~~”Can’t we discuss doctrinal differences without belittling others? It sure would be refreshing.”~~
Here’s the problem as I see it.
For a thousand years Rome deluded Christians until finally God brought about the Reformation by the revelation of Scripture and the recognition that God is in control of salvation, not men and not magisteriums.
Calvin, Luther, Zwingli, Knox, Hus, Wycliffe, Beza, and hundreds of other Reformers rebuked the works-based salvation of Rome and declared (under threat of death) the Scriptural truth that God is sovereign and He determines the names of His children, and that He will insure that those children are brought to Him by the free gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit who leads His children to the righteousness of Christ.
All well and good. The entire world was leaving Rome. Europe was becoming Protestant in just a few generations. The middle class was flourishing. Life was good.
But not for Rome. Rome was mighty distressed. Rome looked around and saw it was losing its grip on the Christian church. So what did Rome do? What do Italian Machiavellians always do? They connive. They slink around and infiltrate. They pervert the truth so that others will believe a lie.
Part of this counter Reformation was taking a reformed Christian like Arminius and bringing him to Rome. After a few months in Rome, Arminius returned to Amsterdam and began preaching another Gospel. A gospel of free will, of men’s clever choices, of uncertain salvation, of works. Sound familiar?
And because men love to think they are more pious and holy than the next guy Europe began to turn back to Rome, to a works-based salvation, to a church where grace is merely a nudge and not a life-altering blast from the all-holy Creator.
This thread is a great example. Protestants and Roman Catholics have been debating doctrine. And then what happens? An Arminian appears and diverts the discussion by criticizing the Protestants and agreeing with the Roman Catholics.
So if you detect some rancor, it’s probably because it gets really frustrating to see right in front of our eyes the fact that the counter Reformation has never ended. It continues to this day. On this very forum. On this thread.
Thankfully, Christians know that Romans 8:28 is true. “All things work for those who love God, who are the called according to His purpose.”
Sadly, Arminians choose to forget the second half of that verse.
More’s the pity.
Quick, Quix, white hankies all around
So if you detect some rancor, it’s probably because it gets really frustrating to see right in front of our eyes the fact that the counter Reformation has never ended. It continues to this day.
The Jesuits continue in their original task. My best friend in college fell in among Jesuits later, while in the Army. He ended up "swimming the Tiber".
(Didn't I tell you? The post you wanted me to comment on is already 800 postings from the end.)
so you are saying that you believe Arminius to be an agent of The Church?