I’ve actually wondered that my self. If everyone is predestined to either Heaven or Hell and there is no free will, then why do they have ministries?
You were eternally predestined to enjoy it.
um because Jesus commanded us to.
I take trhat back. Our mission is to follow Jesus and if we do that then Jesus will make us fishers of men.
Darn! I’m on my phone right now and can’t watch videos, I will bookmark it for later.
Despite not being a Calvinist, the video comments were excellent in regards to the “cherry-picking” and watering down of the Gospel that’s found in so many churches today. Perfect example is what’s going on in the ELCA now. Sure they’ll replace the conservatives that are leaving with more liberal types, but at what final cost? Scary to think!
Obedience to the creator of the universe: YHvH.
shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach
Find salvation through Jesus Christ. God promised us all forgivness when he sent his Son to die on the cross.
ping for later
IMO This video did not answer the fundamental objections to Calvinism. The reply given in the video to the question of why preach to the unelect was: because we do not know who are the elect.
But what does that matter? Does their “election” to salvation depend upon whether we obey the command to preach the Gospel? Of course not! (replies the Calvinist) - for that would mean that their election is in some way “conditional” (the “u” of the “tulip” stands for unconditional election). In order to uphold their view of predestination and Divine sovereignty, Calvinists MUST hold that individuals are elect (or not part of the elect) REGARDLESS of whether anyone else is obedient to what God tells THEM to do.
So that brings us back to the original question, to which Calvinists have historically been unable to give an adequate answer, and which led to the antipathy towards missions and evangelism among those who adopted Calvin’s teachings.
In one famous story, 30-year old future missionary pioneer to India, William Carey, when attempting to convince the Calvin-influenced Baptists of his day to support missions, he was rebuked by one of the leaders of the church: “Sit down, young man! If God wants to save the heathen, he will do it without your help or mine!” Thankfully Carey rejected this attitude and went on be one of the founders of modern missions.
This is not to deny that many Calvinists have a burden for missions and evangelism: rather, it is to suggest that they obey the command to preach the Gospel in spite of the inherent contradictions with the teachings of Calvin.
The Scriptures themselves refute the unbalanced teachings of Calvinism: “And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14). Calvinists dismiss verses like these as mere rhetorical flourishes, but in doing so they deny the clear import of the text.
Throughout Scripture we are commanded to CHOOSE: to obey God, to accept salvation through Christ. These admonitions contradict Calvinism, which denies that any effort or “work” on our part can result in our salvation - even the “work” of accepting the Gospel! The only thing that matters, according to Calvin, is whether or not we happen to be one of the “elect.” If we are not, all of our pleading and striving for salvation is to no avail.
I finally came to the conclusion that the Calvinism view of God’s sovereignty was contradicted by the very Scriptures it claimed to explain, and was instead was a distortion of the command to both preach the Gospel - and to make the decision to accept it.
In time I came to believe that I must accept the clear teaching of Scripture rather than the unbalanced opinions of a 16th century Swiss theologian. I chose to believe that God will accept ALL (not just Calvin’s “elect”!) who seek His face, for this is what our Lord Himself promises: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7); “And WHOSOEVER WILL, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17).
[Full disclose: I was “born & bred” in a Calvinistic Baptist church and was trained in Calvinistic beliefs in both undergrad and graduate-level Colleges.]
1 Timothy 2:4 (New International Version)
4who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:4 (New International Version)
4who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
I assume the question isn't about calvinism, but specifically about the biblical teaching that God has chosen those who he will save, and predestined them before the foundation of the world.
And the answer to the question "why evangelize" is simple -- because we are told to. The Bible contains the admonition to spread the Gospel. It is our service to God, as well as our privilege to be the vessels through which God educates those he has chosen.
My favorite biblical passage explaining this is the story of the watchman, from Ezekiel 33:
1Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,God appoints us his watchman. People will be saved, or not, through the power and choice of God. But if we don't tell them of Jesus, and they die in their sins, it is on our head. If we tell them of Jesus, and they die in their sins, we are held blameless.2Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
3If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;
4Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
5He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
6But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.
7So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
8When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
9Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.