Your take is problematic, Ianman87.
Converted/Deconverted.
You’re stating two contrary things simultaneously; while seeming to preserve the principle of saving faith.
First off, the never truly converted thing and doing what’s culturally expected.
That implies to me that someone could potentially “ go through the motions “ sincerely believing they have a saving faith; while in reality they didn’t. Assuming innocence and sincere intent and the person in question isn’t attempting to deceive himself and others.
Under these conditions, it’s impossible to establish with any certainty when and if someone has a saving faith. Even the person himself can’t determine whether or not he truly converted and has saving faith. The normal determining criteria would be to examine their fruits. But, under your conditions; you can’t even do that as you stated that it’s possible to act like a Christian and yet never truly be a Christian.
This position, while saying either/or simultaneously like quantum physics’ Uncertainty Principle; eliminates any possibility of having certain knowledge of one’s salvation.
Which should be the point of Sola Fide.
Now, in your theology, “ deconversion “ should be impossible. I understand that, if Sola Fide is correct; a person undergoes a conversion experience when one is graced with a saving faith in Christ that fundamentally and permanently rewires a person: Mind, heart and soul. It should therefore be impossible to sin again or even lose your faith. Yet, you yourself had said: “ I agree, it’s a sad event anytime anyone deconverts. “
I’m not understanding how you can believe the conversion/deconversion thing.
The discipline of God thing.
Now, as adopted children of God and co heirs of Christ; we are under God’s loving discipline. We can agree on that.
Your position states that it’s possible for us to sin. When we sin, we are disciplined by God. This discipline includes the possibility of God killing us in our sins.
God killing us in our sins as a method of corrective discipline? Even before we have a chance to repent? Killing us in our sins would be like a man killing his dog for peeing in the house as a means to correct the dog. Killing us in our sins should send us to hell; yet your position maintains that a dead unrepentant sinner could still be saved at the Last Judgement?
You had mentioned repentance. Where does repentance fall in your theology if God will kill us to correct us?
The preacher you mentioned says some paradoxical things. That God will not let His legitimate children continue in their sinful ways. And that when they sin, at the refusal to repent, God will take us out of the world; so dishonor will not stain His people.
That preacher teaches paradoxically that God will prevent us to continue in sin; yet kill us when we refuse to repent after we sin.
This makes God double minded, perhaps schizophrenic; as well as prepared to violate, at His will; the free will he gave us.
