The debate between Calvinism and Arminianism is alive and well in my heart and mind these days. In a very basic nutshell, Calvinism says that God chose us to be saved and Arminianism says that we chose God.
In my opinion, both have valid points and scripture to back the theological bend they are trying to achieve. And both have their problems.
In regards to Calvinism, I agree that we are totally depraved (I’m a classic example of this) and that on our own, we are incapable of seeking God.
In regards to Arminianism, I concur with a tonne of Scripture that God is willing to accept anyone who confesses and repents and turns to Him.
And just by saying that, I realise that I have just totally contradicted myself! Hence the debate in my heart and mind.
I lean more towards Calvinism for a number of reasons. But this also makes me wrestle with so many issues that it messes with my mind. For example the other day, I was talking with my 6 year old daughter and and thought in my mind, “what if she isn’t one of the elect? What if she hasn’t been singled out by God to spend eternity with Him?”
If this was the case, the moment she was conceived, she was doomed to burn in hell. And that messes with my mind. Or another example, many times, I struggle with sin on so many different fronts and Calvinism makes me ask the question, “Am I really one of the elect? Or am I just kidding myself?”
One thing I never question is God’s integrity. I take comfort in the song of Moses mentioned in Revelation. Here, when everything is said and done and God’s plan for salvation has come to a close, the words used to describe God’s ways are “just and true.” I like that. I like that a lot.
Just being honest and transparent. Or maybe both schools of thought should be swept away in my heart and replaced with a solid chunk of Jesus instead. Yeah, I think that’s way better.
Anyway, in light of this, I thought I may share the following two video’s of evangelism gone wrong from both camps. Hope you enjoy…they are meant to be funny.
Everyone knows the “Footprints” poem. It’s a great poem to those going through tough times. May come across a little tacky to those full of themselves riding on the waves of a successful life.
But that wave will eventually crash onto a beach with sand and you just may find yourself relating to the footprints poem because you are in that zone.
But I just watched a music video by Leona Lewis with the footprints theme all over it. But what got me was the footage of children in need. Abandoned, scared, lonely and sad are descriptions no child should ever face.
They are simply too innocent and precious to be abandoned to the filthy world a fallen humanity has created. And yet this is the reality of millions and millions of them.
I simply breaks me. When I think about my two little kids, to imagine their little personalities having to cope with what millions of kids go through everyday makes me shiver. I’m going to hug them just that little more when I see them next. And then I’m going to thank God that my two kids have a safe place to grow up. And then I’m gonna plead with God that those kids “out there” are supernaturally protected by their ultimate heavenly Father.
Matthew 18:3 says:
“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”
Children are precious in the eyes of God. He actually wants us to be more like them when it comes to accepting Him. God loves kids.
So if you mix the footprints theme with the reality of abandoned children and a heavenly Father that loves them so much – and all His children – both young and old, and then throw in the amazing talent of Leona Lewis, you end up with this…
Yeah. This is where I am at the moment. Wandering. Wondering. Like a stack of Jenga and some invisible hand is taking away the pieces – exposing my weaknesses.
Vulnerable. A word I can so relate to. It’s amazing to to your self worth and self reliance snatched away from you as quick as the morning dew melts in the rays of sunrise.
Uncharted territory at the moment. New, scary, raw and somewhat excited at the potential outcome. Happened to me before – when I first met Jesus.
When I think about things, I reckon it needs to happen all over again. Break me Jesus. I need to move on from where I am at the moment. This crossroad has been in my face for far too long.
That heavy burden you spoke about, I know You were referring to religion at the time. But my burden is modern life. Modernity is a curse to me and I need you to help me shoulder this. Even better, I need you pick it up from my shoulders and show me just how destructive it is.
And then I need to see it – atoned for, and paid in full. Not because I deserve it. But to be able to see that You can still reach out and save a person like me. This is where I am..
“You have put me in the depths of the pit, in the regions dark and deep. Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves.” Psalm 88:6-7
Teach me what I need to know Jesus. My prayer is that I know how to make you Lord of my life – instead of just my Saviour. Because if you’re only my Saviour, I’ve idolised you – instead of worshipped you.
At times, I feel like a monster. My public facade is one thing. My true reality is miles away. Deep down I know the man that I am. And the man that I am is not the man I want to be.
I find myself hiding behind many masks – some to protect me from others. Others to make me come across as a person who has it all together.
