In 2018, Lighthouse Trails published Bob Kirkland’s book Calvinism: None Dare Call It Heresy. Over the last few years especially, the editors at Lighthouse Trails have grown increasingly troubled and dismayed to see how Calvinism has and continues to infiltrate today’s Christian churches, ministries, and colleges. If you do not understand what Calvinism really teaches, it would be a good idea to seek that understanding because sooner or later, it is going to affect your family, and the results could be devastating, especially for the younger members of your family.
Some people automatically think that the main premise of Calvinism is believing in eternal security and if you are not Calvinist, then you must not believe in eternal security for the believer (or in salvation solely by the grace of God and not of man’s merit). That is NOT what Calvinism is really all about. In fact, as Kirkland shows in his book, Calvinism does not offer the assurance of salvation at all, and it actually diminishes and cheapens the grace of God.
Some people also think that if you are not Calvinist, then you must be a so-called “Arminianist.” The fact is, there are many Christians (of which we are among them) who are neither Calvinist or Arminian. *see note below
Please do not take this lightly. At some point, we do believe Calvinist leaders and teachers (in particular, the newer ones coming on the scene) will fold in with the great apostasy and will take their followers with them.
For the next three days, Lighthouse Trails is offering Calvinism: None Dare Call It Heresy at 40% off retail (use code: CLVN). If you truly cannot afford to buy the book, please e-mail us at editors@lighthousetrails.com, and we will send you a complimentary copy.
Below is chapter 3 of Bob Kirkland’s book, Calvinism: None Dare Call It Heresy.
“Calvinism: Changing the Meaning of Words to Promote a Theory”
By Bob Kirkland
The only way Calvinists can support their theory from the Bible is to alter the meaning of Bible words or take them out of context. When a Calvinist teaches “whosoever will,” he means whosoever “God wills.” Calvinist Arthur (A. W.) Pink (1886-1952), who “sparked a renewed interest in the exposition of Calvinism,”1 wrote, “The fact is, the love of God is a truth for the saints only.”2 He said:
[T]he “world” in John 3:16 must, in the final analysis, refer to the world of God’s people.3
When a Calvinist talks about the “sovereignty” of God, he has his own definition of the word sovereignty (as he does with the word depravity). Easton’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary says that the sovereignty of God is “[H]is absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure.”4
God, in His sovereignty, in His absolute right to do all things according to His own good pleasure, has established some laws for mankind. For example, the Bible says, “except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). God, in His sovereignty, has determined that the sinner who does not repent will not gain eternal life.
Considering that the word “sovereignty” is not in the Bible and considering the actual meaning of the word, rather than Calvin’s distorted meaning (which he needed to support his theory), we see God is no less sovereign because He, according to His own good pleasure, gives man a free will making him capable of repenting of his sin and receiving Christ as his Savior.
Again, when A. W. Pink said the “‘world’ in John 3:16 must, in the final analysis, refer to the world of God’s people,” he continued, saying, “Must we say, for there is no alternative solution.”5 The dictionary says, a solution is, “an answer to a problem.” John 3:16 presents no problem unless you are a Calvinist needing a “solution” to support your theory. The way a Calvinist solves his problem is to simply change the meaning of words in the Bible and in the dictionary to mean what they need to mean to support their position.
Calvinist writers have made many declarations that God has decreed everything that would happen in this world, from Adam’s sin to the doom of billions of people in Hell. The only way they can maintain their theory is to change the words “world” and “whosoever” to “elect.” Since Calvinists can change these words in John 3:16, it must be all right to change these words in John 15:18-19.
USING THE CALVINISTIC “SOLUTION” IN JOHN 15:18-19
John 15:18-19 says:
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Using the Calvinist “solution” of changing the word “world” as they did in John 3:16 so that it means elect, John 15:18-19 now must read:
If the elect hate you, who are the elect, ye know that the elect hated me before the elect hated you who are elect. If ye elect were of the elect, the elect would love his own elect: but because ye elect are not of the elect, but I have chosen you elect out of the elect, therefore the elect hateth you elect who are elect.
