"How Should I Talk To My Congregation About Calvinism?" | Ask Dr. Flowers | Leighton Flowers |

Dr. Leighton Flowers responds to a listener submitted question about how pastors should approach soteriological topics with their congregations.
To get your copy of Dr. Flowers new book, Drawn By Jesus, go here: a.co/d/6s767Ey
To SUPPORT this broadcast, please click here: soteriology101.com/support/
Subscribe to the Soteriology 101 Newsletter here: www.soteriology101.com/newsletter
Is Calvinism all Leighton talks about? soteriology101.com/2017/09/22...
DOWNLOAD OUR APP:
LINK FOR ANDROIDS: play.google.com/store/apps/de...
LINK FOR APPLE: apps.apple.com/us/app/soterio...
Go to www.ridgemax.co for all you software development needs! Show them some love for their support of Soteriology101!!!
To ORDER Dr. Flowers Curriculum “Tiptoeing Through Tulip,” please click here: soteriology101.com/shop/
To listen to the audio only, be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or one of the other podcast players found here: soteriology101.com/home/
For more about Traditionalism (or Provisionism), please visit www.soteriology101.com
Dr. Flowers’ book, “The Potter’s Promise,” can be found here: www.amazon.com/Potters-Promis...
Dr. Flowers’ book, “God’s Provision for All” can be found here: www.amazon.com/Gods-Provision...
To engage with other believers cordially join our Facebook group: / 1806702. .
For updates and news, follow us at: www.facebook/Soteriology101
Or @soteriology101 on Twitter
Please SHARE on Facebook and Twitter and help spread the word!
To learn more about other ministries and teachings from Dr. Flowers, go here: soteriology101.com/2017/09/22...
To become a Patreon supporter or make a one-time donation: soteriology101.com/support/
#Calvinism #LeightonFlowers #Provisionism

[@brianschmidt704]

Too many people seem to look to the star pastor and use their viewpoint. I love the fact that you tell people to search the scripture themselves. Paul reminds us on these difficult things to study and make up our own mind.

[@MrShoelessjoej]

In Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, In All Things Charity.

[@truthmonger7]

For more on this topic, No King But Caesar & The Return Of The Melchisedec is available online at Advantage Books. Peace to all.

[@9-1-1-OPERATOR]

Always remain teachable!

[@lindajohnson4204]

But not gullible. Be teachable by God, and you will be both discerning and open to God's truth.

[@rm5700]

I very much appreciate your approach, Leighton! I am also turned off by angry and/or dogmatic arguments. It has been the gracious attitude of you and others that have helped me reassess my understanding of Scripture, and I'm very thankful for that.

[@iangoodman4633]

As a Calvinist it's nice to feel some love from the other side. Cheers

[@eiontactics9056]

Don't mistake false validation as love, it's the very opposite.

[@jeremywolffbrandt7488]

Calvinist here, I would mostly agree. Speak the truth in love. Explain your interpretation as clearly as you can. Don't vitriolically divide a church over something non-essential. I have mostly appreciated this channel using restraint in descriptions of Calvinist brothers (at least as compared to some other channels). I'd love to see a 15-20 minute video summary overview video of how provisionism works with bible references and contrast each point against arminian/compatablist/incompatablist/molonist/roman-catholic perspectives. Charts appreciated.

[@lindajohnson4204]

But when Calvinists are going around telling the world that God probably doesn't want them saved, seeing that He doesn't want most people saved (a clear denial of many verses in the Bible), how can that be a non-essential? If one is going to fight the truth, don't those who know it is untrue, have a responsibility to "bring down every proud thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God"? Telling people God doesn't want most people saved, and that He works to prevent their salvation if He doesn't want them, is hardly a small matter. Certainly, we should not just concede the gospel to a doctrine that puts it out of the reach of most people. I know that there are more moderate Calvinists, with a softer form of Calvinism, but apparently, they don't consider the implications of what they claim to believe.

[@jeremywolffbrandt7488]

@@lindajohnson4204 Interesting, I've never heard a calvinist tell anyone God probably doesn't want them saved. I have only ever heard Calvinists like Ray Comfort preaching the Gospel and telling people they are sinners and must believe in Jesus to be saved. Calvinism doesn't prevent people from believeing, it is an explanation of how they came to do it.

