Can we stop acting like "Elect" is a bad word?

[Sel@h]

Hey everyone…

It feels like these days, the word "Elect" is basically a huge red flag. The second you say it, people instantly label you a "Calvinist," like the word belongs to a specific group instead of the Bible. But if the Bible uses that term to describe God's people, why are we avoiding it?
Let’s move past the labels and just get into the Word. In Romans 8:29, it clearly talks about those God foreknew and predestined. This isn't something to get scared about or some weird theory—it’s right there in the Bible. Why has a biblical description of Christians become so controversial? And more importantly, what does it actually mean for our lives and our security in Jesus to be "elect"? So how about we stop worrying about the labels and just talk about what the Bible actually says.

 

[Wrangler]

It feels like these days, the word "Elect" is basically a huge red flag.

Thanks for starting this thread. IMO, the cultural opposition is rooted in what I call THE PERVERSION OF EQUALITY. Adherents bristle at the idea of an “elect,” precisely because it implies inequality with and even superiority to the non-elect.

The Adversary will find it easy pickings for a planet who shuts off their capacity to discern inequalities, ultimately, the inequality between good and evil.

 

[Sel@h]

Thanks for starting this thread. IMO, the cultural opposition is rooted in what I call THE PERVERSION OF EQUALITY. Adherents bristle at the idea of an “elect,” precisely because it implies inequality with and even superiority to the non-elect.

The Adversary will find it easy pickings for a planet who shuts off their capacity to discern inequalities, ultimately, the inequality between good and evil.

Do you think that fear of 'inequality' is the main reason people avoid the term 'Elect,' or is there something deeper in the doctrine that scares them?"

 

[Episkopos]

Do you think that fear of 'inequality' is the main reason people avoid the term 'Elect,' or is there something deeper in the doctrine that scares them?"

It is the spirit of Cain that slew his brother over the jealousy of others being preferred before them by the Lord. But God said...if you do right will you not also be accepted?

 

[Sel@h]

It is the spirit of Cain that slew his brother over the jealousy of others being preferred before them by the Lord. But God said...if you do right will you not also be accepted?

Ah! So people may simply misunderstand what being Elect means.

 

[Sel@h]

Let’s look at these verses written about the Elect:

Romans 8:28-29 (NKJV) 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to [His] purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined [to be] conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Therefore, if anyone loves God, he or she is Elect.

 

[Sel@h]

Another word for ‘elect’ is ‘saints’. These verses below are addressed to the elect/saints.

Ephesians 1:1-6 (NKJV) 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

1 Peter 1:1-2 (NKJV) 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

 

[JimKnox]

Of course, there is a completely NON Christian application.
Isaiah 42, 45 and 65 all describe "mine elect" as either Christ (42) or Isreal (45, 65).
Always always always use Scripture to define Scripture and always, always, always use the principle of first mention.

(Edit: and always always always use ONLY the KJB)

 

[JimKnox]

Another word for ‘elect’ is ‘saints’. These verses below are addressed to the elect/saints.

Ephesians 1:1-6 (NKJV) 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

1 Peter 1:1-2 (NKJV) 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

Peter was writing to JEWS .
That is who the 'elect' are in the context of your misapplied passage.

 

[Wrangler]

Do you think that fear of 'inequality' is the main reason people avoid the term 'Elect,'

Yes.

or is there something deeper in the doctrine that scares them?"

Doctrine is besides the point of THE PERVERSION OF EQUALITY. Or more precisely, THE PERVERSION OF EQUALITY prevents further critical thinking.

It is we, the elect, that embrace a doctrine with the term. Those who are not elect and those who embrace THE PERVERSION OF EQUALITY are nearly overlapping groups. Their doctrine is what matters to them and their doctrine does not recognize inequalities such as elect v non-elect. And they have the advantage in persuasion.

Emotions are more primitive than higher reasoning and critical thinking skills. We are wasting our time talking about our doctrine if we don't take on the prerequisite burden of addressing their doctrine of THE PERVERSION OF EQUALITY. If one cannot accept inequality, in theory, one cannot accept it in the practice of theology of the elect. That's how the devil gets us; by appealing to our base instincts, our emotions, to tempt us to sin.

 

[Sel@h]

Yes.



Doctrine is besides the point of THE PERVERSION OF EQUALITY. Or more precisely, THE PERVERSION OF EQUALITY prevents further critical thinking.

It is we, the elect, that embrace a doctrine with the term. Those who are not elect and those who embrace THE PERVERSION OF EQUALITY are nearly overlapping groups. Their doctrine is what matters to them and their doctrine does not recognize inequalities such as elect v non-elect. And they have the advantage in persuasion.

Emotions are more primitive than higher reasoning and critical thinking skills. We are wasting our time talking about our doctrine if we don't take on the prerequisite burden of addressing their doctrine of THE PERVERSION OF EQUALITY. If one cannot accept inequality, in theory, one cannot accept it in the practice of theology of the elect. That's how the devil gets us; by appealing to our base instincts, our emotions, to tempt us to sin.

That's a good point. It seems like people do confuse 'election' with 'superiority.' But if we look at it as God's foreknowledge of who loves Him, it all makes sense. I guess that ain’t gonna happen with some folks. Why is it so hard for people to understand that if they love God, they’re elect? Romans 8:28.

 

[Wrangler]

Why is it so hard for people to understand that if they love God, they’re elect?

Because the converse is the case; they hate God and despise the elect knowing their hate disqualifies them.

 

[Sel@h]

Because the converse is the case; they hate God and despise the elect knowing their hate disqualifies them.

I get it now. Thanks.

 

[Grailhunter]

I get it now. Thanks.

We can stop acting like the word elect is a bad word....it is a good word.
As long as everyone is of the elect.
If not then it is Divine favoritism.....And we know God is impartial.
A if the elect is chosen before they are born.....Then you are back to Calvinist beliefs.

 

[Sel@h]

We can stop acting like the word elect is a bad word....it is a good word.
As long as everyone is of the elect.
If not then it is Divine favoritism.....And we know God is impartial.
A if the elect is chosen before they are born.....Then you are back to Calvinist beliefs.

Ephesians 1:3-6 (NKJV) 3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.