No doubt, this is a foolish translation of the verse; however, it is no more foolish than the Calvinistic interpretation of John 3:16.
The word “world” is found over 240 times in the Bible. A few times, the Greek word obviously reveals different meanings; however, the word “world” never means Calvin’s so-called elect. Never! The only reason for rejecting the obvious simple-to-understand meaning of the words “whosoever” or “world” in John 3:16 is to support Calvin’s heresy.
ALL MEANS ALL
Joshua 6:3 says, “. . . all ye men of war.”
Psalm 31:23 says, “. . . all ye his saints.”
Psalm 31:24 says, “. . . all ye that hope in the LORD.”
Psalm 32:11 says, “. . . all ye that are upright in heart.”
Psalm 134:1 says, “. . . all ye servants of the LORD.”
Luke 13:27 says, “. . . all ye workers of iniquity.”
Romans 5:12 says, “. . . all have sinned.”
Galatians 3:8 says, “. . . all nations be blessed.”
Revelation 19:5 says, “. . . all ye his servants, and ye that fear him.” (emphasis added in the above verses)
Nobody argues that “all” means “all” in Romans 5:12 when it says, “. . . all have sinned.” The only reason to suggest “all” means something else in Acts 17:30, when God commands “all men every where to repent,” is because Calvinists need to change this to provide a “solution” to support their view.
Listen to the doubletalk of A. W. Pink when he says:
That God commandeth “all men” to repent is but the enforcing of His righteous claims as the moral Governor of the world.6
What Pink is saying here is that God is not sincere when he says “all men every where to repent,” but only saying it to show how righteous and moral He is.
Then Pink uses Acts 5:31 to say:
[T]his Scripture does not declare that it is God’s pleasure to “give repentance” (Acts 5:31) to all men everywhere.7
Let’s see what Acts 5:31 actually says:
Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
In this passage of Scripture, Peter and the apostles declared to the High Priest and Council that God had made Jesus a Prince and Savior bringing repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. Their audience was Jewish, and therefore, their speech pertained to the Jews they were addressing; however, they were not saying that the Jews were the only ones to be saved and forgiven.
But Pink uses this verse to support his theory that it is not God’s pleasure to “give repentance” to all men everywhere. In taking Acts 5:31 completely out of context, perhaps Pink did not realize that by trying to use this verse to fit his own theology, he was actually saying that only Jewish people will ever get saved. Hence, all Gentiles will end up in Hell. That would include Pink himself. And because there is ultimately no free will in Calvinism, there is nothing anyone can do about it.
MORE VERSES USING CALVINISM’S “SOLUTION” OF CHANGING OF WORDS
First John 2:2 says, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (emphasis added). “Calvinist Solution”—And he is the propitiation for the sins of the elect: and not for the elect only, but also for the sins of the elect.
Ezra 8:22 says, “The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.” “Calvinist Solution”—The hand of our God is upon all the elect for good that seek him; even though they have no free will to seek him, but his power and his wrath is against all the non-elect that forsake him, even though they are dead and have no free will to forsake him.
Psalm 10:4 says, “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God.” Psalm 11:6 says, “Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone.” “Calvinist Solution”—The wicked, who are not among God’s elect, through the pride of his countenance, pride that God put in his heart, cannot seek after God; however, even though God has withheld from the wicked non-elect the ability to seek after God, He shall rain snares, fire and brimstone.
Psalm 13:5 says, “But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.” “Calvinist Solution”—But I can’t trust in thy mercy because I am dead and therefore not capable of trusting; my heart can’t rejoice in thy salvation because I can’t trust in thy mercy and besides I do not have any assurance that you included me in your mercy.
CALVINISTS TEACH ALL MEN ARE TOTALLY DEPRAVED
It is true that all people have depraved and sinful natures, and no person merits salvation. However, the word “total” means, “entirely, to the full.” The word “depraved” means “morally corrupt.” To suggest that all people in the world are “totally immoral” is ridiculous. None of the neighbors on the street where I live confess to be saved, but that does not make them totally immoral. We must not forget that God has put a conscience in people so that we know or have a sense of right and wrong. Even an unsaved person can feel remorse and regret when he has done something wrong. If he was totally depraved, he would not have the capability to do that (see Romans 1: 19-20).