[@lindajohnson4204]

@jeremywolffbrandt7488 Generally, they don't say that to the person in wmquestion, facw to face. I had it done to me when I was 13: an elder at my grandparents' church told me God had obviously deceived me with a false faith, all the better to damn me, which is what he had wanted for all eternity. This is probably because I let him know that I didn't agree with the so-called church of Christ 100%. But it caused me serious problems, on top of the doubts I was already struggling with. Because he told me that God had deceived me, and I thought what it would mean for the Holy Spirit to have been deceiving me, setting me up for a fall that He had wanted for all eternity, I now struggled with the fear of committing the unpardonable sin. But I've heard Calvinists say things like that to my face. A girl who sat in front of me in class told me off along those lines. A beloved teacher said cryptically that there are no answers for the problems of some people, acting weirdly accusing toward me. And while there are few Calvinists who are as cruel and hardboiled as Westboro Baptist Church, there are a few online that mean. Plenty who say we are going to hell for not believing in Calvinist doctrine. Some try to drive God as the author of sin into our hearts and brains. They say we are headed for hell because we refuse to accept the "hard truth" of God "as He really is." And besides, how, if they argue the theology of God hating Esau for salvation, and that God has no love for most people, and does not want them saved, and probably sends innocent babies to hell, and swaggers in his lack of mercy, how do they expect that this is not telling the sinners in need of being saved that God does not want them? In fact, if you believe it's true, why would you withhold it from them? And if you believe it is something that shouldn't be imposed on unsaved people, why do you believe that God is that way? Especially when you consider that there are so many verses in the Bible which, believed as they were written, show that it just isn't true?

[@jeremywolffbrandt7488]

@@lindajohnson4204 A lot there but fundementally, I would argue that the people who told you that you were not saved because you did not agree with the COC (coincidentally a very anti-calvinist denomination) were clearly wrong but not due to calvinism. Calvinism says God elects people but is very clear that it isn't due to anything special about you. In your case, those people would be tieing your election to your behavior not being up to snuf by their standards. Their view would contradict unconditional election. If you now believe in Jesus and hold to the fundementals of the faith (Deity of Christ, virgin birth, Christ's sinless life, His penal substitution for your sins etc.) then you are elect acording to calvinism whether or not you believe in calvinism. My point is that many calvinists do their best to interpret the Bible accurately and that those who believe in Jesus for their salvation are just as saved as people who don't believe that romans 9, ephesians 1, and other passages support unconditional election. To your second part, calvinists usually say God hated Esau because that is what the Bible says. With regard to his love for people, every calvinist I have heard view it as wrong to assume who God has or hasn't elected because we have no way of knowing unless they die as an unbeliever. Every calvinist I know says to repent/believe/go into all the world and preach the Gospel.

[@lindajohnson4204]

@jeremywolffbrandt7488 I was trying to answer you, but it won't let me even paste half that I wrote to the form. It just throws it away immediately: in a split second. I was explaining how Middle Tennessee CofC are Calvinists. We have a Scots/Scots Irish heritage here, so most early CofC people came out of the Presbyterians. Apparently, they kept their Calvinistic ideas in the CofC.. Someone commenting on this site said that West Texas CofC members hate Calvinism, but that's not true here. The doctrine the elder used is a vile doctrine, invented by Calvin: "Evanescent Grace", the doctrine that God gives some people he does not want to save, a false faith, indistinguishable from the real thing, all the better to condemn them, which He wanted from all eternity.

[@cecilspurlockjr.9421]

This young pastor asked the right brother obviously.

[@jimphillips2380]

A church i attended for 4 years prior to moving t another state, had in their mission statement to be ambiguous intentionally about the concept of Calvinism/non Calvinism so that we could express either viewpoint without animosity. That church thrives today because of this reason (among other reasons).

[@tracyrheineck590]

@smarter, yes, the beatitudes and many other passages in scripture tell us who God chooses...those who believe, those with faith, the poor, the meek, the foolish, etc.. None of these categories are unconditional, nor are they described as existing before creation..Amen

[@lindajohnson4204]

Amen!!!

