The Kingdom Come

In the debate between Arminianistic (human free-will) and Calvinistic (God's control) theology, each has its proof-texts. Each claims to be using Scripture alone to prove its position. Perhaps one way to resolve the dispute, so you'd think would be to simply put all the proof-texts side by side. Yet, as often as this has been done, the dispute continues. It could be because the proof-texts are presented as negating factors in an attempt to negate or cancel out another proof-text.

The approach of proof-texting does more damage than good, since to the non or weak Christian observer, it may appear Scripture is highly contradictory.

Yes, that is a strange combination for a topic but you'll see it ties together. On Friday October 8th, 2010 I had the Lasik (laser) eye surgery procedure done to correct my vision. I've only worn glasses for about 10 years but my eyes had reached a point where they weren't getting any worse and I decided now was the time to do this procedure and gain independence from glasses.

The ongoing debate between "Calvinists and Arminians" seems like a hopeless, pitched battle where some people think we should just "agree to disagree" and move to our respective corners.  After all, we are all entitled to our "opinions" right?  Well dear reader, if our approach to truth is that it is all just a matter of personal or private interpretation, then why believe anything?  Why oppose any other belief no matter how shocking it may seem to us? If we make our faith out to be as if nothing, then the little faith we have will be taken from us and someday we would look back and wonder how we arrived at a point of almost disbelief -- compromising and trading our faith for peace.

A doctrine that is much misunderstood & often incorrectly mimicked is the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints.  It is often called the preservation of the saints or sometimes mimicked as "once saved, always saved", "eternal security", or "Lordship salvation".  Perhaps the misunderstanding of this doctrine starts with people who misunderstand who it is doing the persevering.  Being a part of Calvinistic or Reformed doctrine, it should be obvious that it is NOT the individual doing the persevering but that it is God's gracious hand that perseveres.