THE SEASHELL SERMON

 One of the leading voices among Calvinists is John Piper who gave a sermon on May 20, 2000, at the Passion Conference in Memphis. An article described it as "a powerful message that emphasized the importance of living for Jesus rather than wasting one's life on material pursuits." 

Piper used the story of Bob and Penny who collected seashells to illustrate the hobby as a waste of their years, saying that serving others is a meaningful way to live. Piper talked about Bob's and Penny's retirement consisting of hours and hours of piling up an impressive array of seashells. His point was one of disdain for the couple and mockery.

The article went on to say, "The sermon has had a lasting impact, inspiring many to prioritize their spiritual lives and mission over materialism, and has become a significant part of Christian culture and education." 

But wait a minute before we mark the couple as losers because of their hobby. According to the philosohy that is Calvinism, in eternity past, God sovereinly decreed that Bob and Penny spend their last years wasting their lives on this material pursuit. Accoding to Piper's belief system, they had no choice in the matter, God decreed that they end their lives as failures; they could spend their time in no other way. 

This brings us to the Bema Seat of Christ, the review of each beliver's life for rewards or loss of rewards. At the Bema, some believers will have their works revealed as rewardable---gold, silver and precious stones, while other believers will be shown to have their works as wood, hay, and stubble for collecting seashells. Bob and Penny will be in this group.

But according to Calvinism, each one at the judgment will have been preprogramed to produce the results they did. No one had any choice in the matter as to how he would spend the years of this life. God preprogramed Bob and Penny to collect the shells and wind up as producing stubble. 

Therefore, the Bema Seat judgment, according to Calvism, is pre-rigged. God predetermined that some would fail while others would hear a "Well done thou good and faithful servant." But as Calvin said, neither group could have done otherwise than they did.

So, why did Piper chastize Bob and Penny? This makes no sense. And neither does Calvinism.

NIGHMARE ON CALVIN STREET

 I have a recurring nightmare from which I wake up in a cold sweat, screaming. In my dream, I'm in my senior year, spring semester, ready to graduate from Tx Tech University. But unknown to me, the always igilent administration has discovered that I lack one course in algebra and I will not be graduating. Not only that but they are now on the way from across campus to come and get me. At this point, I wake up. 

If the Calvinist has read Colossians 1: 13-20, it will be hard for him to sleep at night:  Notice the words in boldface type as you read:  "For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things [z]hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven."

OK, Did you catch it? The fodder for the Calvinist's nightmare is crystal clear. 

Do you agree that Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, created all things? Do you agree that all things include both in the heavens and on earth? Do you agree that all things include all human beings? Of course, we agree, that's as clear as crystal. 

Then, you must agree that Jesus  reconciled all things to Himself through His death on the Cross --a way of reconciliation was made available for any soul who would place their trust in Jesus' substitutionary, fully atoning death in their place. Jesus became the Reconciler flinging wide open the gates so that sinful men could be brought back into communion with their Creator, God the Father.

By this text, the philosopical system that is Calvinism has fallen. All things have been reeconciled to God. 

"All things "would include  all things on the earth.  The "L" (Limited Atonement) in Calvinism's "TULIP" has been plucked from the flower. If one letter gets plucked, all the other letters suffer the same fate. Christ died for all.