Tag Archives: Teachings of Paul

Calvinism – A biblical rejection

Posted on November 5, 2015 by | Comments Off on Calvinism – A biblical rejection

EasterCalvinism is the teaching that God already has predetermined those who will be saved and those who will suffer eternal damnation. Those that believe in this doctrine will normally use a handful of verses from the New Testament as proof that this is how salvation is given to mankind. The verses most commonly associated with this concept of predetermination read: Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness (Titus 1:1), Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory (2 Timothy 2:10), and For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29).

Calvinism, the theological debate, has been a long running one that began in the early Enlightenment era around the middle of the Sixteenth Century. It was defined by John Calvin, a French theologian and minister. The focal point of his teachings, what would later become defined as Calvinism, was in the absolute sovereignty of God in man’s salvation and the belief that God has already predestined the eternal destination for all who have been born or yet to be born. His teachings became incorporated within the Puritan variety of the Church of England, the French Huguenots, and the Anabaptists. It is still widely held as a scriptural doctrine by many, but it can easily be discredited and exposed as a false doctrine through a careful use of scripture.

A commonsense approach to predestination and free will

The idea that everyone is predestined to either spend an eternity in Heaven or Hell before they are born is a very dangerous doctrine. It holds no scriptural basis other than what many read into Romans 8:29, For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Jesus explained in his late-night conversation with Nicodemus where this predestination comes in: He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3:18). What Jesus was telling Nicodemus is a fairly common sense explanation – right now, at this moment, if you have complete faith and believe in Jesus you are not condemned but are saved. If you do not believe in Jesus and you were to die at this moment, you are condemned – and the sole reason is because you have rejected the Lord Christ Jesus. God has already predestined the destination of souls based not on deed or personal achievement, but solely on the question of whether you have accepted Jesus as your personal savior.

The foreknowing of God lies in the understanding of what the Bible clearly teaches us about salvation being based on mankind’s free will. Free will salvation has always been God’s plan for mankind; there are two passages of scripture within the Old Testament that clearly teach this biblical doctrine. The first reads: See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;  I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:  That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them (Deuteronomy 30:15-20). There are a number of teachings within this passage that refute the false doctrine of Calvinism.

The most obvious is the invitation that the Lord extends to the Jewish people identified as life and death. God’s foreknowledge is that if they choose life, then He has an abundant supply of blessings for their obedience to His divine will. If they choose to reject the Lord and His plan, He also knows what this choice will mean. In their choice of disobedience, they will not receive blessings, but will incur the wrath of the Lord. It is the same choice that all mankind has through Christ Jesus our Lord. You can accept His gift of salvation and choose eternal life or you can reject Him and choose eternal separation from God in an eternal Hell – the Second Death – as the book of Revelation refers to it as. Right now, the Lord can see the consequences of whichever choice you make. In fact, God’s knowledge about you is so extensive that every decision you make, He can see the results of every single possible outcome. 

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Bringing out the best in others

Posted on September 28, 2015 by | Comments Off on Bringing out the best in others

best in othersBringing out the best in others seems to be something that every Christian must be focused. In our society today we often witness the opposite happening in our homes, churches, schools, and the workplace. It seems that wherever we go, we witness people tearing others down. Even in our churches, we see the results of envy, jealousy, and strife as Christians take part in this strange and worldly ritual. Paul, often considered as the one apostle that had the most influence over the formation of the New Testament church, wrote, Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works (Hebrews 10:23-24).

According to the Merriam Webster’s Dictionary, provoke means to arouse to a feeling or action, to call forth, to stir up purposefully, or to offer stimulation for something. As I began to think about this passage of scripture, it became clear to me that Paul is reminding Christians to encourage others to not only be faithful to the style of living that Christ has called them to do, but to pass on the encouragement to others. If we look at this principle when applied to other areas of our life, such as dieting and exercise, programs like MyFitnessPal, the Veteran’s Administration’s program, “Let’s Move,” and Weight Watchers all share some common concepts – people are more likely to lose weight when they are part of a group of people who share the same goal. Each program uses positive peer encouragement to encourage each member to lose weight. It is this very idea that Paul is trying to encourage Christians to do for one another.

Paul continued in his encouragement, Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:25). I’ve heard many preachers discuss this verse as referring to regular church attendance – especially on Sunday, but I have become convinced that it is so much more than that. If we are truly to bring out the best in others it cannot be left to just an hour or two on Sunday. It is within the context of Paul’s second letter to Corinth where he writes, Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14).  Again, I have heard pastors and evangelists use this verse as a basis for Christians not marrying other Christians, but I think there is much more to this verse than that. As Christians, we are to seek one another out especially as we begin to see the trials, temptations, and personal tribulations approaching. We are also to seek each other out as we watch society deteriorating around us and evil, ungodly practices becoming more mainstream. For this reason, Paul warns us not to be unequally yoked with non-believers. I think of the story of Lott and how at first, he pitched his tent towards Sodom but by the time of the city’s judgment and destruction by God, Lott was living within the walls of Sodom and living comfortably within a sin-sick society.

