Or perhaps the Holy Spirit enlightened me for such a time as this. ;O)
And when you realized it, evaluated what you think to be true,
No. I went back and read the entire Bible with the Reformed perspective. There wasn't anything to evaluate. The pieces that I couldn't put together for 33 years simply fell into place.
I feel fairly safe in saying: you didn't think you were wrong before either.
Actually, here is a little secret. For 33 years I knew something was not right in what I was being told by just about everyone-that we were free to choose to follow Christ. And the reason I knew this was wrong was simply because I was not saved by making a decision. God simply dropped the scales from my eyes and I saw what I actually was. No one asked me to make a decision. No one even knew that I had became a Christian except for me.
For 33 years I have wondered why if I can choose to do good things, why don't I do good things all the time? Why not make those right decisions? Why not be obedient to God's commands? Why not be like Christ if it is my choice? Why did God put the tree in the garden and Adam, knowing all that he would lose, ate of it?
Quite frankly, there isn't a good answer for this other than the Reformed view. And it shows in people's theology. I have read numerous commentaries and comments of people simply declaring it a mystery. Well, it's not. It's very simple. And the more I read and understand, the more simplistic the scriptures become.
Quite frankly, there isn't a good answer for this other than the Reformed view.
You need to get out more. :)
If the view includes salvation by election and denial of free will, the flaws bring the whole thing down.
Back to our original point, I don't think the criteria "makes more sense to Harley" is a valid one for me accepting your view. But if that's your choice..
I'm gone for a while. As always, it's great to see you on a thread.
And thank you for choosing to participate in this discussion. :)