[OBW]

It does seem interesting that the thread is titled concerning "taking the cross" and "repenting" yet seems to spend the lion's share of the opening dialog talking about Calvinism.

I’m sure that it somewhat changed sooner than I give credit. But when posts are multiple times longer than mine (which are often too long), even I give out. Especially when the topic has the appeal of how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. I’m not saying that the topic is as frivolous. But for the reasons I included in my first post to this thread, I believe that most of the controversy surrounding the Calvinism/Arminian debate, like many others, is straining gnats. Whatever is true or false in those teachings is what it is. Whether I believe it one way or the other will not change my destiny. If I truly believe in Christ, and follow, it will not matter which I think is correct.

I don't think that a proper Calvinist teaching is sending anyone to hell. I do note that most true Calvinists still join in worship of God on a regular basis. They do not have some kind of "I'm in or out, so who cares what I do" kind of mentality. If that were actually true, then I would have more concern for those who follow such teaching.

On "taking the cross," I'm with CMW. I'm not sure what that means. I realize that there was the imagery of the accused being required to carry their own means of execution. But while I'm sure that the intent was to suggest a significant burden, were the references by Jesus really about heading toward death in that sense (or any sense)? Is it about the "crossing out" of one's self? I believe that there is some truth in that kind of thinking. But I'm not sure that it is at the level that most who talk about it take it. It is not some kind of annihilation of the self. Maybe more like the extremes used when saying you either love God and hate money, or it is the other way around. The point was not hate, it was wrong priorities. But "hate" was the term used for "2nd place."

A little like saying that there is the winner and everyone else is a "looooooseeeeeer." Even the one that gets the silver medal is just a loser.

Now when I read Galatians 2:20, I don't see the same kind of ongoing "cross" that others often speak of. It seems that in this passage Paul is providing facts, or reasons, that they don't need to be turning to the OT ritualistic law (especially of circumcision). They don't need to be circumcised. They have already been crucified. "I have been." Not "I am being" or "I am continually being" crucified. No need to cross out a piece of flesh when your whole being is crucified.

Obviously, this is also not literal, but metaphorical. The crucifixion of Christ did all that was necessary for right standing before God. No more need to mutilate the flesh (with a scalpel, whip, or austere living).