Jumping in - I will respond by saying the strict Calvinism does not paint God as unfair it paints Him unloving. It is contrary to the His declared and revealed nature. It is the saddest of false doctrines to me and of late have been wondering what set of variables inclines one to embrace Calvinism.Why do you say that Calvinism paints God as being unloving?
And when you give your answer, consider this: According to the Bible, All men sinned in Adam and earned for themselves Spiritual Death and Eternal Damnation (Romans 3:10-12,23; Romans 5:12-14). And the nature of Spiritual Death is precisely this: that while a man remains Spiritually Dead, he will always reject God (Romans 8:5-8).
Given, then, that ALL Fallen Men deserve Hell; and that NO Fallen Man would ever accept Jesus without first being Regenerated by the Holy Spirit; is God not perfectly Just to damn whomsoever He pleases, and perfectly Loving to grant Spiritual Life to whomsoever He pleases?
Thoughts?
I have many, many thoughts and I suppose we could swap scripture verses for hours, but your are well studied and I am well studied so that is not my interest really....what I'm wondering as I see the cyclical resurgence of Calvinism is what forces are bring it around.....I am not speaking of the traditionally reform churches but the embracing of Calvin on college campuses and in SBC churches....