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This is saddening. What may come will come, but the GRPL will note that I've seriously slowed down posting on religion threads. The GRPL will also note that I'm not one who is weak on doctrine.... Work this out, please. Whatever we need to do to make this forum work do, and do quickly. What's that that Paul wrote about them being without judging us? Think about it. -- RDB3

Rdb3 makes a great point here. One which I have been thinking about myself.

While we may have suffered from the Discipline of "Thou Shalt Not Hit The Abuse Button" which I myself have encouraged, I'm not sure that FReeper Calvinists really have all that much to complain about when it comes to the Religion Forum.

Just look at our Ranks, the GRPL order of battle....

Ex-Catholics -- converted to the Biblical Doctrines of Grace and the Sovereignty of God.
Ex-Arminians -- converted to the Biblical Doctrines of Grace and the Sovereignty of God.
Ex-Mormons -- converted to the Biblical Doctrines of Grace and the Sovereignty of God.

I mean, really... it's not as though the Catholics and Arminians and Mormons ever succeed in converting Calvinists to their own cause. On the FR Religion Forum, Discipleship is a one-way street: When Calvinists fight, WE WIN.

So what are we really complaining about?

When the battle is joined, the Catholics and Arminians and Mormons never gain any for their cause. Whereas we Reformation Protestants have gained many, and lost none. The numbers of Calvinist Baptists and Calvinist Presbyterians have swelled as a result of Freeper Calvinist apologetics on this very Forum.

And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.

It occurs to me that FReeper Calvinists have no cause to complain about the management of the FR Religion Forum. How can we complain, when we are constantly victorious??

The FR Religion Forum has provided many Ex-Catholics, Ex-Arminians, and Ex-Mormons a WAY OUT of the humanistic religions of their forebears, and INTO the fraternal communion of Bible-Believing Baptist and Presbyterian Churches.

Hmm. That sounds good to me. Maybe we should cut Jim Rob and the Moderators some slack.

Maybe we shouldn't argue against Success.

When you put the results in full view my brother, then the end result is a win for us. :-) And frankly, I find the fellowship of the GRPL to be a wonderful side benefit of being on FR. The brothers and sisters herein have forced me to think (and rethink) and really draw closer to the Lord. For that I am grateful. The Arminians I see with pity and a certain sense of sadness. :-(

Great post. (Hope it doesn't get pulled).

When the battle is joined, the Catholics and Arminians and Mormons never gain any for their cause. Whereas we Reformation Protestants have gained many, and lost none. The numbers of Calvinist Baptists and Calvinist Presbyterians have swelled as a result of Freeper Calvinist apologetics on this very Forum.

I grant your point. But it is in fact the Calvinists who give the entire Religious Forum its only merit and its most substantial original FReeper content.

We have to balance that contribution against the vast amount of Arminian and Roman and Mormon propaganda that finds a home here.

I suppose it would be hard for me to say that any harm is done.

* Just look at our Ranks, the GRPL order of battle....
Ex-Catholics -- converted to the Biblical Doctrines of Grace and the Sovereignty of God.
Ex-Arminians -- converted to the Biblical Doctrines of Grace and the Sovereignty of God.
Ex-Mormons -- converted to the Biblical Doctrines of Grace and the Sovereignty of God.

I mean, really... it's not as though the Catholics and Arminians and Mormons ever succeed in converting Calvinists to their own cause. On the FR Religion Forum, Discipleship is a one-way street: When Calvinists fight, WE WIN.

Perhaps that is the reason why some posters appear not to want to stay with the issues, so they flame us, and as soon as we respond , someone hits abuse.

What I do not understand is why they post to Calvinists at all if they think we offend them ?? No one, after all, is mandated to read any threads or respond to any posts . (and that includes us)

Discipleship is a one-way street: When Calvinists fight, WE WIN.

This sounds like you are saying if a person doesn't line up with the Calvinist formula, they can't be a Christian.

I worry for you my friend, for I have experienced the humble pie God dished up to me when I forced Him into a formula devised by men.

The seminary students I have been in conversations with have all had a nasty habit of purposefully ignoring portions of scripture that don't fit into their model. There will always be scripture that confounds any model we try to establish, for we see through a glass darkly.

Just relax and enjoy a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as He has commissioned the Holy Spirit to reveal the things you will need to accomplish God's will for your life. We aren't going to figure out God, and all wisdom comes only from what He chooses to reveal to us no matter how hard we study.

It occurs to me that FReeper Calvinists have no cause to complain about the management of the FR Religion Forum. How can we complain, when we are constantly victorious??

Scripture seems to indicate humility is a great accelerator and pride only puts on the brakes when it comes to knowing God in a real way.

P.S. I am not defending anyone who purposefully chooses to base their beliefs on ideas that don't line up with scripture. We all should use the Bible as our commentary on the Bible, not the formulas of men, whether Joseph Smith, a Pope or John Calvin adherents. Five of the seven churches of Asia were off the mark in the first century. Heed Jesus' admonitions to those churches well.