The Bible speaks again and again of some people who are more corrupt than others. Ezekiel 16:47 says, “[T]hou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways.” Judges 2:19 says that they “corrupted themselves more than their fathers.” First Kings 16:25 says, “Omri . . . did worse than all that were before him.” Jeremiah 7:26 says, “[T]hey did worse than their fathers.”
However, we must remember that Calvinists have their own special meaning for words. To a Calvinist total depravity means “total inability.” The common dictionary meaning of inability is, not having the quality or state of being able to do something. Calvinism says that because all mankind is dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1-4), they cannot respond in any way to receive Christ as their Savior.
QUOTES FROM WELL-KNOWN CALVINISTS
A [spiritually] dead man . . . cannot exercise faith in Jesus Christ.8—Gordon H. Clark
The sinner . . . is utterly incapable of willing anything.9—A. W. Pink
A corpse does not cry out for help.10—Arthur Custance
[W]e have no more to do with our spiritual birth than we had with our natural birth.11—A.W. Pink
[E]ven if what he or she does is simply to repent and believe the gospel, God’s grace is seriously, albeit unwittingly, compromised.12—Sam Storms
[T]he sinner is of himself neither capable nor willing to receive that salvation.13—Herman Hoeksema
The Bible stresses the total inability of fallen man to respond positively to the law of God.14—Kenneth Talbot and Gary Crampton
[T]he sinner, of himself, cannot repent and believe.15—A.W. Pink
*LTRP Note: In Dave Hunt’s outstanding book What Love is This?, he shows that the terms Arminianist/Arminianism were essentially created by the Calvinist camp to quickly discredit non-Calvinists by saying they don’t believe in eternal security or in the grace of God for salvation.
Endnotes:
- “Arthur Pink,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Pink.
- A. W. Pink, The Sovereignty of God (Blacksburg, VA: Wilder Publications, 2008), p. 160.
- Ibid., p. 163.
- M.G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary (New York, NY: Harper & Brothers, 1893, Scholar Select scanned edition), p. 641.
- A. W. Pink, The Sovereignty of God, op. cit., p. 163.
- Ibid., p. 82.
- Ibid.
- Gordon H. Clark, Predestination (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, 1987), p. 102.
- A.W. Pink, The Sovereignty of God, op. cit., p. 113.
- Arthur Custance, The Sovereignty of Grace (P & R Press; First Edition, 1979), p. 18; also at: http://www.custance.org/Library/SOG/Part_I/Chapter2.html#Page5.
- A.W. Pink, The Sovereignty of God, op. cit., p. 57.
- Sam Storms, Chosen for Life: The Case for Divine Election (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, a ministry of Good News Publishers, revised and expanded edition, 2007), p. 77.
- Herman Hoeksema, Whosoever Will (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdman’s Publishing Company, First Edition 1945, reprinted 1973), p. 14.
- Kenneth Talbot and Gary Crampton, Calvinism, Hyper-Calvinism and Arminianism (Lakeland, FL: Whitefield Media Publishing, 3rd Edition, 1990), p. 40.
- A.W. Pink, The Sovereignty of God, op. cit., p. 120.
God bless you lighthouse. You are a shining light in a dark world. Sadly Calvinism is a one-sided theology that
Is very dangerous to those seeking Gods Salvation.
Dear Val Lee,
I hope you received my commendation for your commentary exposing Calvinism Principality today.
Deborah, at Lighthouse Trails asked me for the story how I escaped Reformed Calvinist. So I thought you would also like a copy I sent her today. However, I can’t do attachments in your form. So if you would like to respond, I will be happy to send them to you and a copy of my letter to her.
