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[Industrialblog, March 15, 2007]
So who's this kook on tv on the doctrine of election
A few years ago, down in Florida, I saw this guy on television that just went on and on about the sovereignty of God and the doctrine of election. I could never really figure out what he was getting at -- he always seemed to be about to make a point, but never quite got there. Got bored, turned him off.

Then, last night, I saw the same guy. He's a white guy, looks in his 40s, and he was speaking in front of a church and sometimes on the beach. He was droning on and on again -- he claims to be neither a Calvinist nor an Arminianist, and he agrees with something called the "Westminster Confession" or something or other. As a former Methodist, I should probably know this, but I don't.

Anyway, this guy says essentially God just picks the saved and damned for his own reasons, and nothing anyone does has any role in God's decision. Then the guy keeps talking about what a blessing this teaching is.

Anyone know who he is, is he considered serious in protestant circles, and why this doctrine of election is so important? On first glance, the doctrine of election smacks of mind-reading God. YMMV.
TWS (mail) (www):
Methodism grew out of Anglicanism... The Westminister Confession is an English/Roundhead/Calvinist creation, so way more protestant: Good old fashioned Presbyterianism, definitely not Arminian: good version at <a>rel="nofollow" href="http://www.reformed.org/"<a>.

'Double predestination' oh please. Pope is antichrist? A bit severe, even for me. :)

Peace, and again, sorry not by here enuf, you have no idea how much they beat me at work.

-TWS
3.16.2007 12:27am
Pauli (mail) (www):
Before converting to Catholicism, I was in a very strict Reformed, Calvinistic church. One short answer on the doctrine of election is that it's a bee in the bonnet from focusing almost solely on the letters of St. Paul for theological development, esp. Romans and Galatians. Another observation I've made is that hyper-Calvinists react against the Roman Catholic idea that the church is supposed to be an instrument of salvation, or that anyone/anything (i.e., saints, intercessory prayer, etc.) can be instrumental at all. This leads down a dark path, for those who really try to believe it, that all free will and the ability to affect any outcome are completely illusory. Others come to a "half-belief" or tell themselves that God's mind on the subject is incomprehensible; that makes them Methodists or Catholics on the matter for all intents and purposes. But I think you summed it up best with your YMMV remark.
3.26.2007 10:25am
Bill (mail) (www):
Thank you, Pauli. That helps.
3.26.2007 11:20am

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