"GOTCHA" Questions
"GOTCHA" Questions
Here's a Yes or No only question: "Do you still beat your wife?"
If you have never beaten your wife there is no way to answer it yes or no without looking like a wife-beater. Yes (I still beat my wife) or No (I don't beat my wife any more).
How about this one: Yes or No: "Is God so powerful that He can create a rock so heavy that He can't lift it?"
It's a silly question that doesn't even deserve consideration. However, my answer to that is "That would go against God's nature, why would He want to do that?"
“Either/Or” questions fit in the same category as “yes/no only” questions; they purposefully limit your ability to give a correct answer so that the other side can use the limitation in their favor.
Calvinists have their own GOTCHA questions to try to prove their doctrine of Predestination or Reformed Theology. They try to over complicate a simple issue by oversimplifying the issues. "GOTCHA" questions are carefully skewed to give a limited response.
GOTCHA questions are how the Scribes and Pharisees tried to trip up Jesus and the Apostles. Jesus and the Apostles never seemed to answer the questions the way the Scribes and Pharisees anticipated (as those who are responding to Calvinists challenges should not be coerced into doing either); rather they gave a reasoned response that basically rephrased the issue correctly.
Here are a few standard questions GOTCHA Calvinists ask:
a. Who gets the credit for your decision for Christ: You or God?
The questions should be “Who gets credit for your salvation?” and the answer is God because Jesus died and paid the price for my sin. Looking for credit for the decision on my part is silly as a decision is required. Getting "credit" is not the issue. Yet Calvinists will always claim that “accepting” is earning.” See further explanation in b.
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b. If we can accept or reject God's salvation doesn't that mean that we had a hand in our own salvation?
That's like saying if I am drowning in a violent storm and a rescuer throws me a line that I get credit for the rescue for grabbing and holding on. I could have very well have said, “I can get back to shore on my own” and refused to take what was offered, drowning in the process.
Accepting and grabbing the line and holding tight is not “earning” or being the cause of the rescue, it is merely recognizing I have a choice or decision to make. If I refused the line the fault of my death would be mine… unless you're a Calvinist in which case it wouldn't be my fault because I had no choice (though Calvinists will still tell you it was indeed your fault even though you had no choice."
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c. Which came first, your decision or regeneration by God?
This is an either/or question that seeks to distract from the real issue. They go hand in hand and cannot be separated. God approaches everyone and everyone has the same decision to make, to accept God's gift or not:***
d. Where did you get the desire and ability to come to Christ?
See c. above.
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e. Where did your repentance and faith come from, you or God?
See c. above.
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f. If we can accept or reject God's salvation doesn't that deny God's sovereignty?
No, it is the Calvinists saying that God can only accomplish His will by controlling every action which denies and limits God's sovereignty. Knowing that God accomplishes His will while allowing us free will shows how all powerful He really is.***
Calvinists are asking the wrong questions purposely to create confusion and doubt. Here's the questions I ask instead, not as "GOTCHAS" but instead looking at the Word of God as a whole and not narrowly focused:
a. What did God create that was not good?
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b. Did God create sin?
Sin entered the world when man disobeyed God.***
c. Why did God create man?
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d. Did God create sinful man?
Man was created in God's image, therefore He would not have created sinful, evil men, unless you're willing to say that is God's image too, something I'm not willing to do. The Bible tells us:***
e. Do people ever do things that God tells them not to do? If so what is the result? Reward or punishment?
Death is the result of sin and disobedience and entered God's creation when Adam and Eve disobeyed God.***
Some who follow Reformed Theology say “who are we to say what's good and what's not? If God makes us do something it is not for us to decide if it's good or not.” In effect they tell us if God caused us to do something (sin) then it must be a good thing....
God's Word tells us what is good and what is not and God does not contradict Himself. The purpose of the Bible is to record God's Word and plan for us. It is our instructions for living in this world.
Here's a Yes or No only question: "Do you still beat your wife?"
If you have never beaten your wife there is no way to answer it yes or no without looking like a wife-beater. Yes (I still beat my wife) or No (I don't beat my wife any more).
How about this one: Yes or No: "Is God so powerful that He can create a rock so heavy that He can't lift it?"
It's a silly question that doesn't even deserve consideration. However, my answer to that is "That would go against God's nature, why would He want to do that?"
“Either/Or” questions fit in the same category as “yes/no only” questions; they purposefully limit your ability to give a correct answer so that the other side can use the limitation in their favor.