[@daystar39]

Hi Leighton, I just saw where your son is marrying my doctors daughter here in Mississippi. Great news, this family is OUTSTANDING and I am happy for the Johnston's also. I never met her but did meet her brother years ago. Bard has been my doctor for 18 years. I am Scott Carter, a Methodist Pastor near Madison and NO LONGER a UMC and definitely not a Calvinist...keep us the good work!

[@WeBelieve316]

Dr. Flowers, I so appreciate your ministry and testimony. I was raised in Baptist churches (Southern and Independent) I graduated from Word of Life Bible Institute back in 1986, enlisted in the US Navy and served 2 years on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific, then went to Piedmont Bible College for 4 years, served as a missionary to the military for 13 years. The last almost18 years we've lived in Roanoke, VA. I've had some Seminary training in a "4 point Calvinist" school, but I basically hold to the Provisionist view. I've debated Arminians and Calvinist, but hold to what I have personally called the "Biblicist View of Soteriology" (balanced between Arminian's and Calvinist's views. I was taught both in my first year of Bible College. Some of my classmates are Calvinists and some are Arminian, but I graciously disagree with both of theses views. I've "Pastored" (or at least tried) 2 churches over the last 3.5 years. Currently I'm just teaching an in-home Bible study. Thank you for giving a balanced view on soteriology and for lovingly trying to teach our Calvinist and Arminian brothers a better way.

[@MatthewJohn14.6]

simple. Tell them it is a false religion like catholicism and teach them to give the gospel to the calvinist like everybody else so they can be saved.

[@chrislucastheprotestantview]

I think TIME is a huge issue in combating calvinism. The way calvinists and others view time, it leads to their crazy ideas. And I think the average "christian" his a very greek/calvinist view of time. I do not think time is some tangible thing to be traveled through, or "view down the corridor of". I plan to do some shows on it, because I think the theories out there are not that great. I think the PRESENT is an attribute of God, and that is all that exists. And God has always been PRESENT. Creation just became present about 6000 years ago. God views the present differently than us. To him, a second can be like forever. And even the Bible hints at this "a day is like 1000 years and 1000 YEARS IS LIKE A DAY" to God. The amount of things God observes and experiences in a second is quite different than what we observe and experience. Things change in the PRESENT. ANd we set watches to the motion of that change that happens in the present. The present is what is currently happening, and those changes can occur over short periods of the present or long periods of the present. Viewing time properly, and not seeing it as a separate thing God can "exist outside of" creates a healthier view of it that does not allow for such absurd ideas such as "calvinism". How can infinity be completely in the past? Yet that is what closed theists argue for, that all of the FUTURE is in the past, that God is outside of time. This is the only way God can be outside of time. But hasn't God always existed? Isn't "always" time? And how can gravity affect something that has no mass, yet scientists say atomic clocks are affected by "time dilation" do to "gravity warping time"? But what do I know. I have one of the most hated channels.

[@truthmonger7]

For more on this topic, No King But Caesar & The Return Of The Melchisedec is available online at Advantage Books. Peace to all.

[@truthmonger7]

@h2s142 In many Muslim countries sins such as adultery are punishable by death. The NT says "the wages of sin is death." Does that make the NT Islamic?

[@chrislucastheprotestantview]

@h2s142 no, it's not hebràic. I have Jewish friends, they would say that view of freewill is absurd. There is no such thing as "time" and God being "outside of time" because such a thing does not exist. "Present " is an attribute of God. Only the present exists. God has always been present. God knows the present future, but the future is not easy, therefore God is not in a cage called "time" that calvinists try to put God in. Your ridiculous concept of thinking all of infinity it in the past is an absurd impossibility. It's not logical.

[@truthmonger7]

@h2s142 In Arminianism Scripture is defined and interpreted by Scripture. In Calvinism Scripture is defined and interpreted by precept. Whether a view is applied within Hellenism or Hebraism is irrelevant since it is also Hebraic to deny that Jesus is the Messiah. For more on this topic, No King But Caesar & The Return Of The Melchisedec is available online at Advantage Books. Peace to all.

