[Quix]

Thanks.

Good. Keep it up. Kind of comforting, actually.

Though I wouldn't want you to suffer false hopes!

I don't know if you've ever read me say, or not.

When I was first in Taipei in the Navy, there was an elderly Assembly of God former missionary who pastored the little military chapel we attended. A very small group of us.

Anyway--he entertained requests to preach on whatever. He was a wise, loving soul. Had been one of the last out of Mainland China--in 1955 and just about didn't make it out alive.

I asked him to preach on the topic of Calvinism/Arminianism--however I put it at the time.

I was close friends with a Southern Baptist gal and associated a lot with her and her missionary colleagues. All very staunch Calvinists.

Anyway--Bro Vigna presented Scriptures on Both sides. I suppose on summary he came down on the side of Arminianism but you'd hardly have known it. He really emphasized that the WHOLE COUNSEL OF SCRIPTURE was on both sides. That was interesting.

Certainly, over the years, I've learned that contrary to my rearing in a very fundamental sort of A of G church--God was not going to cancel someone's Salvation if the Rapture occurred when someone was frowning.

On the other hand, there ARE plenty of Scriptures indicating that one can remove Himself from under the Blood so to speak. But I don't think it's as easy as some may think.

Doubt that conviction is going to change this side of Heaven. Too many Scriptures on that side, too.

[Safrguns]

He really emphasized that the WHOLE COUNSEL OF SCRIPTURE was on both sides. That was interesting. interesting is not the word for this... confusing is more like it. I don't see how he could say this. I can understand someone's interpretation of scripture which puts them on one side or the other, but I don't understand how a man of God can say that the bible supports both ways. For me, it would call into question where this guy stands on the doctrin of inspired scripture. It cannot be both ways. If one side is right, the other must be wrong. Though I wouldn't want you to suffer false hopes! No worries there... i'm not responsible for someone else's error... I'm responsible for my own. My reward comes from following the Holy Spirit's leading. Therefore, If I am wrong, may He correct me immediately in Jesus name.

[Safrguns]

Certainly, over the years, I've learned that contrary to my rearing in a very fundamental sort of A of G church... You know, about 8-10 years ago, I spent a couple of years attending an A of G church in Georgia... played trombone in the band... even performed (as part of the band) with Phil Driscoll once. It wasn't until about the end of the 2nd year that I realized that the A of G church did not believe in the doctrin of eternal security... and yet they DO believe in the gifts and manifestations of the Holy Spirit. I cannot tell you how much this troubled me... Until I started noticing something during services which re-lifted my spirit. Over the course of about 2-3 months, I started noticing that 5-8 out of 10 utterances, or prophecies, or words of knowledge that were given had to do with this doctrin... and they were ALL on the Calvinist side! The most frequent ones were references to scripture that God would NEVER leave us nor forsake us, and others referencing scriptures indicating that once Jesus had us, NO ONE could snatch us from His hand. What was really confusing to me though, was that no-one seemed to be making the connection... So I went to the pastor... sat down in his office for about 30 minutes or so debating the issue... I went to the Lord in prayer about it... deeply troubled... How can a body of believers SO CLOSE to the Holy Spirit in prayer and practice be missing this? Why was there so much confidence in the doctrin of free will which seems to be the king-pin of Arminianism? How many times did Adam have to sin to be guilty under the law of sin and death? What makes us so much better than Adams pre-sin status that it takes us an undetermined number of transgressions to cause us to fall back under the law of sin and death? I know your not a Calvinist, but think about this for a minute... Of all the churches (denominations) which one do you think represents the biggest threat to the enemy right now? What is holding that church back? Just as I believe that every individual is vulnerable to enemy strongholds which seek to entangle or disable them, I also believe that such tactics are employed at the corporate level in the Body of Christ. Each denomination has them... I can name most of them... What would you expect would happen if those strongholds were to be broken in these last days?