In and Out of Calvinism Part 1 | Finally, The Whole Story
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- čas přidán 28. 08. 2022
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In and out of Calvinism Part 2 | Compatibalism & T: Total Depravity
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Halleluja.. I was also a calvinist and a preacher. I spread calvinism over Sweden thru my messages. But I came out. Was filled with joy and fruits of The Spirit after leaving. Praise The Lord.
So did the gifts and miracles still cease also?
Amen!
Are you saying Calvinists are not filled with joy the fruit of the Spirit. Not the ones I know.
@@raywinsor3948 Anyone can be joyful. But there is a difference between being happy, and confident in false claims - and true joy that can be shared with anyone. To be joyful in the predetermined destruction of people outside of their control, while one is confident they themselves are not, takes a special kind of blindness. The Gospel is for everyone. No one is predetermined for hell. Salvation is a free gift. A gift must be received or rejected because it is offered. John 3:36
“Look the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”. It’s true Ray. But that gift BY ITSELF did not save you. IT WAS NECESSARY… (If I could put that in flashing bold letters I would). It was necessary because we could not save ourselves. See John 3:16
You were saved when YOU humbled yourself, repented, and believed God and His Gospel (His message). And no one can do that for you.Luke 13:3.5. (Unless YOU….YOU will) your choice, and the consequences are future. Nobody has been pre-determined for heaven or hell. You have response ability (responsibility). Jesus said that, not your pastor or favorite author. He even told the Pharisees the same thing. He warned them John 8:24 so they were not without hope. Yes, even the Pharisees.
The only time Jesus was full of joy was when the 72 returned. Why? Because they understood that Jesus was indeed the long awaited Messiah and they were beginning to share the Good News of another kingdom that anyone could be a part of.
Anyone - but sinners were entering ahead of those who thought they had their own exclusive theology. There is no true joy in that.
And before you respond remember…Faith is NOT works.
Wow!!
Thank you for this video, Alana. When my husband told me he had become a Calvinist, and screamed at me when I tried to show him scriptures that didn't work with that theology, I went to bed and cried. Now I always pray that God will lead him out of it, since he won't hear anything I say. May the Lord continue to bless you and your family.
I’m so sorry. When did he accept Calvinism? How’d it come into his life?
I am praying for your husband.
I’ve been a Calvinist preacher for 15 years and I’m on the verge of coming free from it. It has led to a fatalistic view of life inside me. I use to be a passionate evangelist…but I’ve been stagnate for years. Encouraged to hear your story.
I appreciate that. I have never been a preacher, but the result on my life was the same. As soon as someone says they don't believe in double predestination, then you know their rational thinking has gone out the window. If people are created as unable to respond to the gospel on any level, even in their hearts or souls, and then are given no opportunity to respond to the gospel, it's irrational to pretend that's not predestination. I can accept that a yearning in a person's heart may be needed to move the Holy Spirit to help the mind, but for there to be no free will involved is far more like robotic entities than images of God who can genuinely love their creator. I'd say to take a look at Dr Heiser's book called ”What Does God Want.” I read the criticisms of Dr Heiser, and went in cautiously, but quickly discovered that the ones criticizing didn't actually listen to what he says. They are criticizing their own interpretations and assumptions.
I remember crying on my bed when I found out what calvinism was when my dad told me he considered himself to be one. I remember the fear and confusion. I praise the Lord for leading each one of us through the wilderness of doctrines. He is good. He is faithful 🙏
I was going through the same thing. I was so confused and fearful. Am I Saved? Am I chosen? How do I know?
Glad you found your way out of calvinism. I grew up in a heavy calvinistic church. I had no fruit, even thought I was told I was chosen and saved. I was prideful and arrogant, and completely unteachable. That is where I see so many stuck too. They have the tulip glasses on, and reformed glasses on, and look at scripture and everything else through those glasses. They are unteachable as long as they hold church fathers outside scripture, as the one's defining what scripture says. Once I started questioning things, because I was sick of not knowing if my salvation was secure, I broke down and left the church. After high school, I spent 4 years living in the flesh, and gave up all christian living. Until I had an ecounter with God's love, which drew me back to Him. I tried to go back to my calvinist church, and everything I heard clashed with my experience with God. I knew what they were teaching about God wasn't true, because it conflicted with my heart and Who He revealed Himself to be in my more dire time of need. I have not regretted leaving calvinism once. I'm closer in my relationship with God, I'm teachable. I enjoy being proved wrong, because I want to know the truth. It's just a blessing to see so many others come out of that terrible theological box. God bless you sis!
Sb @17:29 & ff> @Alana L > " I was asking my husband how come I was predetermined/predestined to commit sin by God...". My Reply> My dear Sister Alana, as opposed to your "Calvinistic" claim, We (believers in Christ) were predetermined/predestined to be His children, belonging to the Kingdom of God, bearing the fruits of the HS & enjoying serving the LORD in the church and sharing the Gospel to the lost. Do you have problems with that Sis?
Praise God! Former calvinist here. I was so miserable and judgemental when I believed their teaching but I stuck with it cause I was convinced it's true. Then God opened my eyes.
Really?
Calvinists who are miserable and judgmental are doing it wrong, simple as that.
If the anti-Calvinist were right there would have been no Gospel for the last 1400 years and even not before that. Origin of men’s free will goes back to Pelagius about 400AD. And the heresy of the pope around 700 AD About 20 to 30 million people died by the hand of the Spanish Inquisition for not giving up their faith. The Queen of England at the time was Called Bloody Mary for her cruelty against the Calvinist, I rather say reformed because we don't follow a man. William Tyndale was burned at the stake for translating the Bible and being a Calvinist on 6 October 1536. Do you claim his faith he died for was a heresy????
The Catholic church became a Heretical church in about 700 - 800 around the same time Mohamed killed all the Christians in Asia Minor. After 700 to the reformation, there was barely any preaching of the Gospel. The Waldensians from about 1100 were persecuted by the Catholic church and joined the reformation under William Farel who became good friends with Jean Calvin. From the reformation to begin 1800, all preaching was Calvinist, The begin of decisional regeneration was with Charles Finney around 1800 followed by Billy Graham and him ending with Universal redemption czcams.com/video/hrf60-zHl9A/video.html check the video. All of Arminius writings were forbidden in Holland and never printed in Dutch. First published in English 1875. Calvin brought the Bible back in the church. In the Catholic church, the Bible was a Forbidden Book for the lay people even up to 1950. Calvin Luther, Zwingli, John Knox and so many more opposed the teaching of the pope; one of those was conducting all worship in Latin so people did not understand a word of it. All the reformation did in opposing the Catholic [church]. What Leighton tells you goes back to Pelagius and did barely exist after that till about 1800- 1900 with Decisional regeneration. Arminius his real name Jacob Hermanszoon [Arminius is a Latinized name] never said much during his life because he was a professor in Leiden and could have lost his position. Dirck Coornherd after Arminius dead brought out his teaching and Uitenbogard wrote the 5 articles against the Remonstrant. After that as an answer, the Synod of Dordrecht 1618 made the 5 articles against the remonstrants. Calvin or even Arminius had already past-away. Calvin 80 years earlier. NO_ONE who studied history can oppose the Reformed teaching. That is because Historical bashing of the reformation does not make sense.
