EP 65: Calvinism, Gnosticism, and The TULIP Monster- Salvation and The Heart of God

Welcome Days of Noah family to another episode! My good friend Don is back with me in studio as we recreate a conversation that was sparked by an X post (formerly Twitter) of mine that Don had some, well, let's just say, some disagreements with! But in the spirit of reasoning together and brotherly love, we decided to record our conversation on the topic of 5 Point Calvinism (TULIP theology), not as a debate, but more of trying to explain our own opinions and ideas on the subject. For my reformed theology/Calvinist brothers and sisters out there- we LOVE you all! My strong belief is simply that Gnosticism, as a form of fatalism, had been amalgamated into Christianity, primarily by Augustine, just a few hundred years after Christ, and that this un-Christian doctrine became the basis for what is now called 5 point Calvinism (as John Calvin said himself how Augustine was his primary influence in his own writings), summed up by the acronym, TULIP (Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, and Perseverance of the saints).

My contention is that this doctrine is wholly unbiblical because it distorts both the Bible and God's character, as it assumes that if God is predetermining some for salvation, he is also predetermining most for damnation.  I believe, however, that God truly desires and makes salvation available for ALL, and it's ON US if we reject His free gift of salvation.  The Gospel is INDEED GOOD NEWS for ALL!!

Here's some resources to check out: https://www.amazon.com/Foundation-Augustinian-Calvinism-Ken-Wilson/dp/108280035X

Ken Wilson's book above, a truncated summary of his doctoral dissertation on the subject, shows the historical evidence for Augustine's Manichaean Gnosticism being used to interpret Christian doctrine on salvation.

Here's a link discussing how the Bible uses the word "dead" in regard to our fallen, sinful state prior to salvation: https://soteriology101.com/2017/07/07/dead-means-dead/

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