Cage Stage Provisionists

Dr. Leighton Flowers talks about the tendencies of every group to produce "cage-stagers" and what we should do about it.

Often it’s #Calvinism accused of being marked by a cage-stage (convert others at all costs) but it exists everywhere:

“Cage-staggers” in any discipline are marked by a greater love for the practice than the person.

Avoiding this stage only comes by means of patience and prayer.

We will discuss this post on social media by Brandon Smith:
Much like “cage stage” Calvinism was a danger for us excitable young/future pastors and theologians 15 years ago, I hope we are careful to avoid a cage stage theological retrieval in the next generation.

Here are a few signs of cage stage theology from a former practitioner:
1. A disdain for our spiritual and theological forbears/heroes/mentors. We are quick to critique or even slander those who came before us — those who taught us! — because we now feel we’ve moved beyond them.
2. Relatedly, we create disciples who are also cynical of their heroes and think that decades of faithful ministry are now, or always have been, worthless and have no benefit to the academy/church. They begin to question their own pastors, parents, etc. for being too “shallow.”
3. We narrow orthodoxy to a particular set of categories that we neatly define, creating a type of fundamentalism that eschews generous orthodoxy for a select “in” crowd reminiscent of a high school clique.
4. A tendency toward personal brand-building that makes us self-appointed saviors of orthodoxy. To protect said brand, we start creating history in our own image, anachronistically and/or shallowly argued that past theologians agree with all of our little pet nuances.
5. We divide the church rather than unite the church, all under the guise of defending “orthodoxy.”

As Paul said to a divided and quarreling church: “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Cor. 13:7
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[thomasthepromise]

When our doctrine leads us to love said doctrine more than people, we've gone wrong somewhere. Lord help us all!

[gregmahler]

Good message! We fool ourselves if we don’t love our opponents so much that our main desire is to help them see the error and to be gentle and respectful along the way. For me, as a person who recently gave up Calvinism, it took a person on the other side who met my godly behavior with equal godly behavior and treated me like their own brother. That helped me see the love of God and my error which was essentially forgetting the goodness and greatness of our God! “Be imitators of God”… this one sentence was hard to square with Calvinism for me and I realized that I serve a God who went to the extreme, who put the cleats on, and did so for anyone who would believe. And in this way, God fulfills his own universal law of love of neighbor. He truly is the Good Samaritan and that inspires me to be like him!

[ip]

I am definitely guilty of being vitriolic, maybe not all the time but enough. I pray and hope to be better.

[trebmaster]

Ephesians 4:15 - "Speaking the Truth in LOVE"
This was put at the very top of our church bulletins for years.

[paulchamberlain]

I guess any group could produce cage stagers, but Calvinism has the added temptations of a theology that tells them God doesn't really love everyone (and we are to be godly), holding a contradictory or "paradoxical" theology (therefore, strong rhetoric is more likely to replace reason), denying their free will (central for self control), admiring men who persecuted anyone who disagreed with them (role models), a movement that commonly identifies its beliefs with the gospel, and those who disagree as heretics (leaders do this, why wouldn't the new followers?), and a common attitude of entitlement that produces behaviors like stealth Calvinist pastoral candidates (remember, these are the pastor candidates who do these things, not new Calvinists). There is a reason that "cage stage" got attached first to Calvinism and not other theologies.

When I left Calvinism, my "cage stage" was, I found I was much more happy, more physically relaxed, greatly increased self-control, and I could write Christian poetry that worked after about 15 years of trying.

[dustinpaulson]

I think it's a fair statement that there is a difference between being a "cage stager" and just being fed up with the centuries of doctrinal shenanigans from Calvinists.

[PETERJOHN]

Many good points, brother. I often overreact in my comments and later go back and change or delete them. I always feel bad and pray to stop overreacting. Sorry if I have been less than circumspect in my past interactions on your channel. God bless.✝️

[stephaniecasey]

You have a vast amount of information on the subject that we need to hear !! Thank you for all you do, Dr Flowers

[amandakoppana]

I love this so much. Very very helpful for me. Thank you so much for all of your continued efforts! Keep up the great work!!

[cvent]

Dr. Flowers, thank you for this video and for being a great example of how not to become a Cage Stager. I must admit I'd never heard this term before, which verifies that I do live under a rock....

[graftme]

It is very hard to reveal love in a post. When I post truth statements it is in hope to convert one to the truth, not to debase or discourage or to win the argument. But, most of the time, there is someone who takes offense and sees hatred that isn't there. Then, time is wasted trying to defend your intentions. I don't know of anyone that would consider myself to be insincere, offensive, unkind, etc. But, online, people usually come across as something they are not. When trying to avoid giving a wrong impression it can seem hypocritical. It is a challenge to remain sincere speaking truth and trying to avoid offending anyone. I decided that if I am being sincere about the truth with loving intentions, I shouldn't worry about offending anyone. My intent is not to offend, but to lead to the truth that brings Life. If I keep in mind that truth is meant to bring life and freedom, and not death and slavery, I am speaking with right intentions.

[sheilasmith]

Good topic. Online behavior of those identify as Christians, is appalling.
Behavior matters more than any ideology.
We should never forget we are Ambassadors for Christ.
It seems that when the goal to convert, by any means, takes over, bad behavior happens when the person is frustrated it's not working.
We will never persuade those we insult.

[JonathanGrandt]

well…. I can put it this way… some people gradually become realistically angered because of the years of deception and especially due to the trap their loved ones are still in when it comes to false doctrines. I don’t find it realistic to doubt that person’s salvation for that. People are different and literally every time I have a conversation with a Calvinist I am accused as a heretic. I am called Pelagian. If you ask the Calvinist if they agree that Pelagius should have been condemned as a heretic like he was and excommunicated they will say yes. So they are calling you a heretic and suggesting you be excommunicated. While it is wrong to be angered and vitriolic over this, it is certainly understandable and I would not doubt a persons salvation.

[kristianmontalvo]

Hello brother God bless. Are you have the chance to read a book calls the other side of the calvinist from lawrence vance? I read it twice and like your teachings open my eyes about this doctrine. Blessings

[ACTSVERSE]

Defending the biblical gospel of a Christ who died for all vs a false gospel of a christ who only died for some is not being "cage stage". It's what all Christians are called to do against the false doctrines of cults attacking our faith.

Defending the biblical nature of a Holy God who is completely separate from sin vs. an unholy deity who ordains or decrees sin is not being "cage stage". It's what all Christians are called to do against the false doctrines of cults attacking our faith.

[Goodnewsman]

Two things I have been hit with. "I used to be where you're at.... then I became a more mature Christian...." and "Calvinism is the Truth and to believe otherwise is an affront to God."

[mrupholsteryman]

This would be similar to moving on to Jesus and hating John the Baptizer...but if you call yourself a Christian and hate a person that pointed you to Jesus...the only way they could...are you truly loving?

We hate sin and love sinners...but with the understanding that we are to be about Kingdom building ... starts with the Gospel.
God's Only Son Permits Eternal Life! 😇💪🙏

[stephaniecasey]

You do not have to explain the reason you discuss Soteriology on your channel. James White only says that to aggravate you. Try to ignore him- He's mean anyway.

[frodomocho]

Well I am so so thankful for Dr. Flowers movement and expertice combating the falsehoods of Calvinism and his excelent work on the reply and rebutle of the false doctrine, I think when Dr. Flowers strays ever so lightly out of his said expertice, he should have a Wack- a- Mole that beats him back into his said 😄

[richt]

Did anyone else get a message from YouTube saying membership to Soteriology 101 is paused?