"The principle of logical charity," i.e., striving to interpret and present alternative positions in the strongest possible light.
I.E., your claim of "pride". It only fits, if you assume that my beliefs are false.
Because if my beliefs are true, then the Bible itself has promised me that it shall never fail to supply me with answers:
In order for the charge of "pride" to "stick", you must assume that my position must necessarily be false, and that Scripture has, therefore, not promised to thoroughly supply me with all answers.
But this assumption is arrogance on your part. It violates the principle of Logical Charity.
I came to these threads saying "this is what I believe about Calvinism, please explain to me why I should believe differently." I defy you to find one single post where a Calvinist has granted that Logical Charity to an Arminian. Pick a thread. ANY thread. Don't demand from us what you refuse to give. Arrogance. Pride. Arrogance. Pride. The charge stands. Your words convict you.
Nope.
I am able to assume the Arminian position in the strongest possible light, for I have been an Arminian. I wasn't born and raised Presbyterian, Ward. I know the strongest arminian arguments by heart; they just aren't Biblical, that's all.
But the only way which you can accuse me of "pride", is to assume that Scripture has not promised me an endless supply of answers -- as Scripture does in fact promise to those who uphold the Faith once for all delivered to the Saints (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
This is why I know that Scripture will NEVER fail to supply me with answers. I uphold the Faith once for all delivered to the Saints, and Scripture has thus promised to always supply me with answers.
To deny this, you must assume that my position is false.
But that assumption on your part is arrogance.
So ditch the attempt at "winning a point" against me on this matter. That dog won't hunt.
There is no promise in the verses you quote, and it is not dependent upon your beliefs being true. Scripture is profitable for many purposes that we may become better Christians and eventually perfected.
Your false claim of a false superiority is pride, OPie. You should, in charity, extend to Ward every advantage you claim for yourself, that the Bible will always provide him with answers, that his beliefs are true, etc., before you accuse him of violating the principle of logical charity, or else you have not presented his views in the best possible light.
Best thing to do is to avoid these insulting attacks in nearly every post to a non-Calvinist. That would be an example worthy of emulation.
Ah, but what you don't know about me is that, while I have, all my life, been an Arminian, I spent three and a half years in a Reformed church (granted, some have asserted it to be a "bad" Reformed church) where my family and I agonized over the very doctrines you so proudly hold.
I have considered the other side OP. I have read your views. I have gone to the scriptures. And I have followed all of the arguments on these threads.
I have TRIED to grasp the Calvinist doctrine, but the truth is,
IT HORRIFIES ME!
It speaks of a god who created Hitler,
It speaks of a god who created Stalin,
It speaks of a god who creates millions of innocent babies, just to kill them so they can be with him
It speaks of a god who, just for kicks, creates millions of souls just for the purpose of sending them to eternal torment.
And what speaks most loudly of all is that:
IT DOESN'T BOTHER YOU GUYS,
In fact, you embrace it. You think it's "cool."
In Calvinist teaching, we are but pawns on the cosmic chessboard of a sadistic god.
WE assert that our position is Biblical Theology. And while I have clearly acknowledged that I am not the strongest debater in that regard, others here are. And so have there been thousands through the last 2,000 years who could match you scripture for scripture, intepretation for interpretation, and you know it, especially if you have been an Arminian.
But that's not the point. Scriptural knowledge does not equate with scriptural authority or accuracy.
Satan could best us all in a debate on the scriptures.
And you have the nerve to claim:
"I'm never going to run out of answers, Shadow... the Bible is on my side!!"
AND THEN, if that isn't enough you say that, you say that you don't have to grant Logical Charity to the Arminians because you already figured it out.
2,000 years of bitter church history and you nailed it.
You. You da man. You're the big cheese, the big enchilada.
You have it all right.
I think not.
You simply cannot see this because you are so blinded by the pride you vehemently deny.
The dog doesn't need to hunt. Take a little expedition. Examine your own heart. Not mine.