May 14
Doubting Calvinists and Agnostics -- Is there any difference?
A
dialogue showing there is no difference between a Doubting Calvinist (a
Calvinist doubting their salvation) and an Atheist/Agnostic (a skeptic
doubting their salvation)
AGNOSTIC: So you think I'm in a dangerous situation, do you?
DOUBTING CALVINIST: Yes, I do. And I'm praying that God will bring you out of it.
Agnostic:
OK, I admit that I know nothing about what is going to happen to me
after death. I may be happy. I may be miserable. I may be neither.
Indeed, to me it's all a matter of doubt and uncertainty.
Doubting Calvinist: I pity you from the bottom of my heart.
Agnostic:
Of course, you must have a comfortable state of mind. You must be
triumphing in the hope of the glory that awaits you when you leave this
world.
Doubting Calvinist: Well ... I think I have a good hope through grace ... I do hope I shall be happy after death.
Agnostic:
Wait a second! It sounds like you are saying that you are not actually
confident respecting your destination after death. Do you mean to say
that you are not absolutely certain of being happy after death? It
seems that you have some doubts about your eternity!
Doubting
Calvinist: Well... I think that I have a well grounded hope. It seems
the Spirit has worked in me. But I can't be presumptuous. It's not
humble for a Christian to speak presumptuously about being elect.
Agnostic.
Can you please talk straight? Are you certain that you shall be happy
after death? Or are there some doubts in your mind?
Doubting
Calvinist: Well ... I can't say that I am absolutely certain. All I can
say is that if I persevere I will get to heaven.
Agnostic.
Then let us be friends! Or should i say "brother skeptics"! Why should
you and I quarrel about our views? From what you have just said, it's
clear that there is barely a difference between our positions. It's
really only semantics. I'm without religion and confess that I am
uncertain about my future. And you with your religion are also
uncertain about your future. We're both uncertain about our future.
Surely, if we are both skeptical about our futures after death, we
don't have much to disagree about!
(There is no difference between a Doubting Calvinist and an Agnostic)
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