hold your salvation by your own works.
What I would say is yes, we do have a choices in life. Fear is a great motivator and some pastors/leaders are guilty of using fear by telling people they have limited choices when it comes to staying in God's will.

germ wrote:and that is why predestination is a pile of dog dung...

Actually predestination is a Bible/NT truth. But I know what you are talking about, however don't throw out the truth because of gross error.

I am not a Calvinist nor am I am Arminianist. Predestination when talking with Calvinists has a different context to predestination when talking to Arminianists. We need to remember that anything taken to the extreme is error.

Darth Vader wrote:

germ wrote:and that is why predestination is a pile of dog dung...

Actually predestination is a Bible/NT truth. But I know what you are talking about, however don't throw out the truth because of gross error.

Calvinism Predestination is not a biblical truth...
Predestination that God has designed us to be followers of Christ is biblical truth...

btw there is some Calvinism in the PH (especially in regards to the book of revelations).

sternking wrote:I think there is a strong element naivety when it comes to Christians, the Bible and being guided by God.

Pretty much all churches that I know claim to be Bible believing churches yet most have different values, priorities and opinions on parts of the Bible! Also all churches won’t follow the Bible 100% anyway. For example they may discourage marriages with unbelievers based on 2 Cor but still allow themselves to get into business relationships with non Christian organisations, they ban women from preaching but still allow them to not cover their heads, they may only have married men as preachers even though their kids live reckless lives when the Bible clearly says I preacher must have a well run household. So yeah all churches are guilty of picking and choosing.

I have come to find that as well as the fundamental aspects of our faith we are all heavy influenced by 3 other things:

Our church culture: This is the belief system that our local church shares. It is what gives a local church its unique feel and identity. It affects the style of worship, teaching, everything and although most of it is based on scripture it is very subjective.

Our geographic culture: Do you know that most saved people US are pro death penalty yet most saved people in the UK are anti death penalty? How does that work? Answer: geographic culture. Where we live will influence our views on things and how we interpret the Bible.

Finally our personal values: Just because we get saved doesn’t mean we completely discard our own views and values.



Now I would not say any of the above is wrong but it is good to able to acknowledge that our beliefs are influenced by them. Some preachers/churches can teach something that really comes from the above as gospel which we need to watch out for.

+1, Good post