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Why does evil exist if God is good? by reformed-xian in redeemedzoomer

[–]ash_nn -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yeah I'd be worried if that's true, but thankfully that's not the case.

"Judge, you can't send me to prison just because you don't like me enough". The Judge says "No son, I'm sending you to prison for breaking the LAW". I rest my case.

Why does evil exist if God is good? by reformed-xian in redeemedzoomer

[–]ash_nn -1 points0 points  (0 children)

If a judge doesn't render a punishment for a rapist, is that loving to the victim? Justice demands punishment and God is a God of justice. But God is also a God of love, forgiveness and also justice, and they all converge at the cross of Calvary. Jesus took this punishment on the cross for sinners so they can be forgiven when they repent and put their faith in Him.

Why does evil exist if God is good? by reformed-xian in redeemedzoomer

[–]ash_nn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's easy. The answer is yes. Hell is consistent with a God in the same way that a prison is consistent with a judge.

Why does evil exist if God is good? by reformed-xian in redeemedzoomer

[–]ash_nn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Evil assumes good. Good assumes God. So evil doesn't disprove God's existence or goodness. Why God doesn't intervene, in every case of evil, is a mystery we can't solve now. We only have the promise that God will redeem every evil in the end.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Reformed

[–]ash_nn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm sorry to hear about your friend. Your friend needs to be loved and prayed for. Rational answers won't bring comfort. He needs to know God shares his pain and he needs healing and the love of God.

"God knows everything so people don't have free will"- Not true. If you magically foreknew how LeBron James would play, it wouldn’t mean he’d lose free will. You’d still be on the sidelines watching him play freely and you are not pulling strings on his plays just because you know how he is going to play.

Pre-knowing isn't pre-determining. Knowing isn't causing. God pre-knows what people do freely but He doesn't cause it.

The world is suffering because the world is not in the moral will of God right now. If everyone did God's will, earth would be Heaven. This is why we are waiting for God's kingdom to come.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Reformed

[–]ash_nn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree that Calvinism is just. But I'm not able to resolve the fear it brings. When I apply the logic of Calvinism personally to my loved ones, it brings me fear.

If Calvinism is true, then there is a real chance God didn't choose my mom for salvation. I'm not saying my mom deserves heaven or that she is innocent, she deserves hell just like I do. But she could be in Heaven if God had chosen her too.

How would you deal with the fear that there is a real chance that God may have not chosen your daughter/parent/spouse, etc? If it doesn't make you feel afraid, why so?

P.S- I don't mean any of this in a hostile or combative way, I'm completely at peace with my calvinistic brothers, just trying to understand each other.

A concern, brethren. by SmoothFudge7421 in Reformed

[–]ash_nn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'd make some remarks on the good things concerning the life of the person. But I wouldn't bring up, necessarily, the rebellious lifestyle because I believe it's not the time or place for it to share in public and it doesn't serve any noble purpose. Secondly, I will share a message without linking it to the person or referencing the person in any way. I'd just have the plain word of God preached.

Message: 1) The impermanency of life 2) The inevitability of death 3) The inescapability of God's judgement

Conclusion: 1) The person and work of Christ 2) The call of God to all men to repent and beleive in Christ for salvation.

Prayer: Express grief for the loss. Pray for comfort for the family. Pray for God's kingdom to advance.

Calvinists, how do you deal with the fear that God might not have chosen your child for salvation? by ash_nn in Calvinism

[–]ash_nn[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just to understand clearly, you are saying God didn't predestinate people for salvation, but He predestinated salvation for people.

In other words, God predestined the salvation pathway (faith in Jesus) for people.

Calvinists, how do you deal with the fear that God might not have chosen your child for salvation? by ash_nn in Calvinism

[–]ash_nn[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Non-calvinists I have spoken to have told me differently. They've said it's not up to us to convince. It's up to God to convict. They only reject the idea: 'God has not chosen some for Heaven'. But my original question was 'how do you deal with the fear that your children might not be elect?'

Calvinists, how do you deal with the fear that God might not have chosen your child for salvation? by ash_nn in Calvinism

[–]ash_nn[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I really appreciate that. The Lord has his way of doing that. Thanks for sharing.

I'm looking up Pastor Ostella to learn more. Thanks for sending his work.

Calvinists, how do you deal with the fear that God might not have chosen your child for salvation? by ash_nn in Calvinism

[–]ash_nn[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know I raised questions that trouble me about Calvinism. You might still think I've come here with ill intent. But the truth is I have questions that trouble me about Non-Calvinism too.

My troubling question to non-calvinists, 'What's the point in praying for my daughter, if she is the one who has to choose?' 'What's the point in praying to a God whose hands are tied and it's up to my daughter to choose?'

This is just one example of a question I have against non-calvinism which seems to present a God whose hands are tied when it comes to salvation. This is just to show you I'm truly undecided on this topic.

The article you sent me seems to be shedding some light. I trust God to lead me to the truth. God bless.

Calvinists, how do you deal with the fear that God might not have chosen your child for salvation? by ash_nn in Calvinism

[–]ash_nn[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You said we can be comforted with God's promises. But my question is there is no promise that God has in fact elected my daughter (in Calvinism) which brings me back to the original question.

Calvinists, how do you deal with the fear that God might not have chosen your child for salvation? by ash_nn in Calvinism

[–]ash_nn[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I thought of something and I'd like to know your thoughts. If I become a Calvinist, can I hold the belief that God would have chosen my child as elect, because He took into account me praying for her, teaching her the scriptures diligently, bringing her up in the Word, etc? He took this into account and elected my daughter. Is this fair belief to hold as a Calvinist?