[@truthmonger7]

@h2s142 Freewill has existed in heaven and earth before Arminianism came to be. Lucifer was created perfect until the day iniquity was found in him. God rested when He created Adam and Eve because He was content. The word if appears in the Scripture (penned by Inspired Jewish men) over 1000 times. The commands to love, to let not sin reign in our mortal bodies, to yield our bodies as instruments of righteousness to God, etc. are all exercises of free will that God expects me to do because He first loved me. But He does not force me to do them. If you don't see free will in the Scriptures, it is because you don't want to see free will at all.

[@matthewcullen4536]

Respect brother…. Respect

[@mysteriouschannel2391]

Sound good ❤🎉😊

[@glstka5710]

I like Leighton's diplomatic approach, but sometimes when Calvinists get too prickly you want to bite back with a little Warren McGrew on the channel Idol Killer. He's something of a guilty pleasure for me. His AI produced song "Vipers In Diapers" for example.

[@John3.36]

Do you have some kind of questionnaire that churches can use to vet potential stealth Calvinist pastors coming in?

[@insiderevolverstudios]

As I work through a section of scripture that is a fan favorite of Calvies I will discuss in brief the twisting of scripture and how they use it incorrectly and then continue to reveal what the text is actually saying.

[@UnfrozenCavemanLawyer-xq1qi]

We already know this

[@insiderevolverstudios]

@@UnfrozenCavemanLawyer-xq1qi were you expecting some super top secret way to do it?...Capt. Crunch decoder ring this month in a box of cereal try that....

[@ottovonapps]

Leighton, its nice to see you start having charity and love towards your brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. I disagree with you, but I hope you continue down this path instead of some of your older videos of attack and nastiness. God bless.

[@jessewayer621]

Would love to listen Leighton discuss with Guilamme Bignon.

[@stevendobo4059]

Dogmatic things in the faith, should remain dogmatic but on something like Calvinism vs. Armenianism, since it relates to doctrine, we don’t have to be dogmatic. I appreciate your take on these things.

[@Martraul-CoramDeo]

Paul said …” I an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. “ Paul didn’t choose Christ on the road to Damacus, if it was up to Paul we would probably read in history that Paul was the greatest enemy of the Christian faith, but thank God for his sovereignty and grace that wasn’t so. God chose you beloved by His grace.

[@UnfrozenCavemanLawyer-xq1qi]

Sheesh Calvinists have a reading comprehension problem, I've learned. It says, "..an >>APOSTLE

[@TimWismer]

Regardless of what theological terms we use to describe our positions, salvation is entirely by grace from start to finish. If God gives you the grace to receive what His Word teaches, even though it will offend your pride and may well offend your understanding of God's justice, you will see that there is no part of your salvation that came from you. If there was, then you would have something to boast about (1 Cor 1:29), and God will allow none to boast before Him.

[@UnfrozenCavemanLawyer-xq1qi]

Absolutely right! Salvation is 1000% of God "..it pleased God that through the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." God saves them that believe. (you don't believe scripture) God does 100% of the saving.. We do the believing. What part of that do you NOT understand? Besides why are you here saying these things? It's God's will this video is here, That Leightons producing them, And God wants Leighton saying the things he says According to you😅 Your religion makes no sense😅 You are criticizing your god! That's pretty arrogant if you ask me "Who are you, oh man, to talk back to God?"

[@lindajohnson4204]

By His power, His desire to save, and your own human choice, you receive it. Our choice may be tiny, compared to His grace, but He doesn't force His grace on us, and He does credit us for receiving Him.

[@truthmonger7]

For more on this topic, No King But Caesar & The Return Of The Melchisedec is available online at Advantage Books. Peace to all.

[@chrisp9500]

At 4:45, You tend to be drawn toward humility because- John 12:32 you are drawn towards Christ, who draws all. 😊

[@UnfrozenCavemanLawyer-xq1qi]

Non sequitur

[@chrisp9500]

@@UnfrozenCavemanLawyer-xq1qi non humorous

[@adammorel8069]

The truth doesn't need to be defended, it stands by itself. it doesn't need to be carried on our shoulders or propped up by us. Nobody carries the burden of proof for how salvation works except God himself, and He's shown us in His Word, very simply. It's on each of us to take Him at His Word, and to do that we need to read It for ourselves. "Sanctify [us]in truth. Your Word is truth" John 17:17

[@DaysofElijah317]

All sounds Good but we are told to contend for the faith Jude 1:3

[@losnfjslefn8857]

"The truth doesn't need to be defended." But if someone says something that is clearly not biblically sound, should we just ignore it? Like, if someone comes along and says "Jesus didn't die for all", should we just leave that be?

