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I attended a Sovereign Grace church at one time. It seemed like all they wanted to talk about was election. It was boring, dreary, and somewhat cultish.

The preaching message an old minister once gave there said that at the beginning of time and the ages, the Father, Son, and Spirit sat down and decided who was to be saved through predestination and that we had made it. They gave no invitation at the conclusion of services.

I dislike Calvinism and its attitude. It disposes of free will and denigrates into long winded arguments that are based on a few Scriptures in Romans and Ephesians.

If you believe it, I bless you, but I cannot.

I dislike Calvinism and its attitude. It disposes of free will and denigrates into long winded arguments that are based on a few Scriptures in Romans and Ephesians.

I am sorry that your experience was bad..Actually the most common complaint in our PCA is that they do not teach the doctrines of grace enough

As for free will.. Calvinists do not deny that men have free will.. but that free will is subject to the nature of the man and the circumstances of his choices which is determined by God.

I am sorry you encountered that, but at my church we preach Christ crucified. Election is mentioned because of its ties to the Cross and God’s grace, but it is not the centerpiece of every sermon....

Every church has its flaws. Part of the problem is the Sovereign Grace churches haven’t quite gotten “all” of Calvinism so to speak, just the salvation part. But, there is more than just TULIP.

There is no need for an altar call at the end of service....it’s silly. Salvation is between a person and God, not a person and 500 people starting at them. If you do it, fine. But, it’s not necessary.

My Presbyterian church has a general call several times in the service....praying for God to save those who don’t know him and then at the end of the service typically as well when he reminds us all about how God’s grace is and encourages anyone who hasn’t come to Christ to do so. He says people can ask him more after the service if they need to do so.

But, we don’t do the altar call thing.

I would think of election this way: before you were saved, you were a slave to sin following the desires and passions of this world. The Son set you free to be led by His Spirit because of His calling. His rod and His staff, they guide you.