Isabella, a ten year-girl, is standing at a microphone during the Q/A period, waiting her turn to ask the famous pastor* a question that's been bothering her. She asks, "How can a kid know if he or she is a Christian?" The adults in the congregation smile at such a question, never realizing the the theologian will, from that day forward send the girl into a lifetime of confusion and a never-ending cycle of a lack of assurance.
He begins his answer: "What's your name?" She replies, "Isabella."
The pastor begins his answer with a series of questions, each requiring a "Yes" or "No" answer:
"Do you believer that Jesus is the Son of God?" She answers, "Yes." (Does she understand what "Son of God" means?)
"Do you believe that He came to the earth and lived a sinless life and died on the cross? She answers, "Yes"
"Do you believe that He died for your sins and mine?" She answers, "Yes."
"Is Jesus your Lord?" She answers, "Yes." (He doesn't define what he means by "Lord.)
"Do you love Jesus?" She answers, "Yes."
"Do you want to honor Him?" "Yes," again.
"How do you know you love Him?" She remains silent but then answers, "Because I know I'm going to heaven."
"You're thankful." She replies, "Yes."
"Do you like to sing songs about Jesus?" She says, "Yes."
"Do you like to read the Bible?" [Here, she pauses. The congregation laughs.] She says, "Yes."
The pastor regroups, and asks, "Do you to have other people read the Bible stories to you?" "Yes." (Here he has to make an exception.)
The pastor declares, "You are a Christian!" The congregation applauds..
The pastor says, "Unbelievers don't have those desires. Those desires will grow stronger as you grow older." (What if they don't grow stronger?"
It was a touching scene but seriously, a sad one. Isabella is now set up for a lifetime of disturbing doubts, worry, and confusion because the pastor has put her on a boat, launches her into the Sea of Subjectivity. St times, for the rest of her life, what will she do when she doesn't "honor Jesus?" What will she think when she doesn't like reading Leviticus, Deuteronomy, or Obadiah?"
What she, her parents, and the congregation don't know is that the pastor isn't telling the truth when he declares, "You're a Christian!" According to his system of theology, there is no way he can know that she's a Christian. That's because one of the bedrock beliefs of Calvinism.
The bedrock belief is: the believer is so secure in Christ, that he cannot fall away. Jesus will not lose any who had been given to Him by the Father; He gives eternal life to them so they will never perish, and those who leave the faith were never believers to begin with,"
When Isabella becomes old enough to think about it, what the pastor told her is that she cannot be sure she is going to heaven until the day she dies for it is impossible for any finite creature to know if he will be faithful until the end.
How can Isabella know that she, "a kid" can know she is saved and going to heaven: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."
*The pastor: John MacArthur
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