Withholding the gospel ...

[.tim]

Do you ever withhold the gospel from anyone because you assume they are non-elect?

 

[The Rogue Tomato]

Do you spend any time coming up with these stupid questions, or do they just pop into your head?

 

[.tim]

Do you spend any time coming up with these stupid questions, or do they just pop into your head?

I grew up and spend most of my time around people who are far from a reformed faith. If I were to be having a conversation with a pastor of a reformed Church, or friend who was from the reformed tradition, I would ask such questions regarding children, gospel outreach, or their viewpoint toward the unsaved community.

I believe all of mankind can respond to the gospel in they so desired. But, if I turned to accept a doctrine where I acknowledge not all of mankind is able to respond ... I wonder about that greatly. I look at my boss, my neighbor, the husband of a dear lady at Church who won't accept Christ ... I say "are they non-elect?" ... "Should we bother?"

So ... is is okay to withhold the gospel? To not reach souls? Is this okay as a reformed believer?

About 10 years ago I knew a man who said a whole community was probably non-elect and reaching them was a waste of time. That seemed tragic from my viewpoint. But, from a reformed viewpoint ....

 

[Ransom]

Do you ever withhold the gospel from anyone because you assume they are non-elect?

And how am I supposed to know?

 

[rsc2a]

Do you ever withhold the gospel from anyone because you assume they are non-elect?

And how am I supposed to know?

We always wore a name tag with "chosen" written on it everywhere we went.

 

[.tim]

Good to know that no matter what you guys will share the gospel.

 

[The Rogue Tomato]

Good to know that no matter what you guys will share the gospel.

Yeah.  Otherwise, nobody we encounter would ever know about Jesus.  Especially in this country.

 

[christundivided]

Do you ever withhold the gospel from anyone because you assume they are non-elect?

A better question would be....

Do Calvinist preach the Gospel as they should?

Does their doctrine affect their message? I say it does to some degree. The argument is in the "degree".

 

[Recovering IFB]

I believe all of mankind can respond to the gospel in they so desired. [quote/]

That's just the problem, men don't seek after God, "there are non righteous"  "nobody seeks after God" we have turned to our own way", it takes God to change the heart if man to cry out to God! Nobody does it on their own.

 

[.tim]

I believe all of mankind can respond to the gospel in they so desired.

That's just the problem, men don't seek after God, "there are non righteous"  "nobody seeks after God" we have turned to our own way", it takes God to change the heart if man to cry out to God! Nobody does it on their own.

Jesus knocks at each and every heart door. Mankind can open the door up and let him in, or keep the door closed. We are saved by grace (Jesus knocking) through faith (opening the door) ...

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you will eat with me.
Revelation 3:20

 

[Recovering IFB]

I believe all of mankind can respond to the gospel in they so desired.

That's just the problem, men don't seek after God, "there are non righteous"  "nobody seeks after God" we have turned to our own way", it takes God to change the heart if man to cry out to God! Nobody does it on their own.

Jesus knocks at each and every heart door. Mankind can open the door up and let him in, or keep the door closed. We are saved by grace (Jesus knocking) through faith (opening the door) ...

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you will eat with me.
Revelation 3:20

That verse was written to believers in Revalation, not unbelievers!

 

[.tim]

I believe all of mankind can respond to the gospel in they so desired.

That's just the problem, men don't seek after God, "there are non righteous"  "nobody seeks after God" we have turned to our own way", it takes God to change the heart if man to cry out to God! Nobody does it on their own.

Jesus knocks at each and every heart door. Mankind can open the door up and let him in, or keep the door closed. We are saved by grace (Jesus knocking) through faith (opening the door) ...

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you will eat with me.
Revelation 3:20

That verse was written to believers in Revalation, not unbelievers!

Yes, but the application to sinners is wide open.

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" Let the one who hears this say, "Come!" Let whoever is thirsty come; whoever wishes may have the water of life as a free gift.
Revelation 22:17

"You know the famous picture of, “The Light of the World”? It seems to me to be one of the finest sermons the eyes have ever looked upon. There stands the Ever-Blessed, knocking at the door of the soul, but the hinges are rusted, the door, itself, is fast bolted and wild briars and all kinds of creeping plants running up the door prove that it has been along time since it was moved. You know what it all means—how continuance in sin makes it harder to yield to the knock of Christ and how evil habits creeping up, one after another, hold the soul so fast that it cannot open to the sacred knocking. Jesus has been knocking at some of your hearts ever since you were children—and still He knocks. I hear His blessed hand upon the door at this moment! Do you not hear it? Will you not open?" —Charles Spurgeon, "Knock"

 

[Recovering IFB]

I believe all of mankind can respond to the gospel in they so desired.

That's just the problem, men don't seek after God, "there are non righteous"  "nobody seeks after God" we have turned to our own way", it takes God to change the heart if man to cry out to God! Nobody does it on their own.

Jesus knocks at each and every heart door. Mankind can open the door up and let him in, or keep the door closed. We are saved by grace (Jesus knocking) through faith (opening the door) ...

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you will eat with me.
Revelation 3:20

That verse was written to believers in Revalation, not unbelievers!

Yes, but the application to sinners is wide open.