THIS IS HOW CALVIN PREACHED THE GOSPEL (Calvin's Wisdom p119-120)
He calls all men to himself, without a single exception, and gives Christ to all, that we may be illumined by him. When we pray, we ought, according to the rule of charity, to include all. God invites all indiscriminately to salvation through the Gospel, BUT THE INGRATITUDE OF THE WORLD IS THE REASON why this grace, which is equally offered to all, is enjoyed by few.
Other than the result of men’s refusal. Calvin as you can see and put the responsibility by men.
What about 70 M Buddhist in Thailand. 95% of the population of Thailand are Buddists and 4.5% Islam. Do they have a freewill to accept the Gospel? Did God give them a free will
The children born in Thailand will grow up being Buddhist. For any to ever get out of it, there is a powerful miracle needed of a work of the Holy Spirit. NOT A CHOICE.
@@MariusVanWoerdenlol what? Freewill was unanimously taught by all the church fathers before Pelagius. Get your facts straight.
@@bryanlovesjesus2204 Get your ideas straight. you don't have the Facts. This isn’t the first time I’ve heard an Arminian make this claim, without ever have studied themselves, and I don’t suppose it will be the last. Regardless, what should we make of your statement, Is it true? Did you read the Institutes of Calvin or the Confessions of Augustine. Augustine was baptized by Ambrose in the church of St John the Baptist at Milan 383 AD and did not return to his old live and beliefs. I did study it. And read the Institutes 3 times. Even Augustine got his teaching from the early church, and did regret and held not on to his early life. The Heresies of the Christian church started by Pope Leo 2 around 600AD. Catholic means: Universal Christian.
The frustrating thing about this claim is the manner in which it is framed. If anyone has read through the apostolic fathers, for example, they’ll know that they simply weren’t concerned with expounding the doctrines of sovereign grace, or nearly any other doctrine for that matter!
Did the Early Church Believe the Doctrines of Total depravity and predestination?
There are a number of websites and CZcams videos that attempt to dissuade investigative readers to believe that, except for Augustine, or at least until the “time of Augustine”, that the early church did not believe in the depravity of man, in unconditional election and/or a sovereign predestination,
Clement Of Alexandria (A.D. 190): “The soul cannot rise nor fly, nor be lifted up above the things that are on high, without special grace.”
Origen: “Our free will…or human nature is not sufficient to seek God in any manner.”
UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION
Clemens Romanus. A.D. 69: “Let us therefore approach Him in holiness of soul, lifting up pure and undefiled hands unto Him, with love towards our gentle and compassionate Father because He made us an elect portion unto Himself…Seeing then that we are the special elect portion of a Holy God, let us do all things that pertain unto holiness…There was given a declaration of blessedness upon them that have been elected by God through Jesus Christ our Lord…Jesus Christ is the hope of the elect…”
(P) “Let us therefore consider, brethren, out of what matter we are made; who and what we were when we came into the world, as out of the grave and darkness itself; who, having made and formed us, brought us into his world having first prepared his good things for us, before we were born,” (Epist. ad Corinth. 1:p. 88.).
(T) “All therefore are glorified and magnified, not by themselves or their own works of righteous actions, which they have wrought out, but by his will,” (Clement, Ep. 1, ad. Corinth. p. 72.).
(T) “‘not by ourselves, nor by our wisdom, or understanding, or piety, or the works which we have done in holiness of heart,’ but by faith by which God Almighty hath justified all from the beginning, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen,” (Ibid).
(I) “He that is chaste in the flesh, let him not be proud or insolent: knowing that it is another who furnishes him with the gift of contingence,” (Ep. ad Corinth. 1, p. 78.).
Barnabas (A.D. 70): “We are elected to hope, committed by God unto faith, appointed to salvation.”
Ignatius to the Ephesians A.D. 110
“Ignatius... to the church at Ephesus in Asia, blessed with greatness through the fullness of God the Father, predestined before the ages for lasting and unchangeable glory forever, united and elect through genuine suffering by the will of the Father and of Jesus Christ our God...”. To the predestined ones before all ages, that is, before the world began, united and elect in a true passion, by the eternal will of the God.
Justin Martyr: “In all these discourses I have brought all my proofs out of your own holy and prophetic writings, hoping that some of you may be found of the elect number which through the grace that comes from the Lord of Sabaoth, is left or reserved [set apart] for everlasting salvation.”
Ignatius speaks of two sorts of persons, signified by, “two pieces of money; the one belongs to God, and the other to the world; which have each their own characters upon them, and every one shall go to his own place,”
Irenaeus (A.D. 198): “God hath completed the number which He before determined with Himself, all those who are written, or ordained unto eternal life…Being predestined indeed according to the love of the Father that we would belong to Him forever.”
Clement Of Alexandria (A.D. 190): “Through faith the elect of God are saved. The generation of those who seek God is the elect nation, not [an earthly] place, but the congregation of the elect, which I call the Church…If every person had known the truth, they would all have leaped into the way, and there would have been no election…You are those who are chosen from among men and as those who are predestined from among men, and in His own time called, faithful, and elect, those who before the foundation of the world are known intimately by God unto faith; that is, are appointed by Him to faith, grow beyond babyhood.”
Your story is what I’m seeing time and time again. I’ve been studying Calvinism for about a year and a half now. Thank you for sharing and it’s encouraging to see people leave Calvinism.
Look up Andrew Wommack's A Better Way To Pray and How To Hear God's Voice series on CZcams.Two of the greatest gifts Jesus ever gave me.😇😇😇
I lost my sister to Calvinism, sadly it looks like a boys cult that oppresses and abuses women. I can't understand how TULIP ever got matched up with the whole of scripture.
@@JC-du6sn
AW is a terrible false WoF teacher.
@@Serpents_and_Doves
This is the kind of comment that boggles my mind...boys cult!?
@@Serpents_and_Doves Obviously you truly don't know or believe what your Bible explicitly says. Read Ephesians 1:4-5; 2 Thess. 2:13; John 6:37, 39, 44, 64, 65; Acts 13:48; John 10:26, 27-29; etc. John Calvin did not write these verses , God's Spirit did through holy men of God who were moved/guided by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21)--and the Holy Spirit can't contradict himself in scripture (all scripture is inspired or God-breathed -2 Timothy 3:16).
I’ve been watching your videos for a very long time. Ironically, I actually decided that I was NOT a Calvinist by watching your older videos about the topic. You would talk about certain reformed ideas and I would go to scripture and I wouldn’t come to the same conclusion. My husband and I went through this same “conversion” about 5 or so years ago. While we were not “hard core” Calvinists, we were a part of a reformed church. We changed denominations, which was a scary journey, but it’s been awesome to see God working in the whole situation! My husband is now the Youth and Family Pastor at our church. So quite frankly, I owe you a big thank you because it was because of your content that I started the same journey! Bless you, sister!
Wow:) praise God!!!
I am so grateful for you Alana!
I was also a Calvinist and after watching that live video you removed it really brought up a lot of questions which is what eventually brought me out of it.
Wow!! God even used that silly video?! Lol praise the Lord
Praise the Lord
I'm be very glad that you exited Calvinism.
Oh Alana, I saw your interview on Flowers CZcams channel and I just cried with relief and laughed and found myself just saying, “I could have said that.”
I can’t even tell you how Calvinism nearly destroyed my family for the past five years. We are getting through it but it was the hardest thing I have ever gone through. Thank you for your courage in posting in this. You will never know how much this meant to me.
Calvinism also (very nearly) destroyed us as well…. Took years to recover.
Wow. Ladies. I’d love to hear your stories. I’m so sorry, but glad you’re out and it’s behind you.
