"Open up it's Jesus! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me, otherwise I'll break the door down and come in anyway. To him whom I overcome, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne."
Rev 3:19-21 (A Calvinistic reading)
I saw a similar cartoon, with Jesus knocking on the door on one side labelled "Arminianism", and then a second picture with a pile of TNT next to the door and Jesus about to press the detonator a short distance back, labelled "Calvinism", but I can't find it online any more.
ReplyDeleteOf course, in the context of Revelation 3, Jesus is talking to the church in Laodicea, to people who are already Christians, rather than making an evangelistic appeal for non-Christians to let him into their lives.
Good point well made!
ReplyDeleteI think this other one you speak of is better. Shame you can't find it.
I agree of course that its to the laodicean Church however I feel its appropriate to use for evangelism and the literary context seems to suggest that some didn't know Jesus and he was inviting them to accept him into thier lives. Perhaps then more aimed at sunday Christians today then others?
Still point stands I feel
Haha, that is great! :)
ReplyDeleteMhhhmmmm that verse is taken somewhat out of context to apply to evangelism... and without wanting to start the old C vs A war again, it must be said that this quote comes from the same Jesus who said "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him." in John 6...
ReplyDeleteHow much is the church helped by Calvinist and Arminian bashing that uses cartoons and verses that are debatedly in/out of context... (I say that last bit equally as a challenge to myself the next time I feel tempted to mouth off about Arminianism)
Hi Larry,
ReplyDeleteI think we need to be careful how far we go but we must remember that its a battle between brothers and we mustn't slit over it. That said I believe that we should keep the debate open, seeking to find the truth and a little light rhetoric is always welcome in a debate.
Honestly no offense was intended but rather the hope that a similarly witty response would ensue!
In Christ,
Your brother,
Peter