INTRODUCTION PAGE
Introduction to
"Answers to My Brethren, 'the Calvinists'"
In the year 1560, the Confession of Faith for the Church of Scotland was written. There was arguably no greater, more biblical, and purer branch of the overall 16th and 17th century Protestant Reformation than that which took place then, in Scotland. We praise God for all the men that had a righteous hand in that generally wonderful work, who stood for the Lamb of God and His Headship over the Church - such as Patrick Hamilton, George Wishart, John Knox, etc.! We need more men in heart like them today, despite certain obvious mistakes that they believed and made. Indeed, notwithstanding all the good that happened then, and all of the Christ-formed worthiness of these Christian men, it must be acknowledged that no reformation over the last 2000 years has manifested and brought forth anywhere near a biblical expression of New Testament Christianity, as it is seen in the book of Acts! This fact is troubling, and this fact must change, our unchanging God demands it – Who gave His Son to die for men, that they might worship Him in God's ordained way - see the Book of Acts to understand! Seeing that the Word of God is the standard by which we will be judged, not Church history and not the Protestant Reformation - seeing that the Word of God, alone, depicts “the Church” as God defines it, a Church that truly pleased God, we need to get back to the Bible! We need to get back to the “Apostle's Doctrine” which is the fountain-head for the abundant grace and glory in New Testament Christianity!
“Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.” (Jer. 2:2-3)
“Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.” (Jer. 2:2-3)
The original Questions Numbered
Tony Miano, Matt Slick, & Andrew Rappaport provided this list of questions to the elders of the Church of Wells. They have been numbered as a means to guide the reader into the answers we have provided to each one.
QUESTION #1: "Please explain your understanding of the biblical Doctrine of Persecution, and explain the relationship of this doctrine to the Church of Wells. Please also provide specific examples of how the Church of Wells has been persecuted prior to April 1, 2014." (Video)
QUESTION #2: "Please explain the Church of Wells doctrine of “unwilling sin.” (Video)
QUESTION #3: "Given that it has been stated by the elders of the CoW that a person can lose his salvation, please explain the following: John 8:29, "And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him." John 6:39, "And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day." If Jesus always does that which pleases the Father, and the will of the Father is that Jesus lose none, and that those who are given to Jesus will be raised (to glory), then how is it possible for Jesus to lose somebody by them losing salvation?” (Video)
QUESTION #4: "According to the Church of Wells, what must a person do in order to obtain and retain salvation?" (Video)
QUESTION #5: "Please explain where Scripture supports the declaration of a person’s salvation upon first meeting him." (Video)
QUESTION #6: "Can a person whose salvation is once lost return to a state of grace?" (Video)
QUESTION #7: "Do any of the elders of the Church of Wells have formal, theological training?" (Video)
QUESTION #8: "How were the elders of the Church of Wells qualified and selected?" (Video)
QUESTION #9: "Is the Church of Wells a true church, and if so, can the elders provide the names of other true churches?" (Video)
QUESTION #10: "Do the elders of the Church of Wells believe that Paul Washer once walked in the light, but no longer does? If so, why has the Church of Wells’ opinion of Paul Washer changed?" (Video)
QUESTION #11: "The Church of Wells website shows the faces of men implying the church sees them as the church’s “cloud of witnesses.” Many of the men shown held to the Doctrine of Perseverance of the Saints. Will the Church of Wells be removing the images of these men since your church believes a Christian can lose his salvation?" (Video)
QUESTION #12: "When did each of the elders of the Church of Wells come to faith in Jesus Christ?" (Video)
QUESTION #13: Have any of the elders ever lost his salvation? If so, how did he regain it? (Video)
QUESTION #1: "Please explain your understanding of the biblical Doctrine of Persecution, and explain the relationship of this doctrine to the Church of Wells. Please also provide specific examples of how the Church of Wells has been persecuted prior to April 1, 2014." (Video)
QUESTION #2: "Please explain the Church of Wells doctrine of “unwilling sin.” (Video)
QUESTION #3: "Given that it has been stated by the elders of the CoW that a person can lose his salvation, please explain the following: John 8:29, "And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him." John 6:39, "And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day." If Jesus always does that which pleases the Father, and the will of the Father is that Jesus lose none, and that those who are given to Jesus will be raised (to glory), then how is it possible for Jesus to lose somebody by them losing salvation?” (Video)
QUESTION #4: "According to the Church of Wells, what must a person do in order to obtain and retain salvation?" (Video)
QUESTION #5: "Please explain where Scripture supports the declaration of a person’s salvation upon first meeting him." (Video)
QUESTION #6: "Can a person whose salvation is once lost return to a state of grace?" (Video)
QUESTION #7: "Do any of the elders of the Church of Wells have formal, theological training?" (Video)
QUESTION #8: "How were the elders of the Church of Wells qualified and selected?" (Video)
QUESTION #9: "Is the Church of Wells a true church, and if so, can the elders provide the names of other true churches?" (Video)
QUESTION #10: "Do the elders of the Church of Wells believe that Paul Washer once walked in the light, but no longer does? If so, why has the Church of Wells’ opinion of Paul Washer changed?" (Video)
QUESTION #11: "The Church of Wells website shows the faces of men implying the church sees them as the church’s “cloud of witnesses.” Many of the men shown held to the Doctrine of Perseverance of the Saints. Will the Church of Wells be removing the images of these men since your church believes a Christian can lose his salvation?" (Video)
QUESTION #12: "When did each of the elders of the Church of Wells come to faith in Jesus Christ?" (Video)
QUESTION #13: Have any of the elders ever lost his salvation? If so, how did he regain it? (Video)
Our Answers
The Doctrine of Persecution - this page contains answers to QUESTION #1
"Answers to My Brethren, the Calvinists" - this page contains answers to QUESTION #2, QUESTION #3, QUESTION #4, QUESTION #6, & QUESTION #13
The Idolatry of Intelligence - this page contains answers to QUESTION #7 & QUESTION #8
Our Testimonies - this page contains answers to QUESTION #12
Declaration of Person's Salvation - this page contains answers to QUESTION #5
Paul Washer - this page contains answers to QUESTION #10
Website Cloud of Witnesses - this page contains answers to QUESTION #11
Any Other Churches? - this page contains answers to QUESTION #9
Recently added
NEW Resources Under thechurchofwells.org (Our Answers -> thechurchofwells.org in the navigation menu):
- New Video: The Doctrine of Persecution
- Who is Behind it?
- The Demonic Nature of Slander: A Response to the Lewalski's Lies - Video by Jake Gardner and Rick Trudeau
- Simple Trust - Poem by Sean Morris
- Exemplary Slander
- The Catherine Grove Controversy
- Jon Green's Toleration of Profanity
- Who is Kyr Riga?
- Biblical Due Process
- Matt Myer & Jody Myer
- A True Prophecy?