Why this obsessive need to lump all non-Calvinists together? Do you not consider the neeners to be your brothers in Christ? Do you not consider us Christians?
Yes, we may differ in our soteriology, but what is it about the GRPLs that doesn't allow you to reference us without some derogatory terminology?
AFAIK, none of the neeners wear the label "Arminian" outside of FReeRepublic. Yes, we're all identified with our respective denominations, just as the GRPLs are.
But it's the GPRLs who claim the name of a man. It's the GRPLs that say "Calvinism is the gospel." It's the GRPLs that say "all Christians will be Calvinists in glory."
And quite frankly, that shows your weakness and your dependence upon a man-made theology.
You see, WE know the only name that will matter in glory is that of the Almighty, the King of Kings, the Lord of Hosts.
And, if my holiness background allowed me to bet, I'd put money on John Calvin saying exactly the same thing.
How about the name "anti Calvinists" ... that is the thread that keeps the neeners together (Unlike the GRLP that is held together with doctrine )
I didn't realize the term "Arminian" was derogatory. I do know Calvinist is used in a derisive manner here and elsewhere.
There is no obsessive need to lump groups together. It simply makes understanding where someone is coming from and talking about a particular perspective a lot easier. For example, I know a Presbyterian and a Reformed Southern Baptist are going to be closer together in their soteriology than a Free Will Baptist.
"And quite frankly, that shows your weakness and your dependence upon a man-made theology."
I prefer to think I'm following the original western HISTORIC view of church theology. The Eastern Orthodox follow the eastern historic view of church theology. I rarely get into discussions with the Eastern Orthodox because they have their reasons for why they think they're right and I have my reasons for why I think the early western view is correct.
But most do not understand this history-I didn't. Don't you think it's important to understand where this all comes from and if your faith is reasonably similar to those early Christians? I certainly did. If you don't want labels we could just say "the eastern viewers" and "the western viewers" but that's a bit clumsy.
BTW-With a few exception I have yet to read the works of Calvin.
"Do you not consider the neeners to be your brothers in Christ? Do you not consider us Christians?"
Trust me, if I didn't think so I wouldn't post as much to you guys. Without the Holy Spirit all these discussions would be meaningless. But wouldn't I be remiss if I didn't point out what I felt were errors in this doctrine just as the neeners posts to us?
"It's the GRPLs that say "all Christians will be Calvinists in glory.""
Hmmmm...I have to ponder that one. :O)
***Yes, we may differ in our soteriology, but what is it about the GRPLs that doesn't allow you to reference us without some derogatory terminology?***
I fail to see how the term Arminian is derogatory. Of course, if you wish to clean up the derogatory comments about people, why don't you clean up your own side first, then you will be free to take the mote out of your brother's eye.
Christian.
Part of it is convenience. We all do it, tend to polarize things one way or another. You're either Republican or Democrat, no room for an in-between. But it would be folly indeed for me to say, "There's only two views, the conservative Republican view and the liberal Democrat view." It totally ignores that there are actually moderates on both sides of the aisle, center-right as well as center-left.
So it is here. There are shades of soteriology. There's extremes on either end, reperesented by open-knowledge on the one extreme and "neo-gnostic" hypercalvinism on the other. Both are equally heretical.
Just like it would be folly to lump a blue-collar steelworker in with the Birkenstock-wearing Deaniacs, and assume that they were the same sort of Democrats, so it would be utter lunacy to take the "Neeners," and lump them in the same mould as the Open Knowledge guys. They're radically different.
There are some here who need to learn that not everyone who disagrees with them is an Arminian or an heretic.
Amen!