[@UnfrozenCavemanLawyer-xq1qi]

Irenaus failed to read that memo

[@friendlyolbum]

So you have perfect theology?

[@markridlen4380]

I think the bigger issue here is the methodology behind how compliance is enforced. Do you persuade or do you threaten? Do you shun outsiders or do you welcome those who disagree with you? Do you perform information control or do you encourage people to read the opponents to understand them? Do you charitably discuss or do you call them names?

[@m4641]

How many times did Leighton use "I" in this clip? Regarding the Bereans, I think they would now look to 1 Timothy 3:15 for truth. Hmmm... what say you Leighton? I do enjoy the channel.

[@yuliyasteblyakov1787]

Dr. Flowers, can you recommend a good Baptist church in Vancouver, WA or Portland, OR? We recently moved and having a hard time finding a church. Thank you!

[@philipatoz]

I think a key thing one might start with is to first remind people that God's mind, thinking, plans, and ways He plans to accomplish eternal things are WAY beyond what we can comprehend. He is not like a man, and doesn't think like us (Isaiah 55:8-9). So, this means there is much we don't understand as to what God knows, thinks, or how He divinely operates. This also means that when we try to cobble together various Scriptural passages and try to apply human logic to them - well, that's not necessarily going to reveal GOD's logic about some things. And if we apply passages out of context or absent its comprehensive whole, we are bound to blunder into dangerous mistakes and beliefs. God knows ALL, and we know so very little. Jesus is both man AND God! God is a Trinity of three Persons. Logic can't understand such things perfectly. And when we apply our finite, very limited understandings to the eternal things of God, we best be very careful, as this is what the Calvinists have (VERY selectively) done, in developing their Five Point "logic" box - and with untold tragic results, not only for humanity, but also with the result of slandering God's Holy and loving character!

[@TimWismer]

When God breathed out the Scriptures, He was revealing Himself to humans. You can't say that God wrote the Scriptures with His logic, and therefore we can't apply our logic to them. Logic is logic. There isn't "God logic" and "human logic." You won't find any Scriptures that say anything like this. On the other hand, the Scripture does say that these things are "spiritually discerned" and are not able to be received by the natural man (1 Cor 2). But this is not a question of logic, it is a matter of having spiritual eyes to see and ears to hear, which God must give you.

[@philipatoz]

@@TimWismer , there absolutely IS such a thing as God's (PERFECT) logic and our (IMPERFECT) logic. Logic is merely our way of lookinf at whatever things and cominf to conclusions. Isaiah wrote: "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." That should tell you something. And behind our logic are often the self-deceptions of our flawed human hearts. Jeremiah 17 tells us, "“The heart is deceitful above all things And it is extremely sick; Who can understand it fully and know its secret motives?" So, there ARE flawed human understandings - even of Scripture - even when Scripture actually means something different that we might think it does!

[@lindajohnson4204]

​@TimWismer Having spiritual eyes to see = "God logic". "The foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men". Apparently, there's something to God's logic that the "Greeks" did not grasp.

[@ashermarcus5242]

I am surprised by some of the comments that seem to be saying that Gods character is non-essesstional. Id the foundation is false than it doesn't matter how similar or nice the rest of the building looks.

[@smarterworkout]

This is a sidenote: i just read in matthew 5:8 "Blessed are those pure in heart - for they will see God". This seems to go against calvinism? Am I wrong?

[@ronniequalls7522]

How would this go against Calvinism? Do you think that Calvinism teaches that the pure in heart will not see God? 🤔🤷🏻‍♂️

[@lindajohnson4204]

It works against Calvinism, if Jesus meant that seeking to be pure in heart could bring you closer to God (example of seeker: Cornelius), and bring you to faith in Jesus Christ.

[@bobbyadkins6983]

This one single verse seems to destroy so much of Calvinism: 1 Peter 4:18 [18]And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? If Calvinism is true, then how could the elect scarcely (with difficulty) be saved when they are saved by irresistible grace whether they wanted to be or not? Were they predestined to be scarcely saved with all things going exactly the way God sovereignly planned them to go?

