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To: OrthodoxPresbyterian ~~ Your post seems reasonable. Thank God we are saved by faith alone and not such reason.

You misunderstand Reason.

Reasoning is a legitimate Devotional Form of Loving God, as is Fasting and Working.

In the Beginning was the Logic
And the Logic was with God
And the Logic was God

"Logic" is in fact, a better approximation of the Greek "Logos" than the Anglo-Catholic translation "Word". As has become curiously typical for me, I find that I prefer the Greek Form to the Latin Form.

For Example...

from

through

And why do I prefer the Greek Form? Because it is Logical and Biblical. In all passages of Scripture pertaining to the subject, the Spirit proceeds from the Father, and is sent by the Son.

Thus, as a Sola Scriptura Protestant, I believe that I am bound to accept the Greek Orthodox understanding of the Filioque: from the Father, through the Son.

However, I would caution the Greek Orthodox to understand... I have reached my position on the basis of deduction and logic from Scripture, in which I believe the Greek Orthodox to be correct.

Thus, I do not believe that Rationality ever contradicts the Logos, or that Reason is any impediment to Spirituality.

Rather, I would prefer to say this:

The first order of business, in any question of Logic, is to define how far Logic can go.

Logic is dependent upon Evidences... and some matters depend more upon Faith, than upon Evidences.

Thus I do not believe that Rationality ever contradicts the Logos, or that Reason is any impediment to Spirituality. I do believe, however, that the first order of business, in any question of Logic... is to define how far Logic can go.

Logic!

I have been trying, over and over again, to get it across to you, Cvengr and PFKEY, that any doctrinal exposition which is illogical is by default, untrue! God is logical, to an extent that we cannot even fathom. He is utterly Rational, utterly Logical, and utterly Consistent. Logic, Rationality, and Consistency are intertwined and interwoven into all that God is, does, and says. The so-called dichotomy between "spiritual" and "rational" is a false dichotomy. To say, or even hint that since something is "spiritual" it cannot be understood is a cover for all sorts of evil propogated under the name of Christ.

The reason unregenerate man cannot understand the things of God is not because they are "spiritual", as though that meant devoid of rationality, the reason unregenerate men do not understand the things of God is because they are BLINDED to them. The things of God are spiritually discerned, and unregenerate man's spirit is unresponsive and deadened by sin. It is blind to God. That is why, before unregenerate man can respond to God, he must first be regenerated. As OP pointed out, this is paramount. IT IS AN ABSOLUTE THAT CANNOT BE REFUTED. It is utterly rational that it be so. It is utterly logical that it be so. It is utterly consistent with the revealed Logic of God that it be so.

OP is absolutely correct in stating that Arminianism denies this basic truth