In case you did not receive this. Here is excerpt of my expose on Calvin:
A PARABLE OF CALVINISM POISON IVY
Three Leaves just like a real Tulip has Three Petals (Not Fake Five)
BY JAMES SUNDQUIST
The Synod of Dort that launched TULIP couldn’t even count. A Tulip has only 3 petals not 5 (even ULIP is only 4). Holland sells 1.5 billion tulips a year and there was not one wise among them that would stand up in the council or ever sense and say “Wait a minute, a tulip has only 3 petals, so why are creating a fake flower acronyms of 5 points in TULIP?” So forget the Apostle Paul’s warning about myths, let’s press on a perpetuate this myth until the Lord comes! Truth is disposable!
*****
About three years ago after purchasing our house, after spending hundreds of hours restoring the interior, we went to work restoring the property and grounds surrounding the house. One of the projects involved removing all of the brush, weeds, and poison ivy. We even brought in a professional landscaper and crew to clear and haul away all of the debris. But even after all of this work and expense, there were still patches of poison ivy in various places and on the adjoining properties. So I went to Home Depot to get advice. They told me to get this chemical that you have to spray on the leaves. Then you have to wait a number of days for the leaves to change color, turn brown, dry up, and eventually shrivel away. This would purge our property of this threat. The poison ivy was easy to identify because of the three leaf clusters, I learned when I was a kid growing up by the woods in Oregon. Don’t be fooled by this lethal trinity. There it was poison oak. Some weeks later my daughter had a friend from school come and visit her. They played in the yard and hid in the bushes for fun. But one of these bushes had poison ivy growing inside of the bushes, not readily detectable. At the time, I was not concerned that the kids were playing in back yard. After all, I had cleared out any danger of poison ivy, right? A few days later her face turned red and starting itching horribly. She was in agony. So we took her to the doctor and got her a prescription of Prednisone. She eventually healed, but not without a great deal of torment. This reminded of what happened to my mom when I was growing up. We had chopped down all of the poison oak in the woods across the street from our house. We gathered all together and made a big bonfire. (Back then burning was allowed). My mom was not even involved in the cleanup or gathering of the poison oak to burn. She was just standing nearby cheering the family on and giving us all moral support. But the smoke from the fire started blowing around her and towards her face. And like with our daughter, no one was really concerned or wary, even though we all had an almost reverence for how wicked poison oak is. Well a few days later her face and neck became as red as a radish and her whole head swelled like a basketball. My father was a physician and immediately knew that this was an emergency and took her to the hospital and gave her Penicillin and antibiotics. She was in great misery and we all felt for her as her beautiful face was all distorted and she was in anguish. She almost died. It was a close call. So I am very familiar with this evil.
Back to our home. One day, weeks later, thinking all of the poison ivy had been eradicated, I went down to remove the remaining weeds and roots still sticking out of the ground. The hoe had poison ivy oil on it because it was on my gloves. But thank God we remembered to scrub down the hoe. I even had gloves on and a long sleeve shirt for protection. But while pulling, digging, and hoeing roots were sticking out of the ground, one root sprang loose and grazed my wrist…it didn’t hurt and I didn’t even see a mark. I didn’t think anything of it…just thought it was an ordinary branch…and thank God it was removed so that the entire yard looked great now. It appeared to be safe for habitation, friends, and fellowship. But it was NOT an ordinary branch, rather it was one of the remaining roots of the subterranean poison ivy network. There was nothing the naked eye could see to cause any alarm, even with my expert knowledge of identifying poison ivy. Days later a nasty rash broke out on that very place on my wrist and got worse by the day, that itched so badly, I wanted to claw my arm off. Brother Jimmy at church, who also once had a nasty battle with poison ivy, gave me some medicine to clean and help the itching and burning. It was very helpful. And I was very grateful for this gift. But the pain and suffering did not disappear immediately. But how could this have happened? I was so sure this dangerous threat to my family and friends and clients that visit our house, was over. Boy was I wrong. Scripture warns us that you can’t get figs out of a thorn bush. The reason is that the tree or vines can only produce what the roots are:
“For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.” Luke 6:44
It does not matter how much you till, water, fertilize, or kiss (I pray that you don’t kiss the leaves) the roots, it will ONLY produce poison ivy. It will NEVER produce fruit that is good.
