A CONVERSATION ON PREDESTINATION
A college student mentioned to me today, 'I found out that Sally believes in Calvinism'.

I said, 'What about Calvinism.....you mean John Calvin the reformer? Have you read about John Calvin or any of his writings?'

Strange look....'uh, no. She said she thinks she might believe in predestination.'

I said, 'Predestination.....It's in the Bible.....Romans 9:10-24, Ephesians 1:4, Mark 13:20, IIThes 2:13-14, Acts 13:48........do you not believe it'?

'What......what do you mean? It is? I don't think it means predestine, then. This girl said she thought that it's all up to God in choosing who goes to heaven and who goes to hell.'

Sensing this college student was getting upset, I mentioned the famous passage, 'Well, the Bible does say,' I will have mercy on whom I have mercy and I will harden whom I will harden.' What does one do with that? I don't have a problem with that, do you?

'What about my choice? That makes me like a puppet?'

'No it doesn't. You make your choice. It's just that God makes a choice that is above our choice. Like a character in a story cannot understand the mind of the author so we ultimately are in our own understanding of God's predestination of those unto salvation.'

No response.


(I have a feeling that I'll be talked about by this college student. I'd rather be called a Christian than a Calvinist but if you have to say it about me .....so what.) Funny how people will make judgements without any evidence or knowledge of the judgment that they have just made.

For a great intro into 'Calvinism' go HERE.
For great audio discussion on predestination go HERE
Read John Calvin yourself HERE