[xzins]

Oh, sorry, only Calvinists believe in total depravity. Jim Jones wasn’t that bad a guy.

There is no way to compare Smith with Jones. I've listened and read Smith on and off over the years. I've always considered him in the lineage of historic Christianity. Then again, I consider Arminius in the line of historic Christianity.

I don't do youtube. Did he say something especially outrageous that bothered you? If so, what was it?

[Lakeshark]

This is a clip of an answer to a radio question, not a full blown discussion of the subject. The person commenting on this is the one who is either ignorant, or willfully misrepresenting the depth of Chuck Smith's knowledge of the subject. I thought the answer the the woman's question was pretty good in the context of a radio program.

I have listened to Chuck Smith many years ago, and heard him discuss this subject at length. He gave many sides to the argument, lots of scriptures to defend all sides. It was very informative, very well done, and in the end, he said something quite profound, that both the ideas of pre-destination and free will are in the scriptures, seemingly spoken of both ways by Jesus, Paul, Peter, et al. Which side do you want to choose? If you chose one, he could argue the other and vice versa. It was an excellent commentary on one of the great paradoxes in the scriptures.

Methinks the guy narrating the youtube has to have some kind of pastor envy in all of this.

[topcat54]

There is no way to compare Smith with Jones.

You miss the point. Insofar as Smith is accountable to no one, he is no different than Jones. The heart is evil, and even good men placed in positions of unlimited power are subject to temptation and fall and abuse and tyranny.