Paul's Passing Thoughts

Biblicist: So, let me get this straight. A man can choose to make a wise decision like not running a red light, but he can’t choose God?

Calvinist: His choice is self-motivated; he doesn’t want to suffer the consequences of running a red light. Man cannot make a righteous choice, nor can he choose God.

Biblicist: But Christ, as well as the apostle John, called on people to believe in order to escape hell. That’s a good idea, no?

Calvinist: But again, the motive is self-preservation.

Biblicist: But, I thought if a man sees himself as a sinner, he can be saved.

Calvinist: Right.

Biblicist: So, if the motive is to escape hell, doesn’t that mean he knows that he deserves to go there? Doesn’t this belief enable him to make a wise decision/choice accordingly?

Calvinist: You are confusing practical worldly wisdom with spiritual wisdom.

Biblicist: What’s the difference?

Calvinist: One is worldly, one is spiritual.

Biblicist: So, what is practical and wise in the world is completely disconnected from spiritual wisdom? The worldly wise are no spiritual good, and vice versa.

Calvinist: Right, until a man is born of the Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Biblicist: So basically, two realities?

Calvinist: Right.

Biblicist: And unless God regenerates, worldly wisdom has no benefit. Worldly practicality has no spiritual use or application.

Calvinist: Correct.

Biblicist: That’s Gnosticism. It completely disconnects knowledge in the material world from the spiritual world.

Calvinist: No it isn’t.

Biblicist: How is it not?

Calvinist: I heard Al Mohler say in a conference Q&A that Gnosticism is error.

Biblicist: So, If Al says it’s bad, that eliminates the possibility that Calvinism is Gnosticism?

Calvinist: He has been called the most intelligent Evangelical of this age.

Biblicist: Would that be this world or the other one, and is that worldly intelligence or spiritual intelligence, and from which view was that assessment made?

Calvinist: I don’t know.

Biblicist: Then how do you know that you’re not a Gnostic?

Calvinist: I already told you; Al Mohler says Gnosticism is error.

Biblicist: I see, or maybe I don’t.

Calvinist: If you obey an orthodox leader, that means you see.

Biblicist: Good grief!

paul