3 Ways People Respond To Determinism

Dr. Leighton Flowers, Director of Evangelism and Apologetics for Texas Baptists, briefly breaks down the three ways people respond to the premise that God determines all things.

watch the full video here:

[kimberleerivera]

Glory To GOD!!!
Thank you Leighton Flowers!

[christophersnedeker]

I've come this across this one verse in 1st Corinthians that I think really puts a the final nail in the coffin of Calvinism. Paul is talking about how eating things offered to idols can weaken the resolve of your fellow believers, he says "will your meat cause your brother to parish for whom Christ died" it disproves either perservirence of the saints, limited atonement or both. I ran this by a Calvinist and he said. "Different kind of parishing, falling into sin but not going to hell" I then said asked if Paul means going to hell in "the gospel is foolishness to them that are parishing" and be said yes.

[Tonyhodges]

I absolutely refuse to blame God for my or anyone's evil.

[ClauGutierrezY]

I love how James White seems like if he was listening carefully to not miss a beat throughout the video... if only. 😄

[bigdogboos]

The Calvinist:
"it's a mystery, we cannot comprehend b/c we're in a fallen state, God's ways are above our ways, etc", what they really mean is that "our system of understanding the bible makes so little sense, is incoherent, illogical, unreasonable, and irrational, that we just have to give excuses as to why it's lacking reason and coherence. We turn the God of reason, order, and clarity and turn Him into a God of confusion, double speak, and deception".

[joshuas]

I love the shorter videos! I appreciate how thorough you are with the long videos but sometimes I need something a little more punchy and the short ones meet that need. Thanks.

[JStevensdk]

The god of Calvinism is the first and sole cause and initiator of all evil, thus that god is evil.

That is not my God!

[FindingTheNarrative]

I've made the argument for freedom of market on my channel, but not necessarily "free will". I would love to see this discussed because I feel everyone falls into camps on these discussions that it really hurts the process of understanding.

[gdmead]

If only James White would actually agree to talk and come on your program...although it wouldn’t work very well for him because I think he’s unable to see your point of view no matter what...total inability against Leighton!

[ecjoachim-allthingschristi]

Dr. Flowers, what are your thoughts on Molinism?

[confie-toienleternel]

Many Thanks ! This is why I also dont believe in God determining everything (good and evil). One young pastor in my church recently preached on Psalm 107 and his point was that God decreed both all bad events (based on examples from Ps107:10-12, 17, 24-26, 39) and good events (Ps107:13-14, 19-20, 28-29, 41), after the sermon many people were upset and they were many discussions. I am just sad that this is happening and some people are trying to push determinism as "God sovereignty" in my church. I agree that our actions may have bad consequences but I refuse to believe every evil actions are from God, it has nothing to do with it. Please tell me how would you reply to this Ps107 arguments ?

[introvertedchristian]

You forgot the fourth option: (4) God decrees moral evil, but he isn't evil because he was determined to do so.

[a.k.]

The notion that God intended for all of mankind to sin when He created is, to put it extremely nicely, about as unbiblical as it gets.

[wesleybrewer]

When's the study Bible coming out Leighton

[MrTackdriver]

I was trying to share a video you posted like 5 months ago. It was John mcarthur claiming God created evil is responsible for evil, and takes responsibility for evil. However the video is now labeled as "private " . Would love if you could repost, or point me in the direction. Please

[kwpctek]

Is God good? If someone can't yet answer OSAS, I'd say read the Bible literally like it was authored by one mind showing His gestures and predictions made and you'll find out. Maybe check one from 2018 by "Grace Ambassadors - Chart Lesson: Big Question"

[duncescotus]

God is NOT SOVEREIGN, but super-sovereign, omnipotent actually, and therefore:
"With God all things are possible."

[RickThePeasant]

God does decree judgment, eg the Babylonians against Israel and Judah, and described some of what the Babylon would do to Israel. I think it is not morally wrong from Gods end because he made the rules, Israel broke them. It is more like God leaving, and satan coming in, rather then the Holy Spirit leading the depraved acts of the individuals doing the chastisment. Justice is part of Gods nature.

[brentonstanfield]

@Soteriology101 - The basic premise of this video is this, if God actually created the world that He wanted to create, if He spoke THIS WORLD into existence… knowing all of the evil that would take place as a result of His choice to create it… and INTENDING to do it that way, then you think God is evil.

You are right that “atheists” and many christians reject the claim that God can do what He wants.

The right approach to the question of “is Jesus a bigot” or “is God a monster” is the first one. God owns the world and everything in it. He can do with it as He pleases. He gives life and He can take it away. God can wipe out all life on earth with a flood. If you or I did it, we would be monsters. God isn’t. God can take the life of David and Bathsheba’s child. If you or I killed someone’s child we would be murderers. God can and does determine what is TRUE and GOOD. If you or I try to do it, we are just “playing god” and are full of ourselves. This is the problem with this theology, you pull God down to the status of the man and say “God must play by the rules also”. Unfortunately, you are playing right into the hands of atheists. But you will not win the game of turning God into the worlds best humanist without ultimately denying scripture.

[johngodsey]

Hey i don’t know if you are familiar with “polite leader”, Alan who has a YouTube channel. He is a Calvinist sitting under the teaching of John MacArthur and James white.

I’ve engaged in several conversations but the one yesterday was by far the worst related to limited atonement. Your name was brought up and quickly thrown under the bus as “hardly being someone with proper biblical exegesis” and the several personal attacks on me for simply saying i would be back when i have move time to discuss some of the issues biblically with this interpretation . It seems the MO of James white and also Alan is that if you are in disagreement it must be an intellect issue or you don’t know the Bible or you are a heretic. Labels are tossed around like being synergistic or semi palagian. Anyway i thought I’d invite you to chime if you like. Many of my comments have been deleted apparently for no other reason than giving a biblical defense refuting limited atonement. Let me find the link of you are interested.