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Pilgrim, may I ask you a few questions about your Calvinism?WHY did your spiritual father John Calvin MURDER my spiritual brother Michael Servetus? "John Calvin (1509-1564) OPENLY AND UNABASHEDLY PHYSICALLY VIOLENTLY OPPOSED ONENESS PROPONENTS. A contemporary of Calvin's, a Oneness preacher by the name of Michael Servetus taught- 'I do not separate Christ from God any more than a voice from the speaker or a ray from the sun...'" -Hunted Heretic, R. Bainton, Beacon Press, p. 49. If, as you claim, your God is more loving than mine, is this the type of love you were talking about, that a man of your beliefs would murder another? "Calvin became so angry over the writings of Michael Servetus (1511-1556 A.D.), who taught against the Trinity, and taught One God, that HE HAD SERVETUS BURNED AT THE STAKE in Geneva... Although Calvin must bear the primary guilt of the murder of Servetus, many other Catholics and PROTESTANTS WERE IN FAVOR OF IT." -Ancient Champions of Oneness, W.B. Chalfant, Word Aflame Press, p. 153. (I call him your spiritual father because you follow his doctrine, since, after all, you yourself said- "...ALL the... 'points' of Calvinism fall into place... they've become so clear.") Do ALL the points of Calvin really fall into place for you, Pilgrim? Is this John Calvin truly your example of a good Christian, exemplifying the love of YOUR God, and worthy of following in his beliefs, and learning his doctrines? Is this the kind of love you wish to win me over to in your question to me- "Can't you see this God of love..."? 1Jo 3:15 "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that NO MURDERER HATH ETERNAL LIFE ABIDING IN HIM." Will you now (Joh 8:40) "...seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham," since, (verse 41)- "Ye do the deeds of your father" and you have admitted that "ALL" the points of John Calvin have "become so clear," when in fact he was, openly and unabashedly, a murderer of we Oneness adherents? Joh 16:2 "They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that WHOSOEVER KILLETH YOU WILL THINK THAT HE DOETH GOD SERVICE. 3 And these things will they do unto you, because THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN THE FATHER, NOR ME." 1Jo 2:11 "But HE THAT HATETH HIS BROTHER IS IN DARKNESS, and walketh in darkness, AND KNOWETH NOT WHITHER HE GOETH, BECAUSE THAT DARKNESS HATH BLINDED HIS EYES." So why do you follow the doctrines of murderers? And if you don't follow the doctrines of murderers, why did you say- "...Calvinist... does describe what I hold to... Believe me, I once was so frustrated with the doctrines of Calvinism but through much prayer and studying of the Bible they've become so clear..." Isn't this exactly how people such as Mormons have come to the conclusions of their false doctrines? They've prayed about them and they've become so clear? And didn't the Pharisees themselves also claim to be following the word of God, but in reality they were considered murderers, merely because they were following the doctrines of murderers? I'm sorry, Pilgrim, but I have to ask you- has your faith become so determined in your mind that the facts get in the way, and you simply no longer have any use for them, or what? Act 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 52 WHICH OF THE PROPHETS HAVE NOT YOUR FATHERS PERSECUTED? AND THEY HAVE SLAIN THEM WHICH SHEWED before of the coming of the JUST ONE; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers" Mat 23:31 WHEREFORE YE BE WITNESSES UNTO YOURSELVES, THAT YE ARE THE CHILDREN OF THEM WHICH KILLED THE PROPHETS... 34 Wherefore, behold, I SEND UNTO YOU PROPHETS, AND WISE MEN, AND SCRIBES: AND SOME OF THEM YE SHALL KILL AND CRUCIFY; AND SOME OF THEM SHALL YE SCOURGE IN YOUR SYNAGOGUES, AND PERSECUTE THEM FROM CITY TO CITY: 35 THAT UPON YOU MAY COME ALL THE RIGHTEOUS BLOOD SHED UPON THE EARTH, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias... 36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon... 37 ...thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee..." Do you really want to be associated with murderers, Pilgrim? 