CHRISTIANS: It's about free will

I felt compelled to write concerning Bill Johnson’s column in The Press Aug. 31.

1. I met with Bill Johnson over a month ago at Starbucks in Hayden. I agreed to meet with him to discuss his first article he wrote; I explained to him I was an assistant pastor at Calvary Chapel church in Coeur d’Alene. In his first article he said, “No pastors would go on record with their views about salvation.” He said in his article he just wanted to learn! When I met with him he obviously had an agenda in mind. He was not there to learn, only to condemn.

2. He said, “Pastor Bob, (Christ the King Lutheran Church) was the only one with nerve to record his views.” This is a lie! He says, “Once you are truly saved you will never sin again.” I guess lying isn’t a sin in his world. The Bible clearly says “All Have Sinned and Fall Short of the Glory of God” and “For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Nothing in small print that says “only if you never sin again.”

3. As far as predestination, the only thing that is predestined is God’s desire that “No one should perish but all should come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.” He wants all to come to him but unfortunately not all will.

God gave/gives us our free will to choose. Our God wants us to come to him with a loving desire for him rather than command our love and force us to choose him. Yes there is a way to lose salvation and it spells it out in Matt 12:32, “Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this world or in the world to come.”

4. Yes we will always be sinners till the day we die because we are in a sinful world, God says, “this is not a battle of flesh and blood but of principalities, against powers, against the world’s rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” The key is that we renounce sin and Satan and repent. Those of us who love God, are continually working toward righteousness. Will you and I reach total righteousness? No, otherwise there would be no point of Jesus suffering and resurrection. It is Satan’s lie, the accusers of the church, which keeps us guessing as to our inclusion into the grace of Jesus Christ.

5. In conclusion, Mr. Johnson is here to judge the world in his own viewpoints. God says, “I am the judge.” You are not, Mr. Johnson. Yes, I do believe there are wolves in sheep’s clothing in this world and this is why we are instructed by God to read the Bible so no man can deceive us. God’s word is available to us because he loves us and does not want us to suffer. It is when we turn our own way that we cause our suffering and even then, God can use our suffering for our good and His glory. God will cause his Spirit to strive with us until the very end; all you have to do is accept him. That is his free gift!

GEORGE PETERSON

Hayden