Thread: What do you think about choice? Emotionally?

This is not a theological question nor perhaps an intellectual one but an emotional one, about your feelings.

As you read the Bible you'll find God choosing lots of people: Adam & Eve, Noah, Abraham/ Isaac/ Jacob, Joseph, the nation of Israel, Moses/ Arron, the tribe of Levi, Samson, Gideon, Samuel, David, Mary, the 12 Apostles, Paul just to name a few.

OK back up a bit. God made heaven and earth and on earth he put people some of whom would spend eternity with Him in heaven, that's a long time, forever.

So the emotional (not theological) question: How do you feel about the idea of God actually getting to choose who He spends eternity/ forever with?

If we debate choices from an emotional level then we have to look at all the possibilities.
Its far easier to talk doctrine about generic humans as not being chosen but what if our loved ones were part of the discussion

What if these 3 happened?

1. How do you know 3 days before you die you won't renounce Christ and then find out you were never chosen and burn in hell....are you 100% assured of your salvation atm

2. How do you know that God has not really chosen your and they all renounce Christ and end up in hell....are you 100% confident they are all chosen

3. Will you 100% accept God's will and be ok if you are chosen and then find out your whole family were destined vessels of destruction

those are the craziest hypotheticals I've read in a long time.



Bottomline for me, I am fine with whatever God chooses. We all deserve death, that He opts to save any is a great mercy.

Originally Posted by Femme*

those are the craziest hypotheticals I've read in a long time.

Bottomline for me, I am fine with whatever God chooses. We all deserve death, that He opts to save any is a great mercy.

Why are they crazy....there are many 'believers' who for years go to church and outwardly seem ok but then have a crisis and leave the faith.
The reformed position is they were never chosen

So if they were never saved then it's possible the same thing can happen to yourself, your spouse, children, grandchildren

So if you are perfectly ok with God choosing others to perish in hell then you have to accept you are perfectly OK to know your husband, children and grandchildren are chosen for hell

How does a reformed person have assurance of salvation.

Isn't it possible they were chosen as a vessel of destruction and didn't know it but for years thought they were chosen and in the last year of their life renounce Christ hence proving they were never saved and end up in hell

If you want scripture what about the guy Demas who was complimented but in Pauls final letter he mentions Demas negatively.

So if we take the reformed position there could be a lot of these non chosen people in the church

Originally Posted by Cardinal TT

How does a reformed person have assurance of salvation.

Isn't it possible they were chosen as a vessel of destruction and didn't know it but for years thought they were chosen and in the last year of their life renounce Christ hence proving they were never saved and end up in hell

TT, you know i love you.. but that's just wacky.

You should be writing fiction.. science fiction.


How do you know ANYthing? That's your basic question.

Originally Posted by Cardinal TT

Its far easier to talk doctrine about generic humans as not being chosen but what if our loved ones were part of the discussion

Yes I agree, but I'm not sure that addresses the question.

The question is about how you feel about the idea (and it's just an idea, I know most disagree with it) of God actually getting to choose who He spends eternity with. Sorta like do you feel He should have a choise or He shouldn't?

How people know they're saved etc. is important but not part of the question, the question is how do you feel about that idea? Should God have a choise in what happens to people?

Yes I believe God has a choice in what happens to people as the creator and their salvation


So now you have to answer my questions.
What if God has always known your loved ones were never chosen but they end up like Demas and will renounce him before they die.

Would you find it acceptable that God has chosen them as vessels of destruction and doomed to hell forever

The reason I make this very personal because we believers talk about unsaved like numbers and forget they are real human beings with families, feelings and emotions.

So if we believe that some are chosen to burn forever will reformists accept it when they see their grandchildren burning in hell as God has destined it that way

Also are you asking those questions from a position of safety believing that you and your loved ones are chosen therefore you have nothing to fear

Is it not possible that you will renounce Christ before you die and what assurance do you have that you are chosen and safe from hell

FunfromOz

My assurance is my faith in Jesus Christ. I know it is a living real active faith and on Gods promise I am saved.

My concern is that you don't use faith in Christ as the standard to judge oneself.
Your confidence is on 'being chosen' which is what you write about. But isn't that very subjective. You believe you are chosen. Well how do we really know you will not leave the faith therefore proving you were never chosen.

I find the thought of being chosen not very satisfying and very very very subjective whereas faith is a substance that I can rely on as it is centred on Christ and produces fruit