Though these are all true stories, they are also a parable of what has happened to the church with the root system of Sovereign Grace Ministries, 9Marks Ministries, the Gospel Coalition, Biblical Counseling Coalition, Ecumenism, Emerging Church, and Old Calvinism (John Calvin), Reformed Theology, and New Calvinism. The root system of Sovereign Grace Ministries is the shepherding movement. The root of Calvinism is Theocracy. Combine the two, you have a demonic alloy of two metals that are even stronger when these principalities are combined. My term for this bondage and abuse of spiritual authority. Poison ivy must come. But failure to heed the warning signs is a dereliction of duty of the watchman and steward, to be once informed and then do nothing. But it is even worse to then blame the messenger for sounding the alarm and defaming that person’s good name and reputation. So who is really the one who “troubleth his own house”? The one who removes the roots of the poison ivy, or the one who refuses to remove them and blame the messenger? And God forbid that we should make a green salad with either the leaves of poison oak or poison ivy and call it healthy eating or give it to your guests at your home or church and called being “hospitable to strangers” or those you compel to come to your feast that you meet in the streets.
Blessings to you, Darlene, and yes, my husband and I worship together in our home. We pray, read the Bible and sing hymns. There are a few others we know of in our area who have left the organized churches here and are gathering together, a few more seem interested, as it seems the Lord is bringing more along. My husband is reticent to join that right now. I am praying and waiting on the Lord to lead us.
Darlene – I just now read your comment on this article. Our pastor Dave Love of Calvary Chapel in Castle Rock, Colorado, just began a study in 1 Peter. In addressing the word “elect” in verse 2, he gives a very easy to understand explanation of the Calvinist twist on it, and what it really means. It’s the July 21st message on the website. My brother and his wife go to a “Reformed” church and I sent the message link to him. I hope you find it helpful. Blessings!
Hey Darlene. I’m really sorry to hear about the sufferings you’ve been going through. I can imagine it has probably taken its toll. I will say though the most important thing for you to remember is that we are saved by Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. It’s believing in, trusting in, adhering to, clinging to, totally depending on, Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. No amount of works can save you, only the Grace of God gifted to you by believing in His Son, Jesus the Christ. It’s the promise of God, that we are saved because “we believe God, and God counts us righteous because of our faith.” In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted Him as righteous because of His faith.” If you would like some amazing sermons that preach the word of God, without the interference of man and his own thoughts, you could go to cfftucson.com and look for sermons. This is the church I attend, and our pastor literally talked about false teachings today 7/28/2019. My heart really goes out to you and is heavy because of my desire for you to trust in God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am only 21 now, but what you’ve described is extremely similar to what I’ve experienced in the past. And I know it can be hard trying to sift through denominations, churches, pastors etc. Trying to find the true Gospel of Christ, so that you may believe. Above all Darlene, remember Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.” And Romans 10:9-13
“That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “W hoever believes in Him will not be disappointed .” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “W hoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved .”
NASB
God bless you and lead you into all truth as you seek Him in all sincerity. Much love in Christ.
Dear Val;
Your beautiful response and personal experiences, and encouragements have meant a great deal. Thank you for the time you have taken to respond. Please forgive the length of time for my response. I will definitely check out your book and website as soon as I can, Val. My 89 year ol mother-in-law fell a couple days ago. She is in hospital having just gone through 2 surgeries, so, I have been very busy.
I appreciate you, dear sister in Christ. Blessings!
Darlene
Darlene; opinions vary, but the first thing to consider is this line from the Bible: ” Ephesians. 4:11-12). “And He gave some apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ.”
Clearly, the writer is referring to spiritual gifts and not to “offices” (bosses, those in “charge” of you, those who tell you to tithe otherwise you are robbing God, etc.).
