The following is a reprint of my posting in the Baptist Gadfly for Oct. 7, 2008 (here)
"These promote controversies rather than God's work—which is by faith." (I Timothy 1: 4 NIV)
We ought rather to either
1. Avoid certain controversies.
2. Settle certain controversies.
Being a "Calvinist" ought not to be equated with being a lover of controversies.
Let us not
"miss the mark" when it comes to our service to the Lord and his people. Too many Calvinists get sidetracked, thinking their chief aim is to protect Calvinism, seeing it as the pearl of great price, and to convert others to the doctrines of grace. But, this misses the mark. The Calvinist is often more interested in converting other believers to their beliefs rather than preaching the gospel to unbelievers. He will spend far more energy and time in trying to move believers from one church to his own. I am not denying that this is often necessary, but it ought not to take the place of preaching to those who are lost. That is why I like Spurgeon. He did not miss the mark in this regard. Why not spend a little more time preaching to unbelievers?
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