Jehovah Jireh

26th October 2012

Post

I’m just sick of being a Calvinist.

Okay. I probably got one initial reaction from two or three different audiences.

“Whaaat?”

Well, some of you are my college friends who shared some of my former enthusiasm on this topic and you are disappointed.

Some of you, however, are my old-fashioned friends who were clueless as to my beleifs on this issue… and you’re probably disappointed.

Either way, bear with me. Not saying your disappointment will go away.

One of the greatest passages of scripture defending the Calvinistic view of the gospel is John 6. But in the middle of one of these verses is a subtle, yet profound contrast.

All that the Father giveth to me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Okay, so I was on the campus at Blue Mountain long enough to get caught up into this debate. I got so caught up into it that I forgot the important thing: Let God be God. Do what God has called me to do and let God be God. And that’s where I stand today.

One of the strangest statements I’ve ever heard on the issue of Predestination came from a certain church member. He said, and I paraphrase, whether it’s me that called on God or God that called on me, I know it happened and I praise Him for it.

Here in John 6:37 we find two phrases. Phrases of comfort.

All that the Father giveth to me shall come to me. This is the preface I think a lot of “churches” miss. Just to pray a prayer and go through a baptistry isn’t enough. God the Father must call you out and bring you to Jesus. It’s not a man’s efforts. Salvation is of the Lord, afterall. We can’t command God who he can and cannot save, or what is just or unjust for him to do, because HE’S GOD!!! Like we know what we’re talking about anyways. God is full of infinite wisdom and glory and knowledge. His sovereignty is hereby expressed.

If you take this phrase and flip it, it says something like, “no one who the Father has not claimed will ever, under any circumstance, come to me.” THIS is what drives people away from this topic. “Would God really choose to save one individual and condemn someone else to Hell without a chance?” Well, number one, and I only need to make one point, it’s by the grace of God that any of us have a remote chance, much less a promise, to be saved. I mean, if you are complaining about what God is or is not doing then I suggest you back off. Cause you deserve hell just as much as I do. And, trust me, I am the most fitted for that wretched place.

So, salvation is impossible without the effectual calling of God. Who will God call and who won’t he call? No. Don’t ask that. Preach the gospel to all and let God sort that out.

The second phrase of the verse goes, “and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

Okay, this is the big deal to me. God has never, ever, ever, for never, ever, never denied a broken and contrite heart. He will never. A broken heart comes from exposure to truth. The truth will break you. The gospel will jack you up, but it will put you on your knees and show you where you are before God. You are condemned.

But God has given a promise that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” He told all that were thirsty in Revelation 22 to come and “take of the waters of life freely.” I mean, no one will be saved unless God saves them, but he will save all who call upon his name.

So, to get back to my title, I’m sick of being a Calvinist. I couldn’t care less about the “5 points.” OOOOHHHHH TULIP!

Just give me the gospel. Just tell me that Jesus saves sinners. Just tell me that God will not despise a broken heart. Just give me Jesus.

Calvin did great things for the church, but Jesus did greater things. Wesley did great things for the church, but look at what Jesus did!

Don’t glorify a man or a doctrine. Glorify the God that drove those men and the God behind the doctrine. And go and preach the gospel to every creature. Tell them that if they will throw themselves upon Christ in faith and repentance that the God of all Heaven will hear their plea and save them!

I’m just sick of the drama. I want to go fellowship with Christians and point fingers to what God has done and rejoice. I don’t want to point fingers at each other and say, “You’re wrong, I’m right.” That’s just prideful anyways. I want to go and reach for truth with my brothers and sisters in Christ, but I don’t want to be given a title of a man. I want people to know I belong to Christ!

I’m HIS!!! He loved me enough to die for me, to give me faith, to give me a new life. He loves me enough to never cast me out when I need him, but he’s always here with me.

Brother, sister, be a Christian. Cause following Christ is all that matters.

There’s gonna be Calvinists in heaven, there’s gonna be Arminians, and there’s gonna be people like me.

Remember: you were saved by the power and grace of God, and you were saved when you cried out to him.

And pray for me tonight. I’m quite broken right now.

Keep the faith, beloved.