[@losnfjslefn8857]

Jesus' prayer in John 17 alone proves why Calvinism is false.

[@ronniequalls7522]

@lindajohnson4204, it seems that you have switched from “sees God” to “seeking God”. What do you do with Romans 3:11 where the scripture says “there is none who seeks after God”?

[@vitaignis5594]

Rogue calvinist has another video out. The protestant world is truly crazy

[@donhaddix3770]

he world is crazy.

[@lindajohnson4204]

Not everyone who disagrees with us is a wolf in sheep's clothing. But I would like to ask Leighton: Do "wolves in sheep's clothing" exist? The expression was coined by Jesus. So "wolves in sheep's clothing" existed in His time on earth. Do they still exist, and does it matter? There was little doubt about where the wolves got their deceptive "clothing"

[@bobbyadkins6983]

This one single verse seems to destroy so much of Calvinism: 1 Peter 4:18 [18]And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? If Calvinism is true, then how could the elect be scarcely (with difficulty) be saved when they are saved by irresistible grace whether they wanted to be or not? Were they predestined to be scarcely saved with all things going the way God sovereignly planned them to go?

[@donhaddix3770]

the operative words in Calvinism, IF CHOSEN. if not, your screwed.

[@demarleroux3766]

And if we had to choose we are screwed as well.

[@donhaddix3770]

@demarleroux3766 we do not chose, we seek.

[@lindajohnson4204]

Sometimes we have been trolled too much, worked over too much, and when it begins to close in on you again, you begin to get a little angry. And there ARE wolves in sheeps clothing, and when we have fallen into their teeth too often, usually without any help from the brethren, it puts you in a position where you begin to feel helpless, and it is hard to proceed without the edge that a little anger gives you. Jesus, the "good Shepherd" does care, but the hirelings do not. It's all politics to them. A group that does not care are the people who debate recreationally, for enjoyment, who love this stuff, and perhaps it's no big deal to them to verbally rough house over doctrines, but it is devastating to some of us. I am not ashamed of not being emotionally secure enough not to be bothered, but I got worn down over the past 12-15 years. Before that, I was not depressed and felt no particular vulnerability, for many years. I never, from the beginning, wanted to join a ruthless gang, especially one that claims to be about God, about the gospel, but which ignores the word of God about how we should treat each other. When I first went to CARM Forum, those men scoffed at any mention ofvwhst Jesus said about abusing the flock. I should have just quit, but I felt a responsibility, and just staying there and taking it in the face must have been my battle station. If I left, some babe in the woods might wander in, with no one to begin to tell them what was wrong with the doctrine, or to side with them if they knew something was wrong that they couldnt put into words. And that doesn't mean that I don't think it's right to be a little angry with the ones who deliberately deceive, and they are out there. There is such a thing as being angry and sinning not, but its harder to actually do the _sinning not_ part. We shouldn't be dogmatic about that which isn't dogma from God's word, but we also shouldn't give in as if what is dogma, isnt important. What kills me about this is that I was a very kind person when I was young, and want to be again. And I can still start out the day, intending to show kindness, and yet, when the arguments become attacks, or when the reasoning becomes blasphemy, I stiffen up, and somehow that stiffness is noticeable by all. By that time, I would have been slapped in the face 10-20 times, yet it is my stiffening that gets noticed and interpreted as hate. So I need to back away from this and let cooler minds have it. If it is okay, Id like to commebt sometimes, but I have made it much less, and ill try to make it even less.

[@Terrylb285]

YAWN 🥱

[@helenagreenpine1496]

Truth in kindness is good, but Truth as 'here's what I think' doesn't fit for a leader. I just left a church for suddenly going Calvinistic with a new pastor....not because I despise Calvinists, but because who would want to sit under false teaching 'for funsies' or 'for the sake of unity (along false teaching)? Even if you try to sit under it (thinking you are 'giving grace') and 'hold your ground' mentally, false teaching will creep in like cancer.

[@matmorkinsti]

There will be Secret Calvinist in the congregation. You must use the secret word and by the secret 6th point of Calvinism they MUST respond. It’s actually one of the holdovers from Manichaeism.

