I wonder if this ministry is taking an intentional departure from Calvinism or if it just blindly unaware of its inconsistencies with The Doctrines of Grace.
This little devotion rightly placed the blame for unbelief right where scripture does - on the heart of the hardened sinner. Calvinism distorts this truth, and essentially places the blame on God, as he created them to be lost for eternity.
Churches and ministries need to be on guard for Calvinistic creep into their teaching. It changes a loving God into an arbitrary tyrant, empties the cross of its saving power, and deflates the gospel as good news for all.
And before you contend that I just don’t understand Calvinism, I do more than I wish I did.
You’re spot on. But you may have jumped into a hornet’s nest.
Churches and ministries need to be on guard for Calvinistic creep into their teaching. It changes a loving God into an arbitrary tyrant, empties the cross of its saving power, and deflates the gospel as good news for all.
If you don’t like the truth of Calvinism, why do you need saving power? What do you need to be saved from?
Nobody with earthly ears likes the truth of Calvinism, but it is the truth and must presented in truth.
The fact is if God didn’t choose some, NO ONE would be saved. Jesus says, go find his sheep, the ones God has chosen and given ears to hear. Ears are a gift from God. Earthly ears can’t hear the Good News.
The message of the whole Bible is repent and turn to God. Everyone likes the second part but you have understand the first part to fully understand Gods mercy and love.
1) It shows us a just God. Reveals who we are and our need. God must be just. He chooses to be merciful at his great pleasure. There must be justice, mercy without justice is meaningless.
2) It explains the cross, the need for it. Reveals the real saving power.
3) Jesus on the cross is a stumbling block for many. They don't need repentance, man is basically good. The truth of Calvinism inflates the need for the for the gospel. THE GOSPEL IS NOT GOOD NEWS FOR ALL.
Nobody initially likes the truth of Calvinism. “THATS NOT FAIR, IS THE RESPONSE. But once you get to the full flavor of it, your relationship with God gets deeper. You understand who his is and who you are and what you deserve and what he offers.
inconsistencies with The Doctrines of Grace.
Except that Jesus himself told us that understanding the mysteries of the kingdom is a gift from God:
Matthew 11:25,26
Matthew 13:11
Matthew 16:17
Mark 4:11
Luke 8:10
This is also stated elsewhere in both the OT and NT:1 Corinthians 2:10-14, Romans 16:25-26, Colossians 1:26-27, Ephesians 3:3-5, 1 John 2:20-21, Daniel 2:22, Isaiah 6:9-10, Deuteronomy 29:4, Jeremiah 33:3, Proverbs 1:23, Amos 3:7, Psalm 25:14, etc . . .
You are on the right track.
Calvinism makes this and many other scripture teachings into mere theater.
A person born completely impervious to conviction of sin,
Incapable of responding in any way to the gospel,
becomes hardened by hearing and not responding to that very story.
Preposterous.