Sunday, May 29, 2016
Calvinism Debate
Although I only thought of this on the car ride home (and the mystery part is cliché), I think a good way to close the night would be to stand in awe of a God who is as marvelous and mysterious as our God. Just think, we are only granted knowledge of a portion of His will through the Bible…if we could sit and talk about just one of more than a thousand themes contained in the Bible for two hours, just think of how long we’ll have to talk about and marvel at God once we are in his presence!
Amen, and we press on seeking a greater knowledge of our God. Andy replied:
Agreed. Mystery can lead us to frustration if we loose focus. But mystery should lead us to worship - it seems a cop out, but the fact that God cannot be fully conceived or understood is a testament to his transcendence and a comfort to a limited being like myself, precisely because I recognize my limit. and I can say with Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4):
And the blog that keeps on giving...
Now, I think he has papered over one of the major differences in this section. A 5-point Calvinist cannot say to an unelect person "Christ died for you" because in the logic of the Calvinist (5-point) system, Christ only died to save the elect. Arminians, however, can affirm this because they believe that Christ's death makes salvation possible for all as long as they receive it in faith. I think this is a big difference that the author dismissed, and it certainly makes sharing the Gospel much easier :-).
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Resources Post Mortem
If you have a few minutes, check out the link below:
The first sermon is John Piper’s personal story around Romans 9.
That's a decent place to start...
As for definitions (that can be discussed and agreed/disagreed with) –
- The Sovereignty of God is the biblical teaching that all things are under God's rule and control, and that nothing happens without His direction or permission. God works not just some things but all things according to the counsel of His own will (see Eph. 1:11). His purposes are all-inclusive and never thwarted (see Isa. 46:11); nothing takes Him by surprise. The sovereignty of God is not merely that God has the power and right to govern all things, but that He does so, always and without exception. In other words, God is not merely sovereign de jure (in principle), but sovereign de facto (in practice). (http://www.theopedia.com/Sovereignty_of_God)
- "What do we mean by [the sovereignty of God]? We mean the supremacy of God, the kingship of God, the god-hood of God. To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that God is God. To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is the Most High, doing according to His will in the army of Heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, so that none can stay His hand or say unto Him what doest Thou? (Dan. 4:35). To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is the Almighty, the Possessor of all power in Heaven and earth, so that none can defeat His counsels, thwart His purpose, or resist His will (Psa. 115:3). To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is "The Governor among the nations" (Psa. 22:28), setting up kingdoms, overthrowing empires, and determining the course of dynasties as pleaseth Him best. To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is the "Only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords" (1 Tim. 6:15). Such is the God of the Bible." (A. W. Pink, The Sovereignty of God, chap. 1)
Other resources –
Is God or Man Sovereign? (Real Audio, Windows Media), by R.C. Sproul
Reasonable Faith -Divine Sovereignty and Quantum Indeterminism
A Balanced response to an unbalanced question:
Friday, June 11, 2010
Articles for Theology on Tap
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Brew Two of THEOLOGY ON TAP
Date: Thursday, June 10
Time: 730pm until we get sick of each other
Topic: The Sovereignty of God
Friday, March 12, 2010
Debating The Beginning
- The problem with the beginning of the universe is that no one was there, that is, no one except God.
- Evolutionary Naturalists make claims based entirely on speculation upon speculation (there is no way to trace cause and effect to the beginning of time.)
- Science and faith are not opposed to each other, however at the pinnacle of science the theologian is waiting. That is to say - all science can only grasp at higher truths that eventually lead to God Himself. At some point we must admit that creation ex nihilo means that only God can creation something out of nothing and all scientific explanations will only trace the Mona Lisa of God's masterpiece.
- At some point one must consider what is the source of ultimate authority - general or special revelation? Does the Bible complement science (as one writer said) or does science confirm the Bible? As we've hinted at - we must analyze the Bible without discrediting it saying something akin to "God inspired Moses to write an account that has mislead people throughout history."
- When I've listened to reasonable people, friends and family, make the case for a yom/day-age, figurative or mythical creation account in scripture in order to reconcile what can be considered conflict between geological records or the distant light rays traveling our universe and the idea of 24 literal hours of creation I find myself agreeing with them on the scientific front while withholding a final judgement because of the inherent supernatural premise of God's creation.
- See points 1 & 3 - at some point I end up saying something like "could God create the universe in 6 literal days? sure. But did he? is another question, to which we won't have the answer until we see him face to face and then it won't matter much."