1Ti 4:1 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times someshall depart from the faith, GIVING HEED TO SEDUCING SPIRITS, AND DOCTRINES OF DEVILS (is a murderer not a devil?); 2 SPEAKING LIES IN HYPOCRISY; HAVING THEIR CONSCIENCE SEARED WITH A HOT IRON..." Eze 8:17 "Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? IS IT A LIGHT THING TO THE HOUSE OF JUDAH THAT THEY COMMIT THE ABOMINATIONS WHICH THEY COMMIT HERE? FOR THEY HAVE FILLED THE LAND WITH VIOLENCE, and have returned to provoke me to anger..." O dear Pilgrim, don't even begin to think I write in hatred of you. I hate you NOT ONE LITTLE BIT! But you, of all people, having read the scriptures as you have, ought to realize the gravity of going against the quoted word of God, yet you treat it as a light thing, and then rather follow the doctrines of murderers than the truths and commandments of the one living God! I don't hate you Pilgrim, but, as Rev 3:19 "As many as I LOVE, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." 2 Co 11:2 "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." Joh 8:43 "Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear (Jesus') word. 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father (Calvin) ye will do(?). HE WAS A MURDERER... AND ABODE NOT IN THE TRUTH... 45 And BECAUSE I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, YE BELIEVE ME NOT. 46 ...And IF I SAY THE TRUTH, WHY DO YE NOT BELIEVE ME? 47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God." But you don't have to stay where you are unless you choose to do so, you're not predestined to hell, for 1Jo 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Do you really think the word of God could be pointed so fearfully in your direction if you were living up to it's words? Gen 4:6 And the LORD said unto (Pilgrim), Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 IF THOU DOEST WELL, SHALT THOU NOT BE ACCEPTED? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him." Will you condemn me now for this writing because I merely speak the truth in the power and authority of the word of God after the example of Christ my Master? Luk 4:32 "And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power." Mat 7:28 "And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." 1Pe 2:21 "For... Christ... LEAVING US AN EXAMPLE, THAT YE SHOULD FOLLOW HIS STEPS" Joh 13:15 "For I have given you an example, that ye should DO AS I HAVE DONE..." For those who have fallen into the trap that maybe there is some merit in Calvinistic predestination, please consider the following scriptures... Mat 7:24 "...WHOSOEVER heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man..." Rev 22:16 "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things... 17 ...Come. And let him that is athirst come. And *WHOSOEVER WILL*, let him take the water of life freely." Luk 9:23 "And he said to them all, "*IF ANY MAN WILL* COME AFTER ME, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For WHOSOEVER WILL save his life shall lose it: but WHOSOEVER WILL lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it." 2Pe 3:9 "THE LORD IS... longsuffering to us-ward, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, but that all should come to repentance." Rom 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. " Rom 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say, HAVE THEY NOT HEARD? YES VERILY, THEIR SOUND WENT INTO ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS UNTO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD... 20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I WAS FOUND OF THEM THAT SOUGHT ME NOT; I WAS MADE MANIFEST UNTO THEM THAT ASKED NOT AFTER ME. 21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I HAVE STRETCHED FORTH MY HANDS UNTO A DISOBEDIENT AND GAINSAYING PEOPLE." To say- Rom 8:29 "...whom he did FOREKNOW, he also did PREDESTINATE TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON... " is merely no different than saying- Eph 4:4 "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in ONE HOPE of your calling; 5 One Lord, ONE FAITH..." or Luk 9:24 "whosoever will save HIS LIFE shall lose it: but WHOSOEVER WILL lose HIS LIFE for my sake, the same shall save it." And heavy on the "WHOSOEVER WILL"!!! We just don't get to choose HOW we'll serve Him, and He, being omniscient, knows who will or won't serve Him in truth when given the opportunity. Is that so hard to understand? This doctrine of total unconditional "predestination" as if it's whether we like it or not, rather than "predestinated TO BE CONFORMED," at once makes a mockery of God's mercy, and His open offer to WHOMSOEVER WILL, AND robs mankind of the free will to "CHOOSE YOU this day WHOM YE WILL SERVE"! Jos 24:14 "Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, CHOOSE *YOU* THIS DAY **WHOM YE WILL** SERVE; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Tit 2:11 "FOR THE GRACE OF GOD THAT BRINGETH SALVATION HATH APPEARED TO ALL men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" God Bless! Please continue with Hello Pilgrim, |