But deep down, I know there is nothing in me that makes me worthy of anything – especially in the eyes of God. This is not about self bashing or self pity. But more of an honest self reflection and evaluation. And when I do this, I resonate so deeply with what Scripture says in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
I don’t care about human pride and arrogance which so wants to fight against this statement – because it’s a losing battle if one was honest with himself. Even if I try to raise above the storm in my heart and try to live a good life, I fall desperately short. Any attempt to live a morally pleasing life in God’s sight is akin to being a walking tampon…
“We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.” Isa 64:6
God gave me a conscience which, although is fallen, still knows what is good and right. And this conscience searches me – even at the best of times – and reports back that I am a mess..
“For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him?” 1 Cor 2:11
Oh yeah, my spirit knows my thoughts and my actions and it knows that on my own merits – even in the best of times, falls hopelessly short of anything that’s good and right. A walking tampon is such an accurate description of who I am as a person in the eyes of God.
A monster – deserving fully the assault of God’s wrath. And in part, this is why I really connect with the Christian band Skillet and their new song called “Monster”. Check it out below and the lyrics can be found at the bottom of this post.
I guess this shows why grace is such a gift. I’m not going to be judged according to how good I am or the monster inside of me. My walking tampon of a life is buried, accounted for and hidden in the death of my Savour – Jesus Christ.
Thank you Jesus. Thank you so much for being the Person I could never be. Thank you that my worth is not based on me. But because of what You did and what you accomplished, Your worth is imputed onto me.
You leave me speechless.
Skillet | Monster lyrics
The secret side of me, I never let you see
I keep it caged but I can’t control it
So stay away from me, the beast is ugly
I feel the rage and I just can’t hold it
It’s scratching on the walls, in the closet, in the halls
It comes awake and I can’t control it
Hiding under the bed, in my body, in my head
Why won’t somebody come and save me from this, make it end?
I feel it deep within, it’s just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I hate what I’ve become, the nightmare’s just begun
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
My secret side I keep hid under lock and key
I keep it caged but I can’t control it
‘Cause if I let him out he’ll tear me up, break me down
Why won’t somebody come and save me from this, make it end?
I feel it deep within, it’s just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I hate what I’ve become, the nightmare’s just begun
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I feel it deep within, it’s just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
It’s hiding in the dark, it’s teeth are razor sharp
There’s no escape for me, it wants my soul, it wants my heart
No one can hear me scream, maybe it’s just a dream
Maybe it’s inside of me, stop this monster
I feel it deep within, it’s just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I hate what I’ve become, the nightmare’s just begun
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I feel it deep within, it’s just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I’ve gotta lose control, he something radical
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
Every now and then, I come across a story or a video which really strikes a cord in me. The following clip is about a 16 year old boy getting murdered in a street fight. Pastor Justin Cox from Passion For Christ talks about the opportunity that was lost to speak Jesus into the life of this boy.
What gets to me is that we live such busy and pathetic lives that we don’t have the time we need to get the message of the Gospel out there to a dying world that so desperately needs it.
In a day and age where it’s almost the “in” thing to make a mockery of the concept of God, comes a great little music video making its rounds all over the place. I first saw it at Ray Ortland’s blog who saw it at Josh Harris’s blog and now I want it shown here.
Society love’s poking fun at the notion of “God” and a belief in Him. That is until hard times hit and it becomes the norm to “pray to God” etc to get us out of the mess. What a sorry lot we humans are!
That’s why I so like the following little clip from song writer Regina Spektor. Don’t know much about her really but according to Wikipedia, she is a Russian Jewish immigrant who grew up in New York.
But the lyrics to her song “Laughing With” capture beautifuly the pathetic nature in which mankind as a whole interacts with God. Hope you enjoy and lyrics are below.
“Laughing With” Lyrics:
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God when they’re starving or freezing or so very poor
No one laughs at God when the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one’s laughing at God when it’s gotten real late and their kid’s not back from that party yet
No one laughs at God when their airplane starts to uncontrollably shake
No one’s laughing at God when they see the one they love hand in hand with someone else and they hope that they’re mistaken
No one laughs at God when the cops knock on their door and they say “We’ve got some bad new, sir,”
No one’s laughing at God when there’s a famine, fire or flood
But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
Or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head you think that they’re about to choke
God can be funny
When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious
Ha ha
Ha ha
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God when they’ve lost all they got and they don’t know what for
No one laughs at God on the day they realize that the last sight they’ll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes
No one’s laughing at God when they’re saying their goodbyes
But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
Or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head you think that they’re about to choke
God can be funny
When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God in a hospital
No one’s laughing at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God when they’re starving or freezing or so very poor
No one’s laughing at God
No one’s laughing at God
No one’s laughing at God
We’re all laughing with God
Laughing With by Regina Spektor from the album Far
