Three Questions for Calvinists

[Pilgrimshope]

Luke 14
15And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.16Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
21So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 22And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
Did the man actually invite those who gave the excuses?
Did those who made the excuses know that they were being invited?
So, if the man originally wanted them to come, why did they end up with no supper?

Maybe they didn’t realize what they were being invited to

“And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭19:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“…Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”
‭‭John‬ ‭18:37‬ ‭KJV‬‬

 

[PennEd]

No, I did not miss the point entirely. The examples of what you believe would not have
anyone being erroneously/wrongfully accused of being a Calvinist. They were disingenuous.

Whatevs. Stew if that's what makes you happy.

 

[Magenta]

Whatevs. Stew if that's what makes you happy.

Your dishonesty is appalling.

 

[GaryA]

Apparently, all you need to do to start a ruckus is to simply say the word 'Calvinist'...

 

[joecoten]

Or OSAS!

 

[Magenta]

Or OSAS!

I find it odd that one of Calvinism's five points is perseverance of
the saints, and yet I have met avowed Calvinists who deny OSAS

It is quite contradictory to believe one and not the other.

 

[joecoten]

I find it odd that one of Calvinism's five points is perseverance of
the saints, and yet I have met avowed Calvinists who deny OSAS

It is quite contradictory to believe one and not the other.

I believe both.

 

[PennEd]

Or OSAS!

That's not a bad idea for a thread!

Single words that stir the nest.

 

[Magenta]

I believe both.

It is hard not to notice when any/so many contradict their own beliefs

One thing I find humorous is when the Calvinist will say that God ordains everything
in the sense of Him causing everything to happen, as in, God makes everything happen
the way it does. Of course this belief in itself is detestable, for it ascribes evil to God,
but the belief must also entail the fact that God causes people to oppose Calvinism

 

[XavierJesusLovesIndia]

I'm not a Calvinist, but I do consider Calvinists brothers and sisters in Christ, since they believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

As for the questions, from a non-Calvinistic perspective:

1. Yes, the Man in the Parable represents Christ or God Himself. Christ really calls and invites all to Salvation.
2. Yes, imho, they knew they were being invited, yet still refused to come to His Supper. Hence, He chose others.
3. Because Free Will is real imo, and thus some can choose to freely refuse God's Calling, and He accepts their choice.

God Bless.

 

[2ndTimothyGroup]

Apparently, all you need to do to start a ruckus is to simply say the word 'Calvinist'...

When people label another as a "calvinist," it is a false judgment of that person's heart (if they don't claim the position). And I must say, people can judge me all they like . . . however, my Father in Heaven isn't so graceful and understanding as myself. If anyone knows anything about Righteous Judgment, it's a brutal position to place oneself into. But if judging the hearts and minds of others floats "your" boat . . . enjoy yourselves.

 

[PennEd]

however, my Father in Heaven isn't so graceful and understanding as myself.

Ya sure you don't want to retract this statement?

 

[Nehemiah6]

Although some Calvinists are known as "4-point Calvinists"

One cannot hold to 4 points of Calvinism and avoid the 5th point. So you either believe the nonsensical TULIP doctrine, or you believe the biblical Gospel. What many do not know is that Calvin interpreted the Bible correctly in his commentaries (see Bible Hub), then did a 180 degree turn in his Institutes. That is called being double-minded.

 

[Nehemiah6]

When people label another as a "calvinist," it is a false judgment of that person's heart

No one is judging a "person's heart". Calvinists post their beliefs and that is what is being judged.

 

[Magenta]

One cannot hold to 4 points of Calvinism and avoid the 5th point. So you either believe the nonsensical TULIP doctrine, or you believe the biblical Gospel. What many do not know is that Calvin interpreted the Bible correctly in his commentaries (see Bible Hub), then did a 180 degree turn in his Institutes. That is called being double-minded.

Well, people do all manner of things that may seem nonsensical to others, including
calling one's self a Calvinist when while rejecting one of the five tenets of Calvin.

 

[joecoten]

It is hard not to notice when any/so many contradict their own beliefs

One thing I find humorous is when the Calvinist will say that God ordains everything
in the sense of Him causing everything to happen, as in, God makes everything happen
the way it does. Of course this belief in itself is detestable, for it ascribes evil to God,
but the belief must also entail the fact that God causes people to oppose Calvinism

God is not evil, but no one will ever convince me that He doesn't use it for His righteous purposes.

 

[posthuman]

That's not a bad idea for a thread!

Single words that stir the nest.

Merit!

 

[Magenta]

God is not evil, but no one will ever convince me that He doesn't use it for His purposes.

It seems some are incapable of acknowledging and/or accepting that God's will is not only sovereign and
moral, but also permissive. This means that God allowing man's evil does not equate to God causing man's evil.

Romans 8:28

 

[GaryA]

That's not a bad idea for a thread!

Single words that stir the nest.

And, perhaps every few hundred pages, you could introduce a new word...

 

[joecoten]

I'm not a Calvinist, but I do consider Calvinists brothers and sisters in Christ, since they believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

As for the questions, from a non-Calvinistic perspective:

1. Yes, the Man in the Parable represents Christ or God Himself. Christ really calls and invites all to Salvation.
2. Yes, imho, they knew they were being invited, yet still refused to come to His Supper. Hence, He chose others.
3. Because Free Will is real imo, and thus some can choose to freely refuse God's Calling, and He accepts their choice.

God Bless.

Of course, Calvinists are brothers. Faith in Christ is what saves. Many Catholics are saved.