Calvinism nearly destroyed my family, too. But Praise God we are coming out of that false doctrine!
@@AlanaL3 I’m happy to share my story. I can email it to you if you’d like.
@@nessjoy44 I’d love that:) hectoralana@gmail.com tell me when you do. I’m BAD at checking emails:)
Your final authority is God's word! I never take any teaching at face value....I always check it out in the word!!! Thanks for your testimony...we are all on our Journeys.
I've never been a Calvinist, never could be a Calvinist. But I also have had some cognitive dissonance moments in my Bible studies where I realized that some things I have always been taught and always believed were not lining up with what the Bible was actually saying. So I can really appreciate your testimony about your spiritual journey. Thank you so much for sharing.
I can relate to that too;)
Such as?
Your storytelling ability is amazing! You went from point to point with ease and clarity. You talked about complex events in your life and we’re able to piece them together into a coherency.
I was unknowingly baptized by a Calvinist pastor in college too -- a Conservative Baptist church. I'm 69 now and feel like I was baptized into a cult, and feel like maybe I should seek a baptism by a genuine Christian pastor. I used to give monthly to Grace to You also, and read John MacArthur's books.
And then on Easter Sunday 2015 I took a wheelchair cab 40 miles to that church to celebrate Easter at the church at which I was baptized. I ended up sharing my testimony with an elder in the church, which whether these Calvinist Dispensationalists approve it or not, includes an amazing dream in which Jesus came to me in a dream in 1973, as I emerged from severe trauma from a mother who'd become demon possessed following her use of the Ouija board when I was 11. I was one emotionally shattered little girl and didn't understand the reason for her hatred and violence, and I was still in tears much of the time, when Jesus came to me.
Anyways unknown to me this man whispered in the pastor's ear that I had spoken of a "Mystical Experience." The new pastor, Travis Allen, had organized the 2013 Strange Fire conference, and he invited me to dinner with his family. I declined, saying it wasn't feasible in my chair. He insisted, saying his kids could carry me in the house. Like an idiot I accepted his invitation, but as we left the parking lot the unthinkable happened.
He turned around and said "Oh btw, I don't want you talking about a mystical experience." I had no intention of talking about it at his house, but I told him I wouldn't deny that Jesus came to me in that dream.
So he turned the car around and kicked me out of his car. He even sent the offering I gave that day back to me. So then I asked for a statement of all my givings. I had given $7400 out of my disability pensions in the previous 2 years, though I never set foot in that church. The widow of the pastor who founded that church was sending me the bulletins, so I gave out of simple generosity. But I told Travis if my money wasn't good enough on Easter, it wasn't good enough at all, and I requested it back. And said I would then give it to a worthy, God-honoring church which hasn't removed Job 33, Joel 2 and Acts 2 from the Bible. Needless to say he refused, but I too left Calvinism.
I went to one church that I didn't realize was Calvinist, but there was a pyramid on the door jam! THEN I found out it was a Reformed church, and that Calvinism and Freemasonry go hand in hand. And that John Calvin was a wicked, vile mass murderer who killed 58 ppl -- and according to the apostle John, isn't even in heaven, "for no murderer has eternal life." So there these Calvinists are, following the teachings of someone who isn't even in heaven. Smh.
“The problem with Calvin is he can’t admit how much God loves us”
St Robert Bellarmine
Non-calvinist here. Thank you for sharing your story and journey so openly, Alana. It is beautiful ❤️
What amazes me is the journey Father allows us to go through so that we know Him and ourselves better. It helps in our walk and brings deeper joy and hope for the future in the Kingdom. Bless you, sister.
Great testimony. You are a very qualified messenger of the truth of Calvinism in America. I appreciate this message greatly.
Hey Sis - love, love, LOVE this! I come from a Calvinist upbringing and have finally grown out of it in the last five or ten years - praise God! God‘s relentless love for all of us, even on our worst day, is unquestionable!
No scriptural support , as usual.
@@raywinsor3948 Not the place for it, Ray. Why would I need to? It’s all over scripture from beginning to end.
I'm not a calvinist but total depravity is absolutely true. Jesus said we cannot and we will NOT come. God does not owe us salvation. Him that cometh to me l will in no wise cast out---- just come to be saved and if you do HE chose you
No one seeks God -- just bow to scripture
Only 14 years old and I ALMOST got sucked into Calvinism. I was so scared when I learned about predestination and unconditional election. I really thought I had no hope of sharing the gospel with others because I thought,” What if they're not the elect?”. Even when I was just 10 years old I kind of just randomly always thought that we had free will. Also as I saw other young reformed Christians online, I began to look down on others who weren't reformed. Most of the preachers I listen to are Calvinists, please help me find other biblical preachers who aren't Calvinist🤍✝️☦️
God bless you. You should pray and tey to live a Godly life. You need a church. I dont know if youre old enough to go to church by yourself or if youre even alllowed. I recommend studying all kinds of denominations and praying to God to lead you to a church. I am Orthodox Christian.
Thank you for your humbleness. I'm 61 years old and love listening to you. I'm in a bible believing church now, but about 15 years ago I got caught up in the "Word of Faith" movement. It all sounded so good at first, but I knew I needed to leave when it started pulling me away from God and wanting to read my Bible. We are to guard our hearts with all diligence. It's so sad that we really have to be on guard for false teaching in church. Praying your family will find a good Bible believing church. The Holy Spirit will lead you.❤️
Amen, even as a Calvinist I am grateful she started reading her Bible more.
London Neal same here I'm 60 Yr old live in uk we also as new believer got led into word of faith.over 20 Yr ago now..after coming out of seeker friendly we got led by a pastor into calvinism/lordship salvation Ray comfort john Mac Paul washer..I got depressed because there was no assurance in a works gospel to the point I was confused in despair and wanted to end my life.since finding online grace gospel teachers the Lord has been so good..most churches teach works by front loading or back loading works some of it is sneaky..its been tuff but am now at peace with the Gospel that saves..
Do you completely keep the 10 Comm. including the Sabbath? And, Rev 2nd chapter seems to refute Paul. If you refute Paul, think of what you must do then. You must go back to Yeshua and what was ended after He left earth as far as to lifestyle(also non-Pauline writers/writings)...
@@pattrell5257 ?? Please say more to explain. And what about Yeshua when He left this earth? He did tell where he was going and why right? I’m interested in your thoughts as I have never heard this. 💕
@@Mtnmamma5251 I was referring to, if Paul is refuted. Then, your biblical clock must go back to a time when Yeshua went back to heaven. This would exclude Paul's writings and those that vouched for him. And, there would be a few more authors in the NT other than 3 of the gospels that would remain. Please compare 1 Cor 8(from Paul)* to Rev 2nd chapter. It sounds as though Paul allowed foods sacrificed to idols(not condemning or making it a law), but Yeshua seems to condemn it outright! And, if Paul is refuted, then circumcission is no longer an option, eating what you want is no longer is an option, the law is no longer nailed to the cross, etc.
*If I'm not correct on that chapter number, it's the one that Paul talks foods sacrificed to idols.
This is the first video of your I've seen and I'm in a similar place. I left my Calvinist church a year ago but fought with it internally for nearly 2 years before that. I'm so thankful God is moving in your life and placing his truth in your heart.
"We're not seeking to be right; we're seeking for truth." Yes, that is the key. So much angst and frustration in life comes from having to be right, but that is not what we're called to. We're called to "speaking the truth in LOVE." Love your testimony.
