All the arguing and I am noticing here between Calvinists and Methodists. Now I see why. I really think Methodists
will be very open to the “Great Warning” (non-Catholic
Christians know it as the “awakening”) Rev 6:15-17, more
than other non-Catholic Christian denominations.
Back to the subject, for the rest of Jimmy’s writing
check the link.
http://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/TULIP.htm
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James Akin
Predestination means many things to many people. ALL Christian churches believe in some form of predestination, because the Bible uses the term [1], but what predestination is and how it works are in dispute.
In Protestant circles there are two major camps when it comes to predestination: Calvinism and Arminianism [2]. Calvinism is common in Presbyterian, Reformed, and a few Baptist churches. Arminianism is common in Methodist, Pentecostal, and most Baptist churches [3].
Even though Calvinists are a minority among Protestants today, their view has had enormous influence, especially in this country. This is partly because the Puritans and the Baptists who helped found America were Calvinists, but it is also because Calvinism traditionally has been found among the more intellectual Protestants, giving it a special influence.
Calvinists claim God PREDESTINES people by choosing which individuals will accept his offer of salvation. These people are known as “the elect” [4]. They are not saved against their will. It is because God has chosen them that they will desire to come to him in the first place. Those who are not among the elect, “the reprobate,” will not desire to come to God, will not do so, and thus will not be saved [5].
Arminians claim God predestines people by pronouncing (but not deciding) who will accept salvation. He makes this pronouncement using his foreknowledge, which enables him to see what people will do in the future. He sees who will choose to accept his offer of salvation. The people who God knows will repent are those he regards as his “elect” or “chosen” people.
The debate between Calvinists and Arminians is often fierce. These groups frequently accuse each other of teaching a false gospel, at least on a theoretical level, although on a practical level there is little difference between the two since both groups command people to have “FAITH ALONE” in order to be saved [6].
The debate is centered on the well-known formula TULIP. Each letter of this acronym stands for a different doctrine held by classical Calvinists [7] but rejected by Arminians. The doctrines are: Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, and Perseverance of the saints. ...
All the disagreement in this thread plus Catholic Apologist Jimmy Akin’s writing on the non-Catholic Christian differences plus his sharing the Church teaching, it’s not
a one time read to understand.
Why you have ask by whose authority do you believe what you do? The reason we have the Church. God gave her the authority.
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The Council of Trent (1551-52)
“If anyone says that it is not in the power of man to make his ways evil, but that God produces the evil as well as the good works, not only by permission, but also properly and of himself, so that the betrayal of Judas is no less his own proper work than the vocation of Paul, let him be anathema.... If anyone shall say that the grace of justification is attained by those only who are predestined unto life, but that all others, who are called, are called indeed, but do not receive grace, as if they are by divine power predestined to evil, let him be anathema.”
http://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/TULIP.htm