The Narrow Path Ministries

Hi

I am pretty new here, and have a comment/question.

I used to be a fairly convinced Calvinist, the whole system just seemed to make alot of sense to me, and the Arminians I listened to, or read, didn't convince me much. (This was before I found Steve Gregg and Robert Shank).

So while I am coming around to a non-Calvinistic view of things and could now describe my self as an Arminian, I am still much more attracted to a "Reformed Attitude".

For instance.

They seem more God centered, while some non-Calvinists seem to be focused on man, his sins and works, as opposed to God's work in a person.

I love some of the "contemporary-Reformed" music coming out of "Soverign Grace Ministries", and "Indelible Grace" (Reformed University Fellowships, a Presbyterian group of musicians)

I find on many other subjects, that some Reformed teachers to be more careful with scripture when they teach.

Does any one else experience this?

Go to donfortner.com and click on the article "What does it mean to be Reformed".

Robert-

i certainly can appreciate what you are saying. I think many calvinistic bible teachers are excellent, including RC sproul and John MacArthur. there are many others.

i wouldnt ever have considered myself a die-hard calvinist, simply because when i was younger i didnt really know what that meant. i used to believe in eternal security, although not any longer. i suppose i used to believe in predestination as well. Steve G and others (including my own pastor) have swayed me toward a more arminian view.

i am not familiar with a wide variety of arminian bible teachers (other than Steve G) so i cant really answer your question as to whether, in general, arminian teachers are "less careful" with the scriptures. Steve G isnt, of course.

TK

Robert, I was never a Calvinist but I can relate. For many years I was a die-hard Dispensationalist and even remember, as a teenager, reading a "preterist" website and getting angry that they were so heretical about the millenium. I honestly thought they were nuts. Then I studied the bible. A lot. My opinion changed.

Coming to the scriptures with an open mind is a wonderful thing and creates a great deal of freedom in the believer. I've learned, over time, that the Bible is written for the common man and not the scholar. This isn't to say that scholarship is a bad thing, but it often complicates very simple matters. When I'm tempted to sin it's the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount that come to mind, not the doctrine of trans-substantiation or unconditional election. Doctrines don't cross my mind at all when I'm trying to please God day to day. If I fall into sin, my conscience never says, "See... you should've held a different view of the millenium." Nope, I always hear Jesus saying, "He who hears my words and puts them into practice is a wise man."