Think of born-again believers (and not just anyone who claims to be “Christian”) as a literal family. You meet when you meet; there’s no order of things, no tithing, but living as the born-again Christian lived in Acts. They helped one another, encouraged one another, supported one another. In today’s parlance, it would be like helping Randy pay his rent this month because something has happened, or to help Linda with medical expenses, or help Sandra with school uniforms for her kids, broken vehicle, etc. It’s a literal family, which we are when we are in Christ from the very second we were reborn.
Yes, I’m in a fellowship. We sing songs that we KNOW are not Calvinist, not heretical, and we read and discuss the Bible with the help of a trustworthy, non-Calvinist commentary. But we make a point of eating together; isn’t that what brings families together around a table? There, and when we worship God, we are accountable for the wrong things (sin has been overcome already, remember? Jesus took away the sins; it’s not just covered or hidden somewhere…it’s gone) we had done. There’s no “leader” as that automatically brings about the control issue, which is contrary to Jesus’ words of setting us free. We learn about God, His attributes, and because we have been saved by the gospel, we share that gospel with the unsaved and invite them once they are saved because then they are also the literal family of God. We save thousands by not having a manmade building and what goes with it and that money goes to our needs (as explained).
Concerning the gifts, you’ll be amazed at who has the gifts and it’s not men only. We meet when it’s convenient for all at somebody’s house and we all bring food to share; there’s no time limit (some leave earlier, as it would happen in normal families). When there are serious issues, because we are family, we work them out and only refer to psychiatrists (not psychologists, not counselors) when we realize something is wrong (when someone hears or sees things that are not there, for example).
It may sound cultish, but it’s everything but. Organized religion has never been the answer; the Bible is the answer.
The greatest lessons regarding my growth as a Christian, I received from my mom…believe that!
Churches will do anything (and aren’t they just . . . rock shows, smoke, “speakers”, one-liners, “Christian comedians”) to keep the money flowing in. That’s awful. Help one another and reach out to those in need. You will experience the growth in knowledge of God (remember you can’t be saved more than you already are, a once-off event, and the Holy Spirit cannot “grow” bigger in you; it’s not a fetus).
I hope it helps a bit. And there’s no “membership” card or fake covenants to sign…what are those? They are control measures. Literal family members sign nothing; we love for God, in God, and take His gospel out to the unsaved.
Be blessed, Darlene. Thanks for the kind words.
Thanks for you discerning heart, T. I. It blesses me.
Dear Darlene,
Praise God, you have spiritual discernment in all these trials and tribulations and you found the Lighthouse Trails webpage. We know our trials and tribulations can make us strong as James chapter 1 teaches believers. And 2 Peter chapter 3 commands us to separate from the false teachers and this chapter covers Calvinism. This is easily seen through the words “Where is the promise of His coming?” All of Scripture actually refutes Calvinism. Men love to craft their own doctrines when they do not agree with what the Bible states. False teachers always use much Scripture, but they know how to add their poison here and there to deceive.
I had a Calvinist man tell me I was not to read the Bible only reformed writings. He and others, including church elders, persecuted me for standing on the Scriptures alone. I was even trapped in a home where all this was thrust upon me. I was finally let go when they realized I would only stand on the Bible.
And within the last year or so, a couple people have come after me regarding Calvinism. One lady had me in her home. She has been a friend for years and she had never mentioned her Calvinistic beliefs previously. And she tried to set controls over me. I was deeply hurt and concerned for her.
Praise the LORD the Holy Spirit is telling you what you are being told is false.
We are to be ones who simply believe in the Bible from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21; no additions or subtractions.
To locate believers who hold to this can be difficult. You simply have to pray for the true ones to be brought into your life. And you can contact me at anytime.
And at this website of Lighthouse Trails, you will learn through the comment areas, you are far from being alone.
I have penned the book, Apostasy in the church, and a great deal of my website covers this topic. You can read all I have written free of cost at “val lee weblog” if you do a search on Google.
You have been added to my prayer list and I have prayed for true believers to come into your life. You may only locate one in an entire church. This has happened to me in a couple of fellowships. God has brought the one true believer into my life.
