[utahagen]

This is a sincere question for Protestants who believe in Reformed theology: why would there be zeal to spread the Gospel if God has predestined some people to be saved and some people to be damned? If human beings do not have free will, what difference to their salvation does it make whether they go to church on Sunday? My point is, doesn't Reformed theology make it difficult to keep people actually going to church? Don't good people who believe in God just figure they are either saved already, or they won't be saved no matter what they do?

[HossB86]

why would there be zeal to spread the Gospel if God has predestined some people to be saved and some people to be damned?

Simple....

God commands that we do it.

Hoss

[PieterCasparzen]

This is a sincere question for Protestants who believe in Reformed theology: why would there be zeal to spread the Gospel if God has predestined some people to be saved and some people to be damned?

Of course, ultimately it's because the Bible commands it, as another poster noted. How and why is quite simple: because people can not see into the future.

Today's persecutor of the Church can be tomorrow's newest sinner saved by Grace through faith.

We have no way of knowing who, upon hearing the Word of God, will become convicted of their own sins, repent, and come to have faith in God.

Not knowing who will be saved in the future, all we can do is offer testimony and quote Scripture when the situation arises. Faith cometh by hearing the Word of God.

[D-fendr]

they are either saved already, or they won't be saved no matter what they do?

In Calvinism, that's the disconnect. The loss of meaning.

[CynicalBear]

>>why would there be zeal to spread the Gospel if God<<

Any truly saved person with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit could answer that question without hesitation. It’s because when one is save Christ indwells that individual and changes their heart to want to please God and detests the sin that his/her human nature still tends towards. When indwelt by the Holy Spirit the desire to obey and please God is a desire that becomes part of the changed heart.

>>what difference to their salvation does it make whether they go to church on Sunday?<<

It doesn’t but the changed heart wants as much interaction with other truly saved people and desire to praise and worship causes the truly saved to want to attend. Only those who don’t understand true salvation don’t understand that desire but think it’s a duty.

>>or they won't be saved no matter what they do?<<

There again, the truly saved understand that it’s not “no matter what they do” but the desire changes to not want to do those things contrary to God’s will.