No, I believe that God teaches me how to sit in the back seat and behave like a good boy. :)
The Scriptures tell us that things happen even though God doesn't desire them. Are you denying that?
Ultimately, Yes! :) Of course there is plain meaning scripture that says that God wants all to be saved. There is no denying that. But there is also scripture that says that God needed directions in Eden, that God changes His mind, and that God was "wrong". These scriptures clearly need interpretation because they appear to conflict with the more clear understanding we are given elsewhere in scripture that God is omniscient, and omnipotent. The interpretation that is MOST consistent with the latter clearer understanding is that God always gets what He wants. We have a rational, omnipotent Being. What else can we conclude? We can say that sometimes God gets what He doesn't "enjoy", but that is different from what you are saying.
God wants us to have freedom. We do. He gave us the intellect and the means to not to be helpless little morons, but rather to be a reflection of His image and likeness, not as His little robots but as His people. And we failed. In your theology, that means, your omnipotent God either isn't omnipotent or He simply wants us to fail!
God did not cause Adam to sin, but ultimately, it is clearly what He wanted, under my theology. He could have easily prevented it in multiple ways. God always gets what He wants. He, for His own reasons, has chosen this existence for us. How do you answer people when they ask you why God allows so much suffering in the world if He is a loving God? Omnipotent God could get rid of all of it with a finger snap. Yet, He lets it persist. The answer is NOT that God turned over the control of history to humans. The answer is that for reasons we may not even be able to comprehend, this is the way God wanted it. We can make reasonable speculation such as not being able to worship and give glory to good, without knowing evil, etc. But in the end, sovereign God remains in full control, and it is not for us to question Him.
I really think the Reformed suppress the idea that this is what their theology subliminally teaches. It's a defense mechanism because it would crumble the whole foundation of their faith.
I "hope" I'm being pretty open about it. :) I don't see any crumbling. The main difference here is in Who is really running the good part of this place we call earth. We say God is directly, and I think the Apostolic Church's position is that God turned over that responsibility to man. Given the authority of the Church (more so with the Latins), God has really become "God Emeritus".
Of course He loves the damned; He loves all His creation. That's why He desires for all men to be saved. They are damned not because He created them damned (as you believe!) but because they chose to be damned by rejecting God.
You are right that the damned are damned because they chose to be damned. Damn! :) You are also correct that I believe that God created them that way, with that specific predestination. I realize this is a difficult thing for very many people to agree with. However, the ultimate responsibility still lies with the individual. God had no duty to save them, and God does all the saving. In addition, we are specifically told that God hated Esau, and from that we can extrapolate that He also hated Judas, and others. God saved only those whom He loved. An omnipotent God's sacrifice would be meaningless if He failed to save all He loved.
There is that false dichotomy again. Either God is running things or man is. We don't have to choose between occasionalism and deism. We do not have to choose between divine omnipotence and human free choice. We do not have to choose between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. These false dichotomies spawn a host of errors.
-A8
Hmmm, created in the image and likness....a backseat driver. You are outdoing yourself, FK. :)
The interpretation that is MOST consistent with the latter clearer understanding is that God always gets what He wants
FK, God is Love and Love only gives. He needs nothing. To imply that God "wants" means that He is subject to passions created out of needs, as we have passions based on needs.
He simply gives us blessings and a chance to be saved. And when we fail, He gives us more. There is nothing God "wants" from us that He can get.
We have a rational, omnipotent Being
Rational? Rational as in "My throught are not your thoughts?" Whose reason are you referring to? Ours or His? And it if is His, is it something we can comprehend? Or are we stuffing Infinite God to our finite logical box?
God did not cause Adam to sin, but ultimately, it is clearly what He wanted, under my theology
Unfortunately, that much is clear. I do credit you for the courage to admit that in your theology God ultimately created Adam so tha he would fail.
How do you answer people when they ask you why God allows so much suffering in the world if He is a loving God?
Since free will is not in your theology it is a pointless question.
You are also correct that I believe that God created them that way, with that specific predestination. I realize this is a difficult thing for very many people to agree with. However, the ultimate responsibility still lies with the individual
And "we" (Orthodox and Catholics) are turning God into "God Emeritus!?!" Look how He is suddenly no longer "sovereign" in youre theology, but the ultimate [sic]responsibility lies with man (although GOD is always in CHARGE and GOD predestined him to fail!).
In addition, we are specifically told that God hated Esau, and from that we can extrapolate that He also hated Judas, and others
LOL!! Did God not create Esau and predistined him to sell his birthright? Did God not create Him knowing that he would do just that? Did Esau have a choice? How can he hate Esau, FK when He made it to be what He made him?
According to your theology God crerated Esau in order to hate him!
In your theology Judas is an obeident servant who does the dirty work and then gets cast into hell for his obedience!?!
So, then, Pontius Pilate and Caiaphas were really doing God's work too. Irresitably, yet the ULITMATE responsibility was theirs...ant not of their Maker.
In your theology God is not Love; He is only a god who loves some.