Much love to you, dear sister-in-Christ, Val Lee
Heidi Lavoie; thank you for taking time to encourage me in my journey for truth and for finding fellowship with true Bible believing people who don’t add to the Gospel of Jesus and His Apostles.. There is such a great falling away. Have you found a fellowship Heidi? Again, thank you and may God Bless
Blessings to you John J. for your response and encouragement & warnings as I move forward. Yes, I believe the threat of falling away left me feeling manipulated and guilty. I would love to find even a couple of Bible Believers and have fellowship in my home! Would you have suggestions on what the fellowship times would look like and how to keep it with pure intent and on track? Have you done one, or know of successful ones and how they did it? Thank you again for taking your time to strengthen my spirit.
Yes, where two or three are gathered, the Word tells us, our Lord is in the midst. They always try to tell people who leave an organized church that has gone into apostasy “YOU NEED FELLOWSHIP” . Yes, true Christian fellowship based on Truth.
The threat of “falling away” is a tactic to keep you there and in spiritual bondage. Scripture says we should not cease “meeting together,”; it says zilch about attending a Sunday club that teaches another Jesus. Church attendance did not save you; Jesus saved you…past tense. It is done. Be happy!
Have nothing to do with that false church; start a home fellowship if you don’t find a true biblical church. Home fellowship (not home church or cell groups or Bible “study”) is simply meeting with the born-again saints, and is biblical. It is straight out of the Book of Acts, nothing of man added.
Thank you for this warning. I checked a church of Christ out online and read their statement of beliefs and there it was, their belief that water baptism is necessary for salvation. Astounding how in one sentence they say they believe we are saved only by grace through faith, and in the next set out a long list of what “faith” includes that we must do to be saved.
Of course, I don’t endorse plainsimplefaith; I endorse no site. I posted the link for the good information on the evil that is Calvinism/reformed “theology,” which, really, is a much bigger threat to one’s eternal destiny than plainsimplefaith can dream to be.
Be careful if you go to:
https://plainsimplefaith.com/calvinism/
This is a “Church of Christ” site. They believe water baptism is essential for salvation and they DON’T believe that once a person is saved they are sealed with the Spirit unto the day of redemption.
Thank you for this posting! I was born & raised into Pentecostal/WOF/Charismatic doctrines; deeply passionate & hungry to know & please Jesus. Through much traumas, I shut off ALL the TV evangelists and totally left. I’m now 68 yrs old and a vacuum was left in my soul; much pain & confusion; many wrong decisions. Being hungry to get the true gospel right, I tried again about 1 year ago and landed at a Reformed Church. I was so humbled by the total difference of what I had previously experienced in previous churches and then about 4 months ago the pastor taught Calvinism. I had never in all these years even heard of that Doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus because I had never gone to Seminary. I was devastated and even MORE confused. Over last few months I have found myself “bucking” going to the church while desperate as I search YouTube on Calvinism which then compares to Arminian belief. I don’t see either one.
Yesterday, one of the women from the Reformed Church met me for coffee and I left feeling very uncomfortable and disappointed as I thought I’d made a wonderful new friend. She confronted me as to WHY I wasn’t coming to church (she knew I was also dealing with my sister who has recently been hospitalized with seizures and I’ve been helping there). I told her I was researching about Calvinism and was really NOT able at this time to see that presentation of the gospel and that I just wanted JESUS……..not another Doctrine and that it felt like just another False Doctrine that I am trying to recover from. I cannot even explain the sadness I feel over this. She is now texting me saying she’s sorry she made me uncomfortable and that she’s very concerned about where I’m at spiritually and is praying that I’ll be humble and make decisions that honour God.
I came across Dave Hunt on youtube, Carl, and Warren B. Smith etc and they have been helpful in my journey.
Please pray for my spiritual healing and that Jesus shows me with total assurance the correct Gospel Doctrine. Are there ANY churches that TEACH the pure Gospel line by line without man’s theories?
