Subject: Is there middle ground? |
Bible Note: Dear Nolan, and forum friends, Greetings, brother, in Jesus' name! I'm not quite sure what you mean by "I believe that there can never be any such "middle" ground or "truce" between Calvinism and Arminianism. To do so would be to compromise the Blood of Christ."? Frankly, this sounds like a very embarrassing situation for the faith known as Christianity. It also sounds as if you believe that this has been 'ordained' by God, and that we are required to believe one way or the other. I respectfully decline to be placed under either category! If one side is 'right' and the other side is 'wrong,' then we have accepted that (either way) a great portion of the faithful are living in delusion and gross error. I would ask where in the Bible we see any hint that this is the case? In any case, what is this morbid desire to know the theoretical extent of the application of the blood of Christ? I know that the blood of Christ covered MY sins, because the Bible clearly tells me so. I also know that in the realm of MY influence on others, each individual can claim that the blood of Christ covered THEIR sins, because the Bible tells THEM so. But I do not know all the 'elect,' nor do I know the whole world. DO (any of) YOU? Whichever your bent, are you personally responsible for all those people? Or are you, just like me, aware of and responsible for those in your 'sphere' of influence and experience. This debate may well last until the Lord returns, but it is moot nonetheless. The main reason I may be labeled 'middle ground' is simply because so many insist on polarizing the issue, not because I am 'straddling a fence.' My salvation was not due to either bent, and for the longest time I never even knew we were 'required' to pledge allegiance to one or the other. If 'ignorance is bliss,' then I choose to remain 'unaligned.' Shame, shame on the intellectual pursuit of salvation 'theory,' to the end of degrading their brother. There is no Calvinist or Arminian in the 'practical' evangelism of the lost. What a fatalistic viewpoint! As for me, leave me out of the shadow... :-) In Christ Jesus, charis |