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“Only a fool would think the latter. / Straw dogs abound.”

No, it isn’t a straw dog or man. It is an logical outcome of Calvinism that I left the church I had been a member of for 5 years over - does God so love the world, or does He only love certain men and hate others?

I have had Romans 9 inappropriately tossed in my face too many times: “13As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

That section does not involve predestination of individuals, but a number of Calvinists have told me it does - and that God hates some men because He can, and He then prevents them from repenting so He can send them to hell for His pleasure.

Indeed, I met a guy about 6 months ago who stopped going to church as a kid after the church debated singing “Jesus Loves Me” - since Jesus only loved the Elect. So yes, there are people out there who object to a kid singing Jesus Loves Me, and there are some who think it bad theology to have “Jesus Loves You” on a T-shirt!

The problem with Calvin is that he didn’t understand corporate election. We are elect IN CHRIST - those who believe are joined to Christ, and IN HIM we have everything else.

He also misunderstood what ‘dead in sin’ means. It means we are separated from God, not incapable of repentance. The Prodigal Son was “DEAD”, yet he repented and returned to his father. And for every verse talking about us being dead in sin, there are more talking about us being “blind”, or “slaves”.

Jhn 8:34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.

Rom 6:19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

Luk 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

Mar 2:17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

And the key is faith, as Jesus demonstrated many times:

Mat 9:29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.”

Mat 15:28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

Mar 2:5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.”

Mar 5:34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

Mar 10:52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

When Jesus was asked, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”, he replied, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent...I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6)

IF we believe, we are united with Christ and IN HIM we are the elect, and IN HIM predestined to be like Him.