Should I just continue to attend this church because as my coffee friend said yesterday, I’ll fall away if I stop going.
Thank you again for this helpful explanation! Thank you for prayer.
” come ” is defined as a command.
When the police say come, it is a command.
When a General says come it is a command.
When a king says come it is a command.
When the King of kings and the Lord of lords says come it is a command.
Jesus did not say to Peter please come and follow Me.
Jesus did not say Lazarus please come forth.
Jesus never asked a demon to please come out of the possessed.
The gospel is not a pleading it is a command.
“Come unto me and I will give you rest”, is not the Creator begging on bended knee for His creation to come. We can refuse to obey His command. Yes Jesus so loved the world but it is also written, love not the world nor the things of the world for the love of the world is enmity towards God. The state of man in his fallen condition is written in Psalm 14.
Job 40;1-8 Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be Justified?
Gods ways are not our ways. God is love. He is also Holy, Holy, Holy.
Be careful if you visit:
https://plainsimplefaith.com/calvinism/
This is a “Church of Christ” site that teaches water baptism is necessary for salvation plus they DON’T believe that Christians are sealed with the Spirit unto the day of redemption.
I would recommend that people not visit:
https://plainsimplefaith.com/calvinism/
They are “Church of Christ” and believe water baptism is required for salvation. They also don’t believe that once a person is saved they are sealed unto the day of redemption.
So grateful for your information as I learned Calvinism thru Seminary—however we must understand “God’s pleasure to operate in His own way”…
Linda in Texas
Yes, Dave Hunt’s book is excellent. I derive great benefit whenever I reference it. It should be so clear that when one has to rip Bible verses from their context and from the clear meaning, and even change the meaning of the words, it amounts to heresy and false doctrine constructed. I do not understand how a person who believes in unconditional election can say they absolutely know they are one of the elect. It makes no sense whatsoever.
Thanks for the continual warnings against this evil. Indeed, the Calvinist/Reformed cult’s “god” is not the Biblical God. There’s nothing more to it; they are no worse or better than Scientology or any of the thousands of cults.Read this article (it will explain this evil manmade doctrine even more):
https://plainsimplefaith.com/calvinism/
Hunt also wrote WHAT LOVE IS THIS? (Calvin’s Misrepresentation of God). TULIP is a consice version of that book.
If God’s will is all be saved and Satan is Antichrist, then they are opposed and no contradiction. But, if God’s will is some be saved, that necessarily means God desires some to not be saved. Calvinism means God and Satan share the same will that souls aren’t saved. To equate Jesus and Satan with the same goal is heresy of the highest degree.
This is an eye-opener! Thank you for clarifying and defining what “Calvinism” really means. I’ll be sharing this one…
Hard to believe people actually believe this . As a former Catholic their belief that only “saints” go to heaven and NOT everybody ,I find that Calvinism is similar in that belief . So sad that people follow this teaching.
About a year ago a friend called to tell me he was now attending a Baptist church where the minister had shared Calvinism with him. He believed that he was one of the ‘chosen’ since childhood. I didn’t have any idea what he was talking about. I knew the word, ‘Calvinism’ but never researched the subject. I told him I didn’t understand and he said he didn’t understand it either but he believed it. After I researched the subject, which seemed to me total nonsense and an insult to our Lord Jesus Christ, I mailed him the book, None Dare call it Heresy, by Bob Kirkland. Also mailed him the book, What Love is this?, by Dave Hunt(excellent book of info!). The best book is Bible scriptures in context. I lost my friendship with this person over this and I feel badly about it but I would feel far worse if he didn’t have the opportunity to reconsider and run from this heresy of Calvinism. Perhaps he will reconsider, by and by.
I have not read this book, but read Dave Hunts book TULIP, and it pretty much floored me. Hard for me to believe that people claiming this belief, actually know the depths of what it teaches. I would think the Holy Spirit would be screaming at them. I pray for wisdom and discernment and truth daily!! There but for the grace of God go I , I suppose. I often wonder why I know what I know, and others don’t.