Look up Andrew Wommack's A Better Way To Pray and How To Hear God's Voice series on CZcams.Two of the greatest gifts Jesus ever gave me.😇😇😇
@@JC-du6sn with your own words...how do you hear God? And how do you pray?
@@JC-du6sn you people....posting links to your teachers and refering others to them on topics..... that's how you avoid dialog/discussion. And when you are asked to explain out of your own mouth what you learned.... crickets chirp. Very typical...you don't understand yourself what you are on about. Better sit down and let other people that actually want to discuss things chat.
But humble servants of Christ who were greatly used by God to win thousands/millions for Christ are not seeking for truth, just to be right. Right? Give me a break.
@@raywinsor3948 please mention at least one...
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your story. The past few months, I have been dealing with a lot of pain from having to leave a Calvinist church (I didn't realize it was Calvinist at first until I had gotten really connected). It's been encouraging to know that I am not the only one who sees issues with Calvinistic theology and has experienced pain having to leave a church that believes that doctrine. I also want to handle the situation in love and grace with my fellow believers and not let Satan use this to work evil in my heart or in the situation. It's not easy, but I'm praying for wisdom and God's strength. I also want to focus on studying the Bible more and more with the prayer that the Lord gives me his wisdom on these specific topics. God bless you and thanks again!
let God help you! I'm in the same situation right now! I was never a Calvinist! I didn't know what does the "reformed" mean. That's how I started to attend Reformed church, I just thought it is the same. But it is not! This is very different from what I see in The Scripture! It's a hard period of time for me...
Alana!!!! Been watching your channel for the longest time, and your love for scripture is such an inspiration to me. Keep putting scripture above all else. I’m so inspired to read the New Testament over and over again now. I hope you all can find a church family to worship with and serve again. We attend a reformed church (actually was led to it through your channel lol), but scripture still trumps all in our lives. We’ve been to so many types of churches and this is the one that seems to closely align with scripture ( at this point, we’ve resigned that we will not find a perfect church, but just want to be around believers who will live and die for Christ, who pursue holiness and who love one another). Scripture will continue to be our guide. May the Spirit of Christ lead us to all Truth.
I am so glad to hear this! I started watching your videos when my first children were young along with yours and I was looking into homeschooling and I learned so much from you on the subjects of marriage and motherhood, but stopped watching when calvinism became a more prevalent subject. I looked you up again recently and I'm so glad that I did! I'm happy for you and your revelation, sister!
PLEASE continue to share about this journey! You did an amazing job. I love how you stay on point and don't drag things out. Keep going.
Your story is very similar to mine. I went to a well known Reformed church in Montana for many years. Calvinism almost cost me to lose my faith. I’m still dealing with it. I’ve dealt with anger for years. So much of what you’ve said resonates with me. I’m so thankful God has brought me out of it. And it does feel like being born again. My passion is returning for the Lord and I’m learning to trust my own discernment. But it has been a hard lesson. Thank you so much for sharing your story!
Hi Robin. Thank you for your honest comment. I am working on something on why I believe Calvinism cause people to walk away from the faith so I am kindly asking, if it's ok with you to share in what way Calvinism almost caused you to lose your faith. Thank you
@@Rileyed Love this! ☺️
What was it exactly that caused you to almost lose your faith in the “Calvinism” you believed?
May I suggest you read the writing of Calvin and the scriptures and stop judging a doctrine by the self professed followers actions.
Cost you your faith? Strange
I have to thank a Calvinist. My first encounter with them, I did not know how to explain my side, and their side seemed dirty and wrong. I started reading and studying the Bible more. I saw where my error was, and even more so their errors. Just know that you will know them by their fruits.
Calvinism is not of God, period.
Praise the Lord! He is so loving! Thank you very much @Alana L it’s very gracious of you to share your journey and honest thoughts with us! I’ve recently also been set free from calvinism and it’s like I’ve won back the Lord a second time and the joy and gratitude is enormous! Keep sharing and God bless you and your family! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Thank you for sharing. As a new Christian i almost fell (unknowingly) into Calvinism and Sproul/JMc teachings but praise the Lord didn't go to deeply. I always felt something very heavy about it. Personally I felt that Calvinism quells the joy and peace of the good news of Jesus Christ x x
Been following you for years and have always appreciated your videos. I just love your openness and humility to seek after God and what He wants to show you. bless you’
I remember being in the subway holding my Bible going back and forth talking during that time. 3 years can fly by. You’ve always encouraged me in my faith. We’ve both changed and evolved so much since then. Love you my forever friend 💜
Thank you Sister we left a calvinist church two years ago . Praise the Lord . [ jean-louis and carolyn Martinez]
First time viewer. I really appreciate your story. I encourage you NOT to second guess so much. Your humility clearly comes through - and God gives grace to the humble! I'm sure God has, and will, use your testimony of God's working in this area of your life. And I agree with your conclusions!
You are such a great communicator. How you presented this was in a way I could understand. Stay determined and intentional in how you live your life. So encouraged with this testimony. Love your commitment to truth no matter if you have to start from square one. Compromise is a greater loss.
Thank you for this video. There isn't enough space in a comment box to talk about the journey my family took out of a calvinist church. It's been almost 2 years for us and I still struggle with sadness about the whole situation and how it all happened. But the Lord is so good and has blessed us in many ways which includes a new healthy church family.
You are such a dear Alana. You have every right to share your heart anywhere. And I am so glad that you shared it on CZcams. People need to hear. Other people are going through what you went through and can learn from you, be encouraged, learn from The mistakes that you say you made, but there’s nothing that is a big deal to get all upset about at all. Be encouraged, be confident in yourself because your heart is in the right place. Thank you so much for all that what share.
It is helping me and my husband in having to decide to leave a group of people that we have not been with that long, , but who we have come to love.
I love your boisterous passionate spirit. I am the same way! 🤗🕊❤️
Thank you! Thank you! Found you by ‘accident’…This is a very well done video that is articulated with clarity! I need to pass this on to my friends…I thank God for this insightful testimony!
I want to thank you so much. I was lost and confused with Calvinism. I've been researching and your video cleared it all up for me. You are a doll 💕
This was beautiful, thank you for sharing your journey with us, and nice shout out to Mike Winger towards the end, he is so good at helping people to think Biblically about everything! Blessings to you, and may your walk with the Lord continue to grow and flourish.
Alana, thank you for sharing your journey. I do want to say that your interviews were little gems to me :) I was already going through my own journey and at the point where your interviews were so helpful. Examples you gave scripturally were solid and your journey was relatable. So glad you kept them up. And as for your friend from church laughing and not knowing what Calvinism is, I can fully understand!!! I couldn’t believe how many people at my church had no idea and would brush it off. Anyway, thank you for sharing and I’m looking forward to your journey through scripture! God bless 💕
Watching this a year later because I’m having the same questions/issues with Calvinism. I think my problem is it has become my identity. Not being a Calvinist is slightly terrifying. Like, what am I if I’m not reformed? I feel like there may be an identity crisis once I walk away. But like you, once you see it, you can’t unsee it. Thanks for this video.
Yep…midlife crisis on the way, but it’s ok. Jesus is truly God and will be with you the entire journey and beyond:)
In my experience, it's really not that bad once you finally break free from it. Some people will still attack you for it, but I've found most are kinda relieved. I'm still protestant, I'm just not calvinist or arminian.
Been there. I knew God was revealing to me that was not right. It began to make me puffed up with knowledge somehow and it honestly reminds me of a phariseical spirit. He lovingly corrected me.
