Here's another thread on FR that should be read. I especially like the disclaimer. It says, "God takes full responsibility for all hurt feelings, and demolished self-esteem."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1623923/posts
Someone made a bad mistake in the above article when they said, “From that fierce belief that God knows and controls everything came the doctrines of predestination and election.”
The doctrine of predestination DID NOT come from the fierce belief that “God knows”.... In fact, that’s where all the trouble lies, as Calvinism denies that God chooses a man or not because God “knows” he will be a believer or not. Don’t you remember, Calvinism teaches that God chose a man, or not, NOT ACCORDING TO FOREKNOWLEDGE of anything in that man.
As we know, the mystery of God is “Christ in you”, the hope of salvation. Calvinism denies that God chose any man for salvation “because” of his foreknowledge of Christ in him.
Calvinism teaches that God is unfair, not judging anyone before the foundation of the world ‘before’ he decreed their eternal fate. That’s the WHOLE trouble with Calvinism, the idea that no man was judged by God before their fate was sealed....and the reason Calvin’s unbelievers reject him and choose to believe in the Judge of all mankind, Jesus instead.
See Isaiah 59:14,15...why God was displeased...He saw no judgment.
Jesus says...”...as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just....” Jesus keeps the Law perfectly...”Doth our law judge any man, “before” it hear him, and “know” what he doeth?” John 7:51 Calvinism makes Jesus (the Sovereign God) the Lawless One (unrighteous).
“Woe unto them that decree “unrighteous” decrees....” Isa 10:1
If you believe in Calvin’s version of predestination, can you tell me what “WAS” God’s Standard of Judgment for salvation or condemnation? Calvinism can’t.