[@daviddriedger3244]

You tell them it is the most vile thing ever conjured up in the heart of saint, because it doesn't just change how people see scripture, it completely changes who God is and Christ isn't needed at all in calvinism... prove me wrong

[@HumbleRustic]

Dr. Flowers, blessings to you. I am a Calvinist, a Reformed Baptist, and I know you are not. I believe you are a Christian, my brother in Christ and we will be together in eternity. That being said, why is your whole ministry pretty much just focused on this one subject?? Now, this is an important subject, but to make this one’s whole ministry, is fairly sad and wasteful. There are so many other things going on in this wicked world that should be driving our attention rather than this one issue, when on the last day, it will seem fairly insignificant in the grand scheme of things. So you believe differently on how one comes to saving than I would, big deal? As long as one believes in salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, that’s all that really matters, how one arrives at this faith can be debated, both have valid arguments from scripture, but to make your whole life’s work about this, is wrong headed. Talk about it now and then, but get off of this hobby horse and do something that is truly more important in the grand scheme of things.

[@glstka5710]

I heard him say that he created this channel to keep this subject confined here. He does a lot of ministry in other areas, this channel was created to deal with this issue.

[@losnfjslefn8857]

@@glstka5710 Yep, I heard that too.

[@demarleroux3766]

Well said.

[@soonhongkong5544]

Brother, I appreciate the underlying intention you have in calling Leighton to focus on preaching the gospel but starting with the assumption that he’s not doing those other things you mentioned is quite wrongheaded don’t you think? And even most scholars and pastors from both sides of the aisle would be slow to simply label such a discussion as being insignificant especially when all the studies of God are so interconnected to one another. We are called to preach the “simple” gospel of grace yes but we are also called to mature in the faith and understanding of the Word of God as it teaches us the character of God. And if you watch his video enough and understand where he is coming from, you’ll know that the reason why he’s doing what he’s doing is because this topic greatly affects how one views and understands the character of God, which I would argue, is indeed very significant. I don’t call myself a Provisionist but I really appreciate what Leighton is doing and would think that this is what the Bible commends, to ever so dwell in the Word of God and seek to mature in the knowledge of God.

[@marteld2108]

Tell them candidly...."Calvinism is a heresy....here's why...."

[@John3.36]

Most SBC churches are infected with Calvinism. They are also afraid of Biblical separation. This is why they prefer to approach the issue like Leighton is recommending.

[@phieble]

You don't teach your congregation primarily through any man-constructed '-ism' theological / philosophical system. Just pray over them and yourself for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom, humility, peace, and passion for God as you read carefully and sincerely over the whole counsel of his word while interpreting passages within context and letting passages from other places help you interpret passages that you are unsure about. Drop your logical presuppositions as much as possible and your unbiblical definitions of biblical words and terms from other languages and see what the authors intended in their languages and then work out implications of your conclusions VERY CAUTIOUSLY with the conviction that however God describes himself and whatever he does is righteous, loving, and glorious from HIS OWN standard because our idea of love, right, sensical, and fair ultimately does not matter. God owns and judges us, NEVER the other way around

[@user-lu9me2yq7k]

Nonsense!

[@johncollier3175]

Calvinism is the gospel of Christ. God does the choosing. Man is totally lost. God does not choose everybody. Could Christ appear to each person in the manner He did with Paul ? If He did, how many could still reject Him ? Why don't He appear to everyone?

[@eiontactics9056]

You just tell them the truth. Calvinism isn't Christianity.

[@user-kp5gx6pp2v]

for real

[@TimWismer]

Nor is Arminianism.

[@eiontactics9056]

@@TimWismer Arminianism is just a different flavor of Calvinism.

[@jeremywolffbrandt7488]

Christianity is belief in Inerrancy of Scripture, The Virgin Birth of Christ, The Substitutionary Atonement of Christ, The Bodily Resurrection of Christ, and The Deity of Christ. There are substantial numbers of Calvinists, Arminians, Provisionists, Molonists, etc. that hold to those beliefs. We can strongly disagree with each other on which interpretation is most accurate but its arrogant to say fellow believers are not Christians because of how they interpret non-essentials.