Hi Lindsay,
Just rest in what The Lord Jesus said in John 3:36:- He (or she) who believes in The Son HAS everlasting life (present -continuous tense), and he (or she) who does NOT believe The Son shall not (even) see Life, but the wrath of God abides on Him (or her).
God is a tyrant in Calvinism. Not sure how leaving false teaching is going to depress you! Should bring joy!
This is an amazing story!! You hit the nail on the head with how Calvinism really is. Thank you for this! I'll be sharing this with friends.
You are so courageous and I have the SAME exact story as you. Catholic grandma, then I became a Calvinist and am in a place where it has brought me down soooo much. I am so so so glad you made this video. I would love to talk to you sometime!
I’m happy to talk anytime. ;)
This is my first time listening to you, sister. I'm an ex-Calvinist with 25 years experience teaching others in that context. I resonate with so much you said. In the discussion between Calvinists and non-Calvinists, what is paramount is to not argue these differences from Calvinists' definitions. "You're a Pelagian!" Nope. "You're a heretic for attacking God's sovereignty!" Nope. "You're an Arminian because you deny the five points." Nope. If we're going to talk about this, we're going to read the Scriptures WITHOUT importing any system's definitions or theology. We're simply going to look at the plain sense of the words and adjust our theology accordingly. This is how I talk with folks about this subject. If they can't or won't do it, the conversation stops there. Now, if you're a Calvinist reading this, don't bother contacting me about the veracity of Calvinism. I'm tired of the endless exchanges. Go argue with Leighton Flowers at Soteriology 101.
Serving Him until He comes for us. 🙂
Yes, he’ll definitely set them straight 😂 I love listening to him.
God is sovereign over all things, including salvation. Just had to throw that in there.
You put an argument out there. Leighton ain't here for the duscussion. Defend yourself.
I believe God sovereignly chose to give me free will. 😂
@@jerrylisby3440 Amen! That's exactly what the Lord did with His Sovereignty 🙏
Thank you for sharing your story, Alana! You are well spoken and have a very transparent way of communicating. My husband and I also went through that long (and sometimes painful!) process of walking away from Calvinism. Leaving those lifeless doctrines behind really made the Scriptures come alive!
I'll keep it simple: My spirit needed this. I am glad I am not alone.
Alana-I am so proud of you sister and look up to you in so many ways 💜 I am so thankful for you and was brought to tears listening to you recount the journey…cannot believe it has been 3 years🐚 The Spirit moved in powerful ways during those days and I’ll always be grateful for that marked time in my own faith journey and the part you played. Your receptiveness, availability, and pursuit of truth is a treasure and my own faith was strengthened by it during all of those November days. Love you friend!
Love you girl!! I will always be thankful to the Lord for you❤️
Girl, I’ve watched this video 3 times already! And have shared it with others. It’s so powerful. Love you sister.
So thankful it’s helped you!! ❤️
Very good video. Very respectful. I happen to align more with a Calvinistic approach, but I've told people for years that I'm not a Calvinist...I'm a Christian. I believe God will sort out so many of these details in Heaven, as long as we believe the core issues of the faith. Have a groovy day.
I don't apologize for what the Bible says--and says explicitly--because people don't like it .
Hi Alana, I just found your video, and I just want to say that at the end of last year, I too, was led out of Calvinism by the Holy Spirit. I was drawn into it because of how academic it felt, and the sweet people in the church and the way they cared for one another. But, when we started actually studying John Calvin in Sunday school and the history of the reformed church - that put me off because I just wanted to learn about Jesus (I mean, we were in church, right?) - and then I started to actually read the Westminster Confession and felt that man was just trying too hard to connect these dots themselves - I couldn't agree with much of what was in it. My husband and son and I had been going to this church for a little over 2 years and had to leave which was heartbreaking. But, now we are happy in an E-Free church. So much of the scripture has convicted me against Calvinism, but this is a great one. "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ" Colossians 2:8. Thank you for being brave and speaking out - it helps some of us to know we aren't alone in this interesting experience of being "in and out" of Calvinism.
What is e-free?
I understand that "The doctrines of Grace" is just too much of a stumbling block for many Christians. That doesn't make it unbiblical or outside of orthodoxy. I journeyed from prevenient grace to soveregin grace and I am happy for it. Stay blessed.
But according to your worldview don't people (including born again Christians) reject Calvinism because God does not want them to believe Calvinism?
Very true. Just because some Christians stumble over it doesn’t make it untrue. The inverse also applies: it doesn’t make it untrue.
Everyone must compare to scripture the claims of Calvinism. I reject Calvinism not because it’s a “stumbling block” but because the supposed scriptural support for it is completely unconvincing to me.
What is striking to me, is we have opposite experiences. I grew up in an Arminian environment. I remember passionately arguing with my brother-in-law about his Calvinism and how wrong it was. And then I started really reading the scriptures. I would sit down and read whole books of the bible start to finish. I was digging in. And it was through that, that I began struggling with my Arminian beliefs, and not being able to reconcile those with God choosing the Jews, or God choosing Jacob and not Esau, and God choosing the disciples, and Paul, etc. After panicking while reading through Romans from start to finish and texting my Dad in a panic the whole time that I thought I was turning into a Calvanist, I eventually landed there. And since then, I've always seen God's sovereignty and man's responsibility as a "truth in tension" just as our One God is also three distinct Persons, but He is ONE Being. He is three, but also one. Another "truth in tension". Anyway.... I'm interested in listening to the rest of your story. I'm not so prideful to think I could never be wrong. This is just where I currently am in my relationship with the Lord. But I am also learning, and growing in my knowledge and understand.
For me the issue is limited atonement, and total depravity and the link between total depravity and irresistable grace. So i could be 2-3.5 point calvinist but thats about it. Reading calvins institutes does two things one calvinism seems a little richer at first jn his ponderings, but in his conclusions it locks in the fact that calvin was a hyper-calvinist and was more judgmental and reserved for himsef a key kernel of hate that seems even more hateful than most calvinists.
Tensions yes. But calvin and true (hyper) calvinists resolve that tension in a particular way that is wrong.
We should be confident in the potential effectiveness of gods appeals. We should confidently proclaim god wants all to be saved. We should not presume the only spiritual blindness is in accepting God’s judgment or his freedom to whim as he pleases. Jonah’s blindness was the opposite - not wanting to believe in Gods mercy. Calvinism is its own form of spiritual blindness. We should not play God with our theology. And of course faith is a gift - everything is a gift!
Think how the implications of the system apply to your children.
Read Romans chapter 3. "As it is written" Paul is referring to Psalms 14, the none believers, the ones who reject God. It is not applicable to Christians. The entire TULIP is wrong. We have all sinned, yes. But Romans 10:9 is very clear. Nothing can take away God's sovereignty. Those he new, he predestined, because he knows before hand who will receive him. "The ones who have not believe have already been condemned". "What should I do to be saved?" Receive Jesus and be save". Remember, the jail keeper? Calvinism is a sect. I pray the holy spirit helps you understand. How can a just God say, " choose you and reject him?! How can God condemn people the he did not give the ability to receive him?! Only the elect have irresistible grace.... Really? "Do not reject the holy spirit" Mid, the holy spirit is also God!
Blessings
Pastor, Joel.
This is nonsense. Calvinism says that God controls all actions and that good and evil, therefore, come from Him.
That's not just heresy; it's blasphemy.
And the idea that God would create someone determined for either Heaven or Hell is a demonic ideal.
