He posted a picture of a lion, ready to attack a group of Christians, huddled together (preparing to be martyred) in the Roman Coliseum, with the facetious caption (mocking Arminians), which says,
"God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life."
Calvinists don't understand these Two Things.
* FIRST THING
Cal doesn't understand the Bible, the will of God, God, salvation. (ok, this First Thing is actually four things He doesn't understand, and I have not even gotten to the Second Thing he doesn't understand).
As the Bible teaches, God does have wonderful plans for our lives. It is true that sometimes the plan of God takes believers through the fire, but the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed.
I know what life would be like without Jesus, and I know what life is like with Jesus, and I would not go back to sin. In fact, neither did those who chose to die violent, horrific deaths in martyrdom.
The Bible teaches that being a Christian is not simply about this life, but the life to come. However, for me to live is Christ and to die is gain. Cal does not understand the joy that goes with serving Jesus or dying for Jesus.
VERSES
(I really hope you read these passages. They are insightful and encouraging).
Romans 8:18
(18) For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
2 Corinthians 1:3-7
(3) Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
(4) Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
(5) For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
(6) And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
(7) And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
(16) For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
(17) For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
(18) While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Philippians 3:8-11
(8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
(9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
(10) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
(11) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
James 1:2-4
(2) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
(3) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
(4) But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
1 Peter 4:12-14
(12) Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
(13) But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
(14) If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
* SECOND THING
Cal does not understand Arminianism. I would explain this, but I already have, since the Biblical revelation on this subject is the Arminian position.
DISCLAIMER
I realize there are people who preach a "pie in the sky, bye and bye," or a Pollyanish message, but that is not Arminiansim, and to say that it is Arminianism betrays Cal's ignorance.
DISAPPOINTMENT
I am sad for Cal. He does not know that God does have a wonderful plan for his life. He does not know the fullness of joy in Jesus, which explains the dour impression that Calvinism has given the world of Christianity. Actually, a fully convinced Calvinist and a legalistic Arminian are like book ends. They are the mirror image of one another.
(For my Calvinist friends who don't fit the description above, it is because they have accepted enough Biblical truth, so that they almost have the joy of an Arminian).
Romans 8:18
(18) For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
2 Corinthians 1:3-7
(3) Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
(4) Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
(5) For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
(6) And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
(7) And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
(16) For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
(17) For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
(18) While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Philippians 3:8-11
(8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
(9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
(10) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
(11) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
James 1:2-4
(2) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
(3) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
(4) But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
1 Peter 4:12-14
(12) Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
(13) But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
(14) If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
* SECOND THING
Cal does not understand Arminianism. I would explain this, but I already have, since the Biblical revelation on this subject is the Arminian position.
DISCLAIMER
I realize there are people who preach a "pie in the sky, bye and bye," or a Pollyanish message, but that is not Arminiansim, and to say that it is Arminianism betrays Cal's ignorance.
DISAPPOINTMENT
I am sad for Cal. He does not know that God does have a wonderful plan for his life. He does not know the fullness of joy in Jesus, which explains the dour impression that Calvinism has given the world of Christianity. Actually, a fully convinced Calvinist and a legalistic Arminian are like book ends. They are the mirror image of one another.
(For my Calvinist friends who don't fit the description above, it is because they have accepted enough Biblical truth, so that they almost have the joy of an Arminian).
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