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" Let the one who hears this say, "Come!" Let whoever is thirsty come; whoever wishes may have the water of life as a free gift.
Revelation 22:17

"You know the famous picture of, “The Light of the World”? It seems to me to be one of the finest sermons the eyes have ever looked upon. There stands the Ever-Blessed, knocking at the door of the soul, but the hinges are rusted, the door, itself, is fast bolted and wild briars and all kinds of creeping plants running up the door prove that it has been along time since it was moved. You know what it all means—how continuance in sin makes it harder to yield to the knock of Christ and how evil habits creeping up, one after another, hold the soul so fast that it cannot open to the sacred knocking. Jesus has been knocking at some of your hearts ever since you were children—and still He knocks. I hear His blessed hand upon the door at this moment! Do you not hear it? Will you not open?" —Charles Spurgeon, "Knock"

A) no, it's not the same, the letter was written to the church of Ladocia

B) whosoever= the elect who will come

C) like A above, this has nothing to do with free will


"Calvinism is the Gospel",........Spurgeon

 

[subllibrm]

Do you ever withhold the gospel from anyone because you assume they are non-elect?

Do you feed your unicorn?

 

[.tim]

I believe all of mankind can respond to the gospel in they so desired.

That's just the problem, men don't seek after God, "there are non righteous"  "nobody seeks after God" we have turned to our own way", it takes God to change the heart if man to cry out to God! Nobody does it on their own.

Jesus knocks at each and every heart door. Mankind can open the door up and let him in, or keep the door closed. We are saved by grace (Jesus knocking) through faith (opening the door) ...

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you will eat with me.
Revelation 3:20

That verse was written to believers in Revalation, not unbelievers!

Yes, but the application to sinners is wide open.

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" Let the one who hears this say, "Come!" Let whoever is thirsty come; whoever wishes may have the water of life as a free gift.
Revelation 22:17

"You know the famous picture of, “The Light of the World”? It seems to me to be one of the finest sermons the eyes have ever looked upon. There stands the Ever-Blessed, knocking at the door of the soul, but the hinges are rusted, the door, itself, is fast bolted and wild briars and all kinds of creeping plants running up the door prove that it has been along time since it was moved. You know what it all means—how continuance in sin makes it harder to yield to the knock of Christ and how evil habits creeping up, one after another, hold the soul so fast that it cannot open to the sacred knocking. Jesus has been knocking at some of your hearts ever since you were children—and still He knocks. I hear His blessed hand upon the door at this moment! Do you not hear it? Will you not open?" —Charles Spurgeon, "Knock"

A) no, it's not the same, the letter was written to the church of Ladocia

B) whosoever= the elect who will come

C) like A above, this has nothing to do with free will


"Calvinism is the Gospel",........Spurgeon

“Anyone who calls on the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13

Note: It does not say "Only the elect" will be saved, "only FFF members" will be saved ... it says "anyone"

“Whosoever” surely meaneth me,
Surely meaneth me, O surely meaneth me;
“Whosoever” surely meaneth me,
“Whosoever” meaneth me.

I am happy today, and the sun shines bright,
The clouds have been rolled away;
For the Savior said, whosoever will
May come with Him to stay (to stay).

All my hopes have been raised, O His Name be praised,
His glory has filled my soul;
I’ve been lifted up, and from sin set free,
His blood has made me whole (me whole).

O what wonderful love, O what grace divine,
That Jesus should die for me;
I was lost in sin, for the world I pined,
But now I am set free (set free).

“Whosoever” surely meaneth me,
Surely meaneth me, O surely meaneth me;
“Whosoever” surely meaneth me,
“Whosoever” meaneth me.

 

[subllibrm]

Election is taught in the bible. Free will is taught in the bible. Get over it already.

 

[.tim]

Election is taught in the bible. Free will is taught in the bible. Get over it already.

But what doctrine of such things is taught? Election to be redeemed, or election to be sons and daughters?

 

[The Rogue Tomato]

“Anyone who calls on the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13

Note: It does not say "Only the elect" will be saved, "only FFF members" will be saved ... it says "anyone"

No, it says anyone WHO, or WHOEVER.  For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  That's the same as saying, "Whoever who is taller than 5' 5" can ride this ride."  The word "whoever" doesn't mean people have the free will to change their height. 

The question is, why does one person call on the Lord and another NOT call on the Lord?  What makes the difference between the two? 

It's a non-sequitur to assume this verse must assume free will choice.  It simply says what it says.  Whoever who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.  And even that isn't true, strictly speaking.  Jesus said people will call on his name, but he will say "Depart from me, I never knew you."

 

[BandGuy]

Do you ever withhold the gospel from anyone because you assume they are non-elect?

Did William Carey, CH Spurgeon, John Newton, and all the scores of Calvinists throughout Christian history who were pioneers in missions and evangelism?  Please stop with the tired old idiotic and dishonest attacks.  If you are really that stupid and ignorant about Calvinism and Calvinists, please go educate yourself before you post any further.  Go and actually read about Bonhoffer.  Go read about Carey.  Go read the historic Calvinist creeds and stop making a fool out of yourself.

 

[Darkwing Duck]

Do you ever withhold the gospel from anyone because you assume they are non-elect?

Did William Carey, CH Spurgeon, John Newton, and all the scores of Calvinists throughout Christian history who were pioneers in missions and evangelism?  Please stop with the tired old idiotic and dishonest attacks.  If you are really that stupid and ignorant about Calvinism and Calvinists, please go educate yourself before you post any further.  Go and actually read about Bonhoffer.  Go read about Carey.  Go read the historic Calvinist creeds and stop making a fool out of yourself.

This is a discussion forum. To someone unfamiliar with Calvinistic doctrine this is a valid question.
When I have questions it's generally easier to get a response by asking on a dedicated forum for theological questions then to try to do independent research.