@@ronald968 well…. That was a bit unkind. I was only stating I thought it was interesting how our paths were total opposite. And I shared where God had brought me in my understanding, but admitted I’m always learning and growing and am not so prideful to think I have it all figured out perfectly.
I really needed this video. Thank you so much. I look forward to your next videos and will be following along.
I love your story! I was raised in church, Baptist or Baptist-compatible, lol. When I was young, these things were never on my radar. We went to very solid churches. When I was thirteen God moved our family, and it was very rough. We went to every church in the area, and even went far out of our way to try to find a community of like-minded believers, but it was hard, and we had very few friends.
At this time, my mom went through a deep depression, and she constantly had the radio on to keep her mind engaged. She fell in love with John MacArthur’s teaching, and with R. C. Sproul’s teaching. A few years later, I was in a youth group, and one of the teachers made the comment one evening, “We don’t choose God, God chooses us.” I went home livid, ranting about how that couldn’t possibly be true, because that wasn’t what the Bible says. My poor mom decided to gently set me straight, just “playing devil’s advocate.” For awhile I was in a tailspin, trying to argue with God, asking Him how he could be condemning my unbelieving coworkers to hell through no fault of their own, but eventually I succumbed to Calvinism. For the next five to seven years, I lived in double mindedness.
We finally found a church that we kind of felt like we had some connection with, and that is where I met and married my husband. That church was very Reformed, and held to a very high form of Calvinism. We struggled in that church. It felt like no one cared about me. I could walk into that church, teach my junior high Sunday school class, sit through the service, and never talk to anyone else before we walked out the door. Out of 50 families that went to that church, only a handful, maybe five to ten, came to either my bridal or first baby shower.
But we plugged along. Then my mom introduced me to Dave Hunt through his “A Woman Rides the Beast,” and I then listened to his “What Love is This,” and I realized that I had been duped into believing a lie, but I didn’t realize yet how deep that lie went. Not long after this, one of the elders in the church got up and preached a sermon, and in it he said, “Satan is nothing but God’s puppet.” I tell you what, my Mom and Dad and my husband and I all sat up straight and looked at each other. We had never any of us considered such a blasphemous statement. A week later my parents had the pastor over to their house to discuss it, and he told them, flat out, “You need to stop reading your Bible and start reading these commentaries.” After that, my husband and I went to him and told him we were stepping down from our Sunday school class. I still remember sitting in his office that Sunday, saying to him over and over, “God is so much bigger than this.” We left peaceably, and we still have “relationships,” such as they are, with the people in that church, and I even attempted for a time to go to the young mothers’ Bible study, but we couldn’t continue to worship in that church after that. We now drive nearly an hour and a half one way to church every Sunday, but the fellowship is sweet and the doctrine is sound. It is so good to be free of that awful yoke of Calvinism.
Thank you for sharing! ☺️
Thanks for sharing. Excuse me, which church do you attend now? Where is it located? I want to go to a church where they don't have Calvinist doctrine. I would greatly appreciate it. 🥰
what a beautiful story ,
all of this is helping me with my theology .
I listen to Dave Hunt all the time and I must say He was so on the Money about Calvinism .
THANKYOU for your testimony .
AMEN.
Wow. Insane story!
I won't say it is the case for all Calvinistic churches but that behavior of a pastor saying that Satan is gods puppet and moreover that you need to" NOT READ YOUR BIBLE, but commentaries!?" That is literally a cult at that point.
Control info. Suppress dissent. Keep people busy with the approved narrative
You obviously did not understand the biblical doctrines of grace. Your mom was right about God choosing us (read John 15:16; Ephesians 1:4-5; 2 Thess. 2:13; Romans 8:28-30; Acts 13:48; John 10:26 ; many more verses) but that does in no sense mean that sinners all of us) do not freely and willingly chose Christ (human responsibility for sin), through the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. of course.
So glad you found peace and truth. May God bless you and your family. Looking forward to hearing more.
Thank you so much for this video. I have been struggling so much with Calvinism. If it was correct theology. I am so grateful for you! ❤️
I’m a recovering calvinist. Still struggle with the MH impact of Calvinism.
Glad you made it out.
"Recovering calvinist"... so what about Whitefield, Spurgeon, and Edwards? Having lead so many to the name of Christ... what do you do with our nation's history as we were settled by Puritans and Presbyterians who were all "Calvinistic"?
@@toddcote4904 Calvinism is theological sociopathology.
@@paulmoore-LPC-LMFT-NCC
Soo, bury your head in the sand then? You're calling these great men sociopaths? Really? I don't think you really understand the doctrines of grace or Christian history.
Praise God for freeing you from Calvinism! It's both entertaining and sad to see a Calvinist's automatic response to your being a recovering Calvinist was not to invoke Scripture, even in the grotesquely out-of-context way Calvinists use Scripture, but to invoke some of the usual Calvinist idols, and acting as if Calvinists' role in US history is somehow evidence of Calvinism being correct. (Is the fact that Western Civilization had its beginnings in pagan Greece and Rome evidence that Greco-Roman paganism is correct?) You're definitely right about it being "theological sociopathy"!
@@DamonNomad82
HAHAHA 😆
Imaging mentioning our Christian history or particular men and being falsely accused of idol worship.
Scripture? If we can't even have a conversation on recent history, I'm sure quoting texts isn't going to produce anything good either.
What's the "for" and "so" mean in j316?
Thank you for being open and sharing this story. I'm 61 and have gone through similar struggles. It was hard to leave our church that we no longer agreed with. Thanks!
This was amazing to listen to. I've been following you for years and hearing you describe this journey you allowed yourself to go through was so relatable. I keep hearing similar stores of people (brothers and sisters in Messiah) being "shaken up", even myself. It's almost like the Father is doing some serious refining with those who are willing to go through the process. It's painful but it's worth it. I encourage you to continue doing what you are doing in seeking the Father, reading His Word, praying, keeping your peace, etc. The part about having to leave your congregation and everything that that meant . . . I can relate so much as I find myself in a similar situation, going back and forth, debating how to make it work, etc. My husband and I are praying though, because ultimately, we want to do the Father's will. May the Father continue to guide your family and give you peace with every decision you make, and may you both grow in the Word and in teaching your family His Ways, in Yeshua's name. Sending hugs!
This is the first video I've ever seen of yours, but I'm so glad it was recommended to me! I am not Calvinist, but I have some friends and family who are (or at least, they'll say they're reformed). When the reformed "movement," I'll call it, swept through our community and non-Calvinist church, it divided a lot of people, including family and friends. I loved hearing your story/testimony and I hope others are able to find peace through it!
Thank you. There are so many great testimonies on CZcams of people leaving Calvinism. They’ve really been a blessing to me, and I hope mine will bless others. :)
Great video, thanks for sharing that story. I'm sure it resonates with many people out there with the same struggles.
Looking forward to the next video on this. Imo it will be good for you to make a Playlist stepping through text, etc because you seem to be able to "break it down"
and keep it simple for everyone 👍 God Bless
Sister, you are great. We all are very proud of you. I feel the same way. Arrogance leads them, not love, neither the truth of the word of God. They violate exegetics and hermeneutics both. Welcome back. they preach to convert Christians to Calvin (he was a criminal too)! We are to be Christ like / Christians.
Blessings.