Calvinists have their own GOTCHA questions to try to prove their doctrine of Predestination or Reformed Theology. They try to over complicate a simple issue by oversimplifying the issues. "GOTCHA" questions are carefully skewed to give a limited response.
GOTCHA questions are how the Scribes and Pharisees tried to trip up Jesus and the Apostles. Jesus and the Apostles never seemed to answer the questions the way the Scribes and Pharisees anticipated (as those who are responding to Calvinists challenges should not be coerced into doing either); rather they gave a reasoned response that basically rephrased the issue correctly.
Here are a few standard questions GOTCHA Calvinists ask:
a. Who gets the credit for your decision for Christ: You or God?
The questions should be “Who gets credit for your salvation?” and the answer is God because Jesus died and paid the price for my sin. Looking for credit for the decision on my part is silly as a decision is required. Getting "credit" is not the issue. Yet Calvinists will always claim that “accepting” is earning.” See further explanation in b.
b. If we can accept or reject God's salvation doesn't that mean that we had a hand in our own salvation?
That's like saying if I am drowning in a violent storm and a rescuer throws me a line that I get credit for the rescue for grabbing and holding on. I could have very well have said, “I can get back to shore on my own” and refused to take what was offered, drowning in the process.
Accepting and grabbing the line and holding tight is not “earning” or being the cause of the rescue, it is merely recognizing I have a choice or decision to make. If I refused the line the fault of my death would be mine… unless you're a Calvinist in which case it wouldn't be my fault because I had no choice (though Calvinists will still tell you it was indeed your fault even though you had no choice."
...And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him... Matthew 14:28-31In Matthew 14:28-31 Peter did not walk on the water by his own power, but by the power from Jesus. Peter was doing fine until his doubt got the better of him. Peter was saved after he called out to Jesus. Jesus was there all the time and available.
c. Which came first, your decision or regeneration by God?
This is an either/or question that seeks to distract from the real issue. They go hand in hand and cannot be separated. God approaches everyone and everyone has the same decision to make, to accept God's gift or not:
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-1
But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Luke 13:3
d. Where did you get the desire and ability to come to Christ?
See c. above.
e. Where did your repentance and faith come from, you or God?
See c. above.
f. If we can accept or reject God's salvation doesn't that deny God's sovereignty?
No, it is the Calvinists saying that God can only accomplish His will by controlling every action which denies and limits God's sovereignty. Knowing that God accomplishes His will while allowing us free will shows how all powerful He really is.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Calvinists are asking the wrong questions purposely to create confusion and doubt. Here's the questions I ask instead, not as "GOTCHAS" but instead looking at the Word of God as a whole and not narrowly focused:
a. What did God create that was not good?
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. Genesis 1:31
b. Did God create sin?
Sin entered the world when man disobeyed God.
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned. Romans 5:12
c. Why did God create man?
God created man in his own image... Genesis 1:27God created man for a relationship with Him. God did not say “I created some for a relationship and some merely to send to hell.” Man was created in God's image, therefore He would not have created sinful, evil, men, unless you're willing say that is God's image too. I'm not willing to do that.
d. Did God create sinful man?
Man was created in God's image, therefore He would not have created sinful, evil men, unless you're willing to say that is God's image too, something I'm not willing to do. The Bible tells us:
God made mankind upright, but men have gone in search of many schemes. Ecclesiastes 7:29Sin is a consequence to allowing free will, and because God loved man so much He provided for man's salvation.
You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; Psalm 5:4
The LORD loves righteousness and justice Psalms 33:5
e. Do people ever do things that God tells them not to do? If so what is the result? Reward or punishment?
Death is the result of sin and disobedience and entered God's creation when Adam and Eve disobeyed God.
"...Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?" Then the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate." And the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."" Genesis 3:11-13
This is what the LORD says...For they have forsaken me ...They have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as offerings to Baal--something I did not command or mention, nor did it enter my mind. Jeremiah 19:1-5
Some who follow Reformed Theology say “who are we to say what's good and what's not? If God makes us do something it is not for us to decide if it's good or not.” In effect they tell us if God caused us to do something (sin) then it must be a good thing....
God's Word tells us what is good and what is not and God does not contradict Himself. The purpose of the Bible is to record God's Word and plan for us. It is our instructions for living in this world.
posted by David Bennett | 6:15 AM
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