WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

You need to be wary of anyone who talks glibly about "what the Bible says" on any particular topic. 

Some time ago I came across a YouTuber who calls himself "Rogue Calvinist". He likes to pick fights with the Big Dogs and, sadly, has no idea when he is out of his league.

He's a first year Bible student, so obviously he knows a lot of stuff.

Rogue made a post today which was a restatement of the old Calvinist accusation that non-Calvinists give themselves something to boast about when they claim faith is the responsibility of humans: Because they conjured up saving faith, this must mean they think of themselves as being better than non-believers. 

In a response comment, I asked, "So [for the Calvinist] is there no chance of "subconsciously" boasting "God loves me, but He doesn't love the unelect"?"

Rogue replied, "that's not a boast, that's a simple fact of the Bible. Like I said, it's only a boast if you think that you caused that love. It's not a boast for us because we know that we were conducting ourselves just like the sons of disobedience when we were born again"

Wow!

I next asked, "I understand it would be pure speculation on your part, but do you have any theory as to why God chooses some to love and some to hate? Or maybe you see an answer in Scripture?"

Rogue responded, "yeah it's according to his own pleasure, with the ultimate goal of the praise of his glorious Grace. The Bible says that he chose us and made us alive in Christ because of the great love with which he loved us. The love of the Father does not begin anywhere else other than inside of himself, his grace produces the love. He's a real being, an actual person who loves according to his own will and we are his workmanship. No one can bring a charge against the potter for making one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonor. That's about all I got"

I next asked, "A related question: do you believe those whom God hates endure an eternity of conscious torment in hell?"

Rogue's response here demonstrates clearly the maturity of his faith and his thought process: "first of all I don't know why you keep asking me what I believe instead of asking me what the Bible says about a certain thing. Secondly,  Revelation says that the smoke of their torment in the lake of fire will rise forever and ever."

The Bible is always super clear! Even the book of Revelation!

There's probably no point in arguing with someone who cannot even acknowledge that there might be more than one way to interpret a passage of Scripture. 

Still, it's worth a shot.