Pastor, Joel
Randomly found your video and channel. So encouraged by your love for the Word and your family ❤️
This was amazing. You answered what I was struggling with. God bless you ❤️
I love love love your story, Alana. It just showed up on my feed this morning. So much of your story is my story. Different church, different people, but the same path. We grew up Baptist and then my parents started getting in to MacArthur and Sproul. It made sense to me and I was a hardcore Calvinist until a few years ago. I was explaining Calvinism to a Christian neighbor who was not Calvinist and as I was hearing the ideas come out of my mouth something in me said “this just doesn’t sound right.” The biggest question for me over time was “how can I tell my children God loves them when I don’t know if they’re elect?” Maybe He doesn’t love them, so I shouldn’t lie to them. But I love my children. How is it possible that I love my children and God doesn’t? What a relief to know now that God DOES love my kids, and with a much greater love than I could ever have! Also, I relate to your post-“conversion” challenges in talking to people. Most reformed people aren’t interested in talking about it and non-reformed folks just don’t think about it so it’s not a big deal to them. So I just keep it filed away in my mind and heart and thank God when I have a chance to have a conversation about it with someone who has questions. Thanks again for sharing your story!
Whether or not God loves your children (or mine) has nothing to do with their believing the Gospel and trusting Christ to be their personal Lord and savior from sin (human responsibility--Acts 16:31) . Sinners do not come to Christ in repentance and faith because they believe they are elect, but rather they do so because Christ has commanded people everywhere to repent of sin and believe the Gospel. They find out they are God's elect AFTER they have trusted Christ to be their personal Lord and Savior from sin and scripture is very clear that all to do that (believe in Christ for salvation) are His elect (John 10: 16, 26; 27-29; John 17:2, 6, 9; Acts 13: 48).
Thank you for sharing your amazing story! There are aspects that I could closely relate to and I know someone else out there who has a similar story will need to hear it.
This is so awesome, I I was getting choked up listening to you because with all the differences in my friend group and family members it was such a beautiful reminder that the revealer of truth, Jesus Christ has it. That we don't have to argue and fight and separate over the little things or the things that the Lost don't understand, but we can trust that God wants them to know the truth too
Hi Alana, I just came upon this video today-new subscriber. I’m so thankful God opened your eyes! You have a beautiful testimony, and I hope one day my Calvinist family member sees this, so for now I pray for her eyes to be open. About 2 months ago I also found Leighton Flowers videos, and also Mike Winger about 4 mos ago. Listening to ex Calvinists is very cathartic and enlightening to me and gives me hope. (Not saying mike is ex Calvinist, but I have watched one of his videos on the subject) I’ve never been a Calvinist, but I watched MacArthur and Piper for about a a year or so, but no longer do. The whole time I didn’t realize they believed that God predestined some people to hell… I was horrified when I found this out! Praise God I know where I’m going when I die- I love Jesus with all my heart and soul- He is my Savior 🙌🏻🙏🏻
Well, sadly, the majority of humanity will CHOOSE the broad road that leads to destruction. Here's the thing: the LORD Jesus knew this and it BROKE HIS HEART. He warned and warned, DON'T do it bc you will end up in hell where the torment and suffering will not cease! It's forever.
The average Calvinist does not really understand the HORROR of hell. When and if they learn that unconscionable lie that GOD is heartless, they gloss over it, bc hey, it's God's will to just leave most of humankind choking in their own blood. So according to Calvinism GOD is NOT the Good Samaritan in that parable. Imagine that!
There is hope. We can speak God's Word and pray that the lost will repent. :))
This was very fascinating! Hallelujah praise the Lord for his word is true! ♥️ trials and tribulations right! Your amazing and good to hear your testimony!
This sounds just like my story leaving Calvinism. (Except my husband and children really made it hard on me.) Although I didn’t discuss it with anyone at church really. But I couldn’t stay there. So I left. I couldn’t stay. My family resented me for it.
I’m so sorry. Has there been healing in that yet? Praying for you sister.
we are called to follow the Lord Jesus Christ FIRST. May the Lord our Shepherd bring you and your husband together in Christ.
That's such a proof that it's a cult - being resented by family for questioning it. My heart goes out to you. I hope you've found some support outside the family.
I love you, my precious sister in Christ Jesus. Thank you for your humility in sharing your departure from Calvinism. I’m so thankful to hear your reasonings behind your departure - fully confirms my viewpoints of why I could never become “reformed”.
Thank you so much for sharing this. This was super relatable. I heard about calvanism but could not accept it because I do not see it in the Bible.I appreciate your humility before the Lord and willingness to speak truth even when it is hard. Praying for you sister.
Romans 9 is a good place to see it
Philippians 2:12-13
Lights in the World
[12] Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, [13] for it is
👉God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
@@ShepherdMinistry need to know how to rightly divide-> 2 Timothy 2:15. Jesus was minister of circumcision not gentiles (uncircumcision). Jesus came to fulfill the promises made to the fathers. (Abraham, and will bless your seed). We are body of Christ , Israel is separate nation
@@EzequielAdames I’m confused as to the point you’re trying to make with my comment?
If you can't see what Calvinists teach in the Bible, you are blind.
Thank you for sharing your story!
You did an amazing job articulating the details of your journey. There is a great blessing for many us in your sharing.
God bless you…
I’ve watched this testimony 3 times, love it!!!
God Bless you sister, you are straight up telling the truth! You hit major points that go unseen. I go to a reformed church but I dont see eye to eye with the Calvinistic view. Still live my bros and sisters but they know where I stand, I just keep going because I prayed for this church and they love me. Its good to let others know, to not rely on presuppositions and abide in Christ first to build our faith.
Happy for you that God showed you the truth thru a very kind friend who shed light thru a respectful back and forth conversation. Praise God!
Thank you so much for responding Alana! My sister-in-law actually suggested we start a home Bible study/worship group and the idea seemed overwhelming to me. We have a disabled son who needs constant care and having people over is very difficult. But nothing is impossible with God. We are open to His leading. We will see what He wants us to do. Bless you and your family, and thank you again for taking time to respond.
Thank you so much for sharing. Your journey is beautiful, and I'm grateful that you shared with us. Very helpful video.
Just discovered you today, Alana. Great job! I identified with many of your trials and emotions because I’ve travelled down a similar path in my life but with a different doctrine. The fear, the excitement, the face plant…🤪
Again. Great job. I saw Jesus today. In you! You’ve magnified Him with this video.
I love your testimony here! You've done well.
I saw your first enthusiastic video (the one you took down again😊) when I was going through exactly the same phase of my faith. You totally encouraged me to hold on to digging and moving❤
I see your heart in this, thank you for your video's they are very helpful and edifying for the church. I have subscribed sister
Amazing testimony. Look forward to see the scripture comparison videos. God bless you.
Great video. I enjoyed both the content, and the spirit in which you presented.
I looked into a Calvinism a number of years back, when I first heard about it. Given the names of the preachers who hold to that doctrine, I assumed it was probably something I should align myself with.
However, when I delved into it, it became clear that it was not biblical. I am truly amazed at how many respected Christian leaders hold to this doctrine.
As you touched on at the end of the video, the history of this theology is also very problematic (Augustine’s gnostic roots, and the absence of such a belief in the first few hundred years after Christ. If the apostles had believed it and taught it, it would have been prevalent).
I personally find a number of prominent Calvinist teachers to be rather conceited. James White. R.C. Sproul (who said Arminians are “barely Christian”). John MacArthur’s comments about you (?) we’re also distasteful. Steve Lawson rubs me the wrong way too when discussing the issue.
