Does it have to be one or the other?

Since becoming a member at Simple Truth Bible Fellowship, Calvinism, or the doctrine of Election (predestination), has come more and more before me. Either through Pastors of other FIC churches or through my own Pastors. And while it was an unfamiliar idea, and rather hard to swallow at first, I am beginning to see how it is backed up in the scripture. I would not call myself a "5-point Calvinist", but rather one who accepts the sovereignty of God and His "right" the choose whosoever He wills.

I still believe man has responsibility in the "choice" he makes, but it is God who 'flips the switch' so to speak, allowing us to follow Him. No, more than that, gifting us with the ability to follow Him.  And so everyday after that, we have choices to make. To do what God says to do in His will, or to do what our flesh wills. Nothing we do is apart from God's will, i.e. what He knows will happen. But, when we follow our own desires, this will go against His will, i.e. His commands.

I found this quote by Spurgeon that sum my feelings up well:

"I have long felt that I shall never understand where
the two great truths of free agency and predestination meet. I believe them both—
believe them with equal faith; but how to reconcile them I no longer wish to know,
because I do not think that God intends we should know."

Romans 9:10-13 says: "And not only so, but also when Rebecca had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad-in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of His call- she was told, "The older will serve the younger." As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."

And Romans 10:9-10 says: "...because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."

So, here we see God's choice and our choice. I leave the reconciling of the two up to God who is Infinite and Sovereign over this finite mind which I possess. Amen.