This was meant to be a comment on "Vessels Of Wrath Fitted For Destruction" by ACOUNTRYBOY, but he never approved it.
After reading just a few sentences I saw that he was a Calvinist and my heart sank. He believes that God purposely made some people “vessels of wrath fitted for destruction.” In other words, God created some of us for hell.
He's right on that one, (Romans 9:22 i) and yet Calvinism leads to hell.
The pastor got so angry that he accused us of being false teachers. He was unable to control himself and resorted to name calling.
By name calling do you mean "false teachers" ? Because it's not wrong to expose those who teach destructive heresies like you do. (Ephesians 5:11 ii)
Paul argued that all deserve destruction. But those who come to Christ by faith alone for salvation are made “vessels of mercy.”
Indeed, but Paul explains that these vessels are created that way from the start. (Romans 9:21 iii) The chapter even uses Esau as an example of such a vessel that was "hated" before "being born." (Romans 9:11-13 iv)
In His foreknowledge, God knows who would reject Him.
Not only that, He causes them to reject Him. (Romans 11:36 v)
The clay is formed, not created.
The Bible says it is created. (Colossians 1:16 vi)
God only pre-destinates believers, never unbelievers
This is a contradiction. If there are some pre-destined to believe, the rest are necessarily pre-destined to not believe.
Does this sound like God wants all to come to faith in Christ, but only chose some to be saved?
Yes. That's why He is "longsuffering" about it.
- Romans 9:
22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
- Ephesians 5:
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
- Romans 9:
21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
- Romans 9:
11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”
- Romans 11:
36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
- Colossians 1:
16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
Why so long since your last blog post?
A few things. I got in trouble for unintentionally inspiring someone on EFNet to DDOS my web-host, and since then I haven't been contending on IRC. Additionally, I recently bought and moved into a house, (article forthcoming) and that has kept me fairly busy. Lastly, I just got back from a nine day long camping trip in the Colorado mountains. (article forthcoming)
There will be a couple more stints of no-publish-ness as I will soon be attending the Harvest Crusade in California (Darwin and I will be standing outside Angel stadium with signs that read "Laurie Leads to Hell.") and my brother's wedding in Connecticut.