[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Please tell me, how did it advance the cause of Christ? 724 posted on 2/28/02 8:07 PM Pacific by Ward Smythe

One of the express purposes of the preaching of the Doctrine of Predestination is to drive Tares out of the Church (oh, they may have buildings that they call their "churches"; but as they cannot abide sound doctrine, they have been driven out of God's Church).

That is how Jesus preached it:

Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. -- (John 6: 60-66)

Our natural inclinations would be to water down, or throw out, hard points of doctrine which drive people away -- such as Predestination. But, on the example of the example of Jesus Christ, we cannot do that. We must preach the Doctrine of Predestination, without reservation; and when the preaching thereof drives people away, we must trust that God is in control, and that He is accomplishing His purpose in using the preaching of the Doctrine of Predestination to drive Tares out of the Church.

On the example of Jesus Himself, that is one of the Doctrine's intended purposes.

[Ward Smythe]

You all obviously missed my point.

Mom, Woody and wrigley did a little demonic dance this afternoon about how all the Arminians fled.

Not before badgering a new, and young poster with their superiority. Not to mention the fact that you were being watched by unbelievers.

I've said some pretty heavy things on this thread in the heat of the argument, but this afternoon's behavior was wretched.

The Arminians took a break, Mom, not because we were frightened away, but because you made us nauseous.

Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

I ask again, how did the behavior you exhibited this afternoon advance the cause of Christ?