[@eiontactics9056]

@@jeremywolffbrandt7488 If you think God, Jesus and the Gospel as revealed by Scripture are "non-essentials", then you have even bigger issues.

[@thegracecast40]

Please address MacArthur’s newest stupid statement that mental illness isn’t real…and how bad Calvinists are at dealing with mental illness

[@readyplayer1900]

How to talk to your congregation about Calvinism: 1. Join RCIA and become a Catholic in full communion with Christ's church. 2. Never deal with this problem again!

[@UnfrozenCavemanLawyer-xq1qi]

Paul is the Apostle to the Gentiles. Peter and the other 10 are Apostles to the Jews. Galatians 2:7-8 (KJV 1900): 7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the >>gospel of the uncircumcision (Gentiles) was committed unto megospel of the circumcision (Jews) was unto Peter>apostleship of the circumcision

[@readyplayer1900]

Another benefit of taking the two steps above is that another problem will be solved forever: you'll never have to deal with weird, fringe, irrational, quasi-crazy interpretations of scripture anymore - which is not limited to Calvinism, but extends to all kinds of odd and heretical interpretations of scripture, like the one in the comment above. That alone is worth the admission "price", but it only improves and gets more deep and meaningful from there. Take it from someone who's been there - you'll never look back, and never regret it. Ave Maria.

[@DRC8097]

Catholicism os a corrupt theology. Being a catholic will not get you into heaven as it's very very wrong in so many ways

[@CC-ii3ij]

@@readyplayer1900Friendly Reminder regarding “Ave Maria’: If you insist on going that route, I strongly encourage you to memorize the following verses about 1st & 2nd Commandment and ‘Queen of Heaven’. See verses below in Exodus 20, Jeremiah 7, & Jeremiah 44. Exodus 20:4-5 (ESV) 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, Jeremiah 7:15-20 (ESV) 15 And I will cast you out of my sight, as I cast out all your kinsmen, all the offspring of Ephraim. 16 “As for you, do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with me, for I will not hear you. 17 Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18 The children gather wood, the fathers kindle fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven. And they pour out drink offerings to other gods, to provoke me to anger. 19 Is it I whom they provoke? declares the LORD. Is it not themselves, to their own shame? 20 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, my anger and my wrath will be poured out on this place, upon man and beast, upon the trees of the field and the fruit of the ground; it will burn and not be quenched.” Jeremiah 44:25-27 (ESV) 25 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: You and your wives have declared with your mouths, and have fulfilled it with your hands, saying, ‘We will surely perform our vows that we have made, to make offerings to the queen of heaven and to pour out drink offerings to her.’ Then confirm your vows and perform your vows! 26 Therefore hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah who dwell in the land of Egypt: Behold, I have sworn by my great name, says the LORD, that my name shall no more be invoked by the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, ‘As the Lord GOD lives.’ 27 Behold, I am watching over them for disaster and not for good. All the men of Judah who are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by famine, until there is an end of them.

[@naturematt4340]

Handle calvinism the same way you handle homosexuality in the church

[@johndisalvo6283]

I love and extremely appreciate you Leighton, but, NAAAA, they’re wolves preaching ANOTHER GOSPEL! Sorry. Galatians 1:8

[@iangoodman4633]

This is so uncharitable. It's basically the same as when a Calvinist calls you a Pelagian. We can all smirk to our own team and throw rocks at the other side. Or we can grow up together into the unity of the faith

[@johndisalvo6283]

@@iangoodman4633 It’s a FALSE GOSPEL….PERIOD! Galatians 1:8! Read it before you comment! Leave your “feelings” at the door.

[@iangoodman4633]

@@johndisalvo6283 is that really why you think I commented? Because I haven't read Galatians 1:8? All I'm asking for is a bit of charity and understanding.

[@johndisalvo6283]

@@iangoodman4633. If you can give me a Scripture where Jesus was charitable to wolves, I’ll listen. Otherwise, maybe you should reconsider your “unity is more important than truth” attitude!

[@iangoodman4633]

@@johndisalvo6283 its your assumption the calvinist are wolves that disturbs me. Are Charles Spurgeon, William Carey, George Whitfield, John Bunyan, John Newton, Issac Watts all wolves in sheeps clothing? My friend you need to reconsider your animosity.