• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Shanktified!

The personal thoughts, opinions and typos of Ron Shank

  • Home
  • Disclaimer
  • My comment policy
  • My linking policy
  • Contact Me

The Attitude of a Calvinist

September 11, 2008 by Ron Shank 1 Comment

I’ve been tossed into 2 (or maybe 3) conversations this week alone about Calvinism, God’s sovereignty and other closely related subjects. It’s so difficult to have this conversation in a few minutes when it took me months to come to the point I am now.  But in dealing with any objections, I am reminded of these quotes from Charles Simeon:

Many there are who cannot see these truths [the doctrines of God’s sovereignty], who yet are in a state truly pleasing to God; yea many, at whose feet the best of us may be glad to be found in heaven. It is a great evil, when these doctrines are made a ground of separation one from another, and when the advocates of different systems anathematize each other. . . . In reference to truths which are involved in so much obscurity as those which relate to the sovereignty of God mutual kindness and concession are far better than vehement argumentation and uncharitable discussion (Horae Homileticae, Vol. 15, p. 357).

And look at this transcript of his conversation with John Wesley.

Sir, I understand that you are called an Arminian; and I have been sometimes called a Calvinist; and therefore I suppose we are to draw daggers. But before I consent to begin the combat, with your permission I will ask you a few questions. Pray, Sir, do you feel yourself a depraved creature, so depraved that you would never have thought of turning to God, if God had not first put it into your heart?

Yes, I do indeed.

And do you utterly despair of recommending yourself to God by anything you can do; and look for salvation solely through the blood and righteousness of Christ?

Yes, solely through Christ.

But, Sir, supposing you were at first saved by Christ, are you not somehow or other to save yourself afterwards by your own works?

No, I must be saved by Christ from first to last.

Allowing, then, that you were first turned by the grace of God, are you not in some way or other to keep yourself by your own power?

No.

What then, are you to be upheld every hour and every moment by God, as much as an infant in its mother’s arms?

Yes, altogether.

And is all your hope in the grace and mercy of God to preserve you unto His heavenly kingdom?

Yes, I have no hope but in Him.

Then, Sir, with your leave I will put up my dagger again; for this is all my Calvinism; this is my election, my justification by faith, my final perseverance: it is in substance all that I hold, and as I hold it; and therefore, if you please, instead of searching out terms and phrases to be a ground of contention between us, we will cordially unite in those things wherein we agree. (Moule, 79f)   (Source: Brothers, We Must Not Mind a Little Suffering :: Desiring God Christian Resource Library.)

Filed Under: Apologetics, Evolution, Faith, Witnessing Tagged With: Great Quotes

Awesome Moth

July 20, 2008 by Ron Shank 1 Comment

Moth One of the most stunning of the wonders in the insect world is on the Emperor Speckled Moth (Gynanisa maja) from southern Africa, a member of the silkmoth group. To scare predators away, its wings display this strikingly accurate rendition of a mammal’s face—even the sparkle in the pupils!

Many other day-flying silk moths have eye spots decorating their wings, but only the Emperor Speckled Moth has such an elaborate design.

Secular scientists do not even try to explain the details of how such a masterful living painting could have occurred, but they believe….

Filed Under: Evolution, Faith

Dogbert gets it.

July 7, 2008 by Ron Shank Leave a Comment


Hat-tip: WOTMR

Filed Under: Evolution, Faith Tagged With: Evolution

Categories

Recent Posts

  • How to Remove comments from JetPack Gallery
  • Hippo Eats Dwarf (I secretly wanted it to be true)
  • Getting You Version Bible App to Post to Buffer App
  • New Comment System
  • I’m sorry.

Tags

2008 Presidental Race Abortion Activism Barak Obama Evolution Facebook Faith Funny Funny Stuff Geek stuff Great Quotes Harriet Miers Hoax Alerts Homosexual Agenda Internet Safety Internet Security In the News Iphone John McCain Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda Linux Mac Mike Huckabee Mitt Romney MySpace Note to Self Personal Stuff pingfm Politics Ron Paul Samuel Alito Site Notice Site Reviews social Software Reviews Tech Support Thunderbird Todd Bentley Tom Tancredo Troubleshooting Ubuntu Virus Alert Vista Stinks Witnessing Wordpress

Recent Comments

  • Ron Shank on Hoax: Dr. Dobson’s Call to Ban ‘Conversations with God’
  • AndyNi on Hoax: Dr. Dobson’s Call to Ban ‘Conversations with God’
  • paullamb.ca on Speaker Invitation/Request Scam
  • Wayne Moss on Hoax: Dr. Dobson’s Call to Ban ‘Conversations with God’
  • Ron Shank on Hoax: Dr. Dobson’s Call to Ban ‘Conversations with God’

Copyright © 2022 · Aspire Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in