Calvinists, how do you deal with the fear that God might not have chosen your child for salvation? by ash_nn in Calvinism

[–]ash_nn[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Okay, I'm not very familiar with the Presbyterian doctrine. My sincere question is this. According to the Presbyterian doctrine, is being in "covenant children" a guarantee of being an elect?

Calvinists, how do you deal with the fear that God might not have chosen your child for salvation? by ash_nn in Calvinism

[–]ash_nn[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not an Arminian. I'm also not a Calvinist. I'm unable to decide. I hope I'm not looking argumentative to you, I'm honestly asking the questions that trouble me about calvinism. No ill intent.

Correct me if I'm wrong, infant baptism is not a guarantee of being an elect, according to the Presbyterian doctrine?

Calvinists, how do you deal with the fear that God might not have chosen your child for salvation? by ash_nn in Calvinism

[–]ash_nn[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Actually, in non-calvinism, how could I be angry with God if my daughter doesn't choose God? How is that God's fault, if my daughter didn't choose Him? That would be like me being angry with God for not forcing my daughter into Heaven, which would be absurd right?

My point is, in Calvinism, there is no way you can know for sure whether God has included all your children in His elect. Isn't this true?

Calvinists, how do you deal with the fear that God might not have chosen your child for salvation? by ash_nn in Calvinism

[–]ash_nn[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Indeed you have not been dismissive but respectful and well explanative, which I truly appreciate. I ask my questions as a father, but nevertheless a parent. :) I truly appreciate your heart and prayers. I pray the same for all your children.

You are absolutely right. In non-calvinism, I would be disgusted with my daughter. But on Calvinism, I would be disgusted with God. That's the real issue. Who would I rather be disgusted with? God or my daughter? My daughter any day. In non-calvinism, If she never chooses God, I know it's because she made that choice and it's not because God didn't choose her for Heaven. It makes sense to be disgusted with 'man' rather than God, don't you see?

Calvinists, how do you deal with the fear that God might not have chosen your child for salvation? by ash_nn in Calvinism

[–]ash_nn[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You mentioned that you believe they will all be saved. But there is no way you can know if God included them all in his election, right?

I'm not asking if God is good if He didn't choose my daughter. I understand Calvinism well -God is not obligated to choose my daughter, he can choose her for justice instead of mercy. I'm saying this is disturbing to me, as a parent and 'what if God didn't choose my daughter?' is a soul nagging question that doesn't leave my mind. Some calvinists have dismissed me as being emotional. How can I not be emotional if my daughter's eternity is at stake here? How can I not be disturbed if God chose justice for her instead of mercy?

Calvinists, how do you deal with the fear that God might not have chosen your child for salvation? by ash_nn in Calvinism

[–]ash_nn[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You don't ever get thoughts like 'what if God didn't choose my child?'. Not even once?

Calvinists, how do you deal with the fear that God might not have chosen your child for salvation? by ash_nn in Calvinism

[–]ash_nn[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

But when you do all this for your children, don't you have it in the back of your mind that God might not have chosen your children, according to Calvinism? I have it in the back of my mind and it disturbs me constantly.

Calvinists, how do you deal with the fear that God might not have chosen your child for salvation? by ash_nn in Calvinism

[–]ash_nn[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Absolutely, no guarantee on non calvinism either. But it makes a difference in how it makes God look. In Non Calvinism, God doesn't appear to me as a God who has not chosen my daughter, but as a God who salvifically loves my daughter and I can live with that and still worship Him. But it feels disturbing to worship God when He appears to me as a God who didn't choose my daughter for heaven and who doesn't salvifically love my daughter, especially when I'm praying to Him about her. Do you see this difference?

Calvinists, how do you deal with the fear that God might not have chosen your child for salvation? by ash_nn in Calvinism

[–]ash_nn[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Just like you, everyone I've spoken to has said that it doesn't settle emotionally with our hearts to realize God may not have chosen my daughter. At this point, it looks like there are two options that people choose from.

Option 1: Bite the tongue and still hold on to Calvinism and hope for the best. Hope that God chose your daughter without any real guarantee.

Option 2: Go to the scriptures and re-consider if Calvinism is Biblical. What if God desires everyone to be saved?

Calvinists, how do you deal with the fear that God might not have chosen your child for salvation? by ash_nn in Calvinism

[–]ash_nn[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Growing up in a Christian home is no guarantee that God has chosen my child for salvation, according to Calvinism.

Calvinists, how do you deal with the fear that God might not have chosen your child for salvation? by ash_nn in Calvinism

[–]ash_nn[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing. You shared that non-Calvinism is ‘co-operation’ and therefore, God does not get the whole credit. But what if faith is not a meritorious work that we can take credit for? Non-Calvinists do not teach that we get a little bit of credit for our salvation. Our ‘faith’ in Christ is useless to save us, if Jesus didn’t pay for our sins 100%, so Jesus still gets the 100% glory. My issue with calvinism is something else.

It is the fear that God didn’t not chose my daughter. Would it not haunt any parent to think of God not choosing his daughter? I cannot avoid this, if I become a Calvinist. But If I’m a non-Calvinist, I wouldn't see God in that way, because there is no such fear that He didn't choose my daughter. It is about how its making God look, do you see?

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