Calvinist purpose of living?

[Trout]

From living on the farm, I got my BS degree.

You don't need to tell people that. They read your schtick and figure it out.

[One Bad Pig]

You don't need to tell people that. They read your schtick and figure it out.

I know, I know. But you asked, so I did the polite thing and responded.

[Trout]

I know, I know. But you asked, so I did the polite thing and responded.

NICE! You've earned a set of steak knives!!! Or I mean gift of steak knives . . . wait . . . you've earned a free gift but you didn't earn it . . .

[One Bad Pig]

NICE! You've earned a set of steak knives!!! Or I mean gift of steak knives . . . wait . . . you've earned a free gift but you didn't earn it . . .

Oh, I did nothing to merit a set of steak knives. But since you're offering, I'll accept them. Thanks!

[Phat8594]

Phat?

I think I've heard what I need to. Thanks for the answers.

So what about your answers?? I never got one to the question:

So let me get this straight:

You believe that someone freely believing can wash them completely free of their sin? It can make them righteous in front of God?

So before you kindly bow out, would you be so kind to answer that one question? (the one just above)

[BillyE]

Why am I a Calvinist?
I don't see where I have a choice in the matter.

[BillyE]

If you are Calvinist, what is the point of living if you cannot make any difference being a witness or do anything that affects whether or not you are saved (since the elect are already chosen and we don't do anything to change that)?

I don't know if I'm a Calvinist or not, but I'll take a crack at this question.

The purpose for living has nothing to do with 'making a difference' or 'affecting your salvation' regardless of your view on the matter. If that was our purpose then heaven would be a sort of hell since after all is said and done we'd of been stripped of our purpose for being.

Doing stuff as a purpose is what is sold to us by pastors who want to build mega-churches. It works well for people who've a buck to make off the labor of others. It's an easy sell - everyone feels they should be doing something.

Your purpose is to participate in the love that binds the Trinity together and to enjoy the fellowship of our Lord Jesus Christ now and throughout eternity. If you participate in that purpose the rest will take care of itself.

Once you get the purpose correct the question fades away because regardless of one's stand on the issue of Calvinism the purpose remains exactly the same making the question itself a moot point.

[The Remonstrant]

Why am I a Calvinist?
I don't see where I have a choice in the matter.

Assuming your view is correct, of course.

Conversely, assuming I am right (which I most certainly am, mind you), I actually had a genuine choice in the matter (rejecting Calvinism and accepting Arminianism).

Yes!!

I free will.

Okay; I'm done.

[Dee Dee Warren]

Phat, as to demagoguery


You keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means.

[Littlejoe]

one day - Arminius willing - we'll all know the answer. Until then, I guess our purpose for living will be to become as smart as you, Joe.

My goodness...why would you want to back up THAT much???

[Phat8594]

Phat, as to demagoguery


You keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means.

No, it does:

impassioned appeals to the prejudices and emotions of the populace

or

the obscuring or distorting with emotionalism, prejudice, etc.

[Trout]

No, it does:



or

your theology is determining the meaning of the word, rather than the actual usage of the word in context

[ikaika777]

I actually had a genuine choice in the matter (rejecting Calvinism and accepting Arminianism).

Yes!!

free will.

But maybe that choice you made wasn't really a choice you had a hand in but was predestined before time that you would make the choice you made?

[Phat8594]

your theology is determining the meaning of the word, rather than the actual usage of the word in context

Or the semantic range as defined in the dictionary.


BUT


I am flattered that you would quote me (from another thread in Theology 201 mind you) in your response.

But in either case, it seems your theology is determining the meaning of the word, rather than the actual usage of the word in context, and the rest of Yohanine literature