James White always talks about “cage-stage Calvinist,” those new to Calvinism who are over-zealous and looking for a debate. Well, I’m long past that, but even so I encounter many who misunderstand and misstate what we believe that I am always wary and ready to try to set the record straight. Over time I’ve discovered that most who bash us have no understanding of what we actually believe. Most are so wedded to their tradition they refuse to even try to learn anything new and the truth angers them mightily. It’s quite frustrating.
However, I got involved in some Bible debate here a year or two ago and gave a heavily Calvinistic analysis. Later an older lady emailed me and said that what I had said really shook her. She was a lifelong Southern Baptist and she said no one had ever explained the Bible as I had. She asked a variety of questions about grace and asked me to point her to some resources. The last time I heard from her she was steadily studying. That lady, and others like her, are why I bother.
That’s extremely well said, every word of it.
And there are many testimonies out there similar to the one of the lady who you inspired to study!!!