But I also know many wonderful Calvinist brothers and sisters 😊
Trying to discuss this doctrine with most Calvinists, reminds me of my conversations with Jehovah’s Witnesses. They have learnt their arguments, and there is a massive cognitive dissonance when contradictions in a text are shown to them.
Thank you. I’m excited to watch Part 2 & 3!!
Thank you so much for your comment. I try very hard to always be gracious, but people STILL get offended. I’m open to your feedback on the other vids too.
You bring up some excellent points about Calvinism.. thank you
This is so completely meaningful! I sense your sincerity as you share and believe this topic is such an important one for us to navigate. Thank you for this...
I can't wait for the next video that goes through the scriptures you went through.
Blessings to you and your family ❤️
You can find it on my channel:) there’s like 4 videos:)
I just wanted to say how incredibly brave you are! No matter where people stand on this issue your obedience to Lord is contagious and refreshing. I'm happy for you that you are walking in peace over this. That it's no longer heavy. Not that it fully lifted I'm sure there are those thoughts in the back of your mind that will all have.(what will come of this video,etc.) But but you are trusting the Lord and doing exactly what you first started your channel to do. Help women! Help us to dig deep and look at the scriptures for ourselves. This is also further proof that the Lord is still at work. Way to go girl!
That being a Calvinist was the "in" thing explains a lot to me. It's difficult to find a conservative church where the pastors are not Calvinist or Calvinist leaning these days, and I suspected from the evidence, that's what was happening in the Christian schools and seminaries.
This is an amazing story. Praise the Lord! I'd love to hear more of how the initial reactions and thoughts your husband had when you first started searching...plus you need to share your shiny hair secrets!
I am a first time watcher of this channel. I enjoyed this video. I had a similar in and out of tulip experience.
This has helped me so much! I have been dealing with this for years and it’s frustrating. Thank you for sharing I wondered if other women had dealt with this. So many bible studies are Calvinistic and most people don’t understand what that actually means.
They don't understand because they don't know their bibles and everything they have heard about biblical Calvinism is distorted and misrepresented (what is hyper-Calvinism).
@@raywinsor3948 I have looked at both, and can't believe either one of them.
Alana, I am more than old enough to be your mom, but you have taught me so much! I fell in LOVE with Jesus when I was 17... His good character and amazing love for all people is what drew me to Him! When our pastor retired and new reformed pastor took his place, I was devastated by this 'new' doctrine... especially to find that it was EVERYWHERE! Author Austin Fisher said exactly what my heart feels about Calvinism...
"...the silhouette of the crucified God of Golgotha is an image chiseled into my heart... when I don’t feel like I understand a damn thing-I look up there and I understand enough to say thank you. I understand enough to call it love. And I watch as it casts sparks of light into previously darkened corners. So when someone messes with this picture, adding a cryptic backdrop that threatens to stain the whole thing, I’m against the backdrop only because I’m for the picture I think the backdrop ruins. I’m not against the Calvinist picture of God so much as I am grieved by what that picture does to the picture I love..."
Isn't it ironic that when asked to describe their understanding of God many, if not most ,atheists do so in Calvinistic terms. Many have only seen the portrait of a god which Calvin paints and they rightly reject it. However, believing it to be accurate, they throw God out with the portrait.
Hey Alana, I've watched a few of your vids and I very much appreciate your testimony about coming out of Calvinism, and I can relate to many of the internal experiences you had along the way. I was never a Calvinist or attended a Calvinist meeting but I was taught false doctrine and when I realized it I had to dig myself out of it and my experience was akin to yours, one person who suck with me but I had to make like a Berean and examine the scriptures for myself to learn what was what.
So happy that you and yours are thriving in the Lord!
Shallom
Thank you for your story. I had just come in from my garden and sat down to rest for a few minutes when I spotted your video on CZcams. I had been thinking of the question “Are all Calvinists determinists?” I honestly don’t think about Calvinists much but I have a girlfriend who has been basically Baptist all her life and just started going to a reformed church. I told her that I couldn’t go along with that doctrine because they believe in total depravity (and all the rest of the TULIP, but I didn’t go into that). She said well they haven’t talked about that but that THE TEACHING is just sooooo good!!! I was so surprised to hear you mention this. Several years ago is when I first heard of The reformed doctrine. I had just gone to work for Family Life and a few of us were praying for our college kids. One of the women said “I pray for my son all the time but I’m just afraid he may not be one of the elect”. I about fell off my chair and we had a short discussion about that. Not all people at Family Life are reformed but a good number are. Turns out my boss was as well. He also talked about how good the teaching was. I came to Christ in a Baptist church where we have an altar call every Sunday. Kind of likeJohn theBaptist in the pulpit. So I told my boss, we liked theological discussions, if what you say is true and the Reformed pastor is presenting honestly what he thinks God does with salvation ( if he does an altar call) why doesn’t he say “now some of you need to come forward and receive Christ and the rest of you can’t and there is nothing you can do about it!”. He didn’t have anything to say. Anyway, I don’t know all the ramifications of my friend going to a reformed church are but I’m praying for her. Just think it’s so odd that people say the teaching is so good. There are some really wonderful Bible teachers that aren’t Calvinists. You should read what CS Lewis says about Calvinism.♥️
Thank you for sharing your story. Very encouraging!
Around 7 or 8 years ago, I almost walked away from Christianity when I learned about Calvinism. And, for any Calvinist reading this, I DO understand it. It is, as you say Alana, a philosophy, and not The Gospel. Thankfully, an open-minded Calvinist pastor understood my struggle and directed me to a book, The Other Side of Calvinism, by Vance. I devoured the seven or eight hundred page book for a few days and so began my glorious climb out of the mire. I read several more books both for and against Calvinism and discovered Leighton Flowers a year or so later. Then Kevin Thompson and the others you mentioned. For me, it was like being saved again! Then I started to see how the long history of Calvinism since The Reformation as infected the theology and teaching of ALL denominations, including the non-Calvinist, Baptist church I had been a part of my entire life. My point, PLEASE don't underestimate how important your interviews(I watched and praised God for all of them) have been for many people. I can't say whether or not your videos, including your interviews, about Calvinism has affected a million folks but, I guarantee you it has been invaluable for the ones who needed it. So, I hope and pray you continue to speak on this subject as we need as many voices out there as possible to help people who have been and will be confronted with Calvinism realize that, JESUS IS EVERYTHING WE THOUGHT HE WAS! The Gospel really is "good news to ALL people". Thank God!
Thank you so much. I can tell my hesitation is a manifestation of fear that has been put there by others. I really appreciate your words and thankful you did not walk away from Jesus!! I had a friend who learned about Calvinism and almost walked away too because she did not want to follow that god. So incredible to hear how differently everyone responds to this doctrine.
" JESUS IS EVERYTHING WE THOUGHT HE WAS! The Gospel really is "good news to ALL people". Thank God!" I read this just now to my husband and choked up with tears!!!
@@AlanaL3 Thank you for not judging me. Some, on both Calvinist and non-Calvinist, don't understand the cognitive dissonance involved with believing one thing in your head very strongly, while intuitively knowing the opposite in your heart. I just turned my wife on to your channel. God bless you!!
@@jeanb3920 God bless you guys. I'll never forget when the Spirit spoke those words to me one day. I'm not a rigorously religious person anymore but, oh how i love Jesus now :)
Isn't it funny how when you make a good scriptural argument against Calvinism, a Calvinist will just say "you just don't understand Calvinism" ? LOL. It's their go to default when they have nothing.
This is great! It really open my eyes. Thank you for sharing
I'm so happy for you, great video!