What Lott was missing was a person of similar faith to strengthen his resolve to live in the way that would be pleasing to the Lord. Solomon, considered as the wisest of all the kings of the ancient world, wrote Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend (Proverbs 27:17). I know that many will point towards his wife and say that she should have been his balance and should have been able to encourage him to stay strong in his faith. In reality, that rarely works, which is why programs like Promise Keepers, Weight Watchers, and others encourage us to get people other than our spouses and family members to whom we become accountable. We are not being honest with ourselves when we try to take short-cuts in this area. We need the ability to be frankly honest with whomever is our spiritual accountability partner and they must feel complete freedom to edify and teach us as well. It is through this that Christians are to bring out the best in others.

I’ve got a few men in my life who I will often ask them for guidance, opinions, and prayer simply because they are men of a similar faith to mine. Just as Solomon wrote, our friendships should be those which sharpens our faith, improves our walk with the Lord, and encourages us in our relationship with the Lord and with our family. 

 

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Depression and faith: shared from the heart

Posted on August 19, 2015 by | Comments Off on Depression and faith: shared from the heart

depression and faithDepression and faith are in direct opposition to each other. Like many people, I struggle with depression and in the past, there have been times when it has gotten the best of me. We all have experienced family, friends, and even pastors make comments that are well-meaning but ill-received. I’m not writing this as psychological advice or for medical treatment purposes, but as a Christian man simply sharing what the Lord has laid upon my heart. For the last couple of days I have been struggling on how to share what the Lord has laid on my heart because I do understand how hurtful even some of the best intended advice can be when you’re dealing with depression. I’d like to share what I have learned about the real spiritual battle behind depression.

Defining depression and the medical definition

According to the website maintained by the National Institute of Mental Health, depression is defined as:

Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person’s thoughts, behavior, feelings and sense of well-being. People with depressed mood can feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, ashamed or restless. They may lose interest in activities that were once pleasurable, experience overeating or loss of appetite, have problems concentrating, remembering details or making decisions, and may contemplate, attempt or commit suicide. Insomnia, excessive sleeping, fatigue, aches, pains, digestive problems or reduced energy may also be present. (NIMH – Depression)

Everyone has, at some time or another, suffered from depression. For many, it may be a temporary state that was the result of a single experience, event, or other trigger. For some, depression is a life-long battle. For nearly a century, there have been a variety of treatments used that includes everything from medications to electroshock therapy. Some are able to talk about their depression with others while some seem to be buried underneath it. As a Christian, the struggle becomes compounded when we hear from other Christians the platitudes of “it will pass” and “you’ll be ok” because at the depths of depression, it doesn’t feel temporary nor does it feel we will ever be the same again. In my own walk, I’ve struggled with depression and have tried to understand the relationship between depression and faith.

Whether it’s caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain or is the result of PTSD, depression and the extent of its effects differ from person to person. Some people have seasonal depression, others have severe chronic depression, and still others will slip into and out of depression on what seems like a cyclic pattern. With all this said, depression is a powerful emotion that can be managed through our faith in the Lord.

Biblical guidance to a better outlook

As regular readers know, 2006 was a major turning point in my life. I quit running and decided to fully accept Jesus as my personal savior and Lord. I also decided to study the Bible as seriously as I was studying the materials for my graduate degree. Like many people, I didn’t know what to expect nor did I realize how applicable the Bible is in today’s world. I was not raised in a Christian family and because of the various public schools, was a bit of a skeptic. What I began to realize was that the Bible is relevant and the advice contained within its scriptures is life-changing. Christianity is not merely a religion but an all-encompassing philosophy. Once I began to understand and accept that as fact, I really began to understand the beauty of the Lord’s advice.

During his earthly ministry, Jesus told his disciples, These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33). About three weeks ago, while facing depression, I came across that verse during my morning reading of the Bible.  On that particular day I was feeling incredibly low, and as I read that verse I began to see it from a different perspective. For those who suffer with depression, it can be a time of great tribulation – and here’s my Lord and Savior telling me that not only does He want me to have peace but be of good cheer. Jesus overcame the battle with depression; when He overcame the world, He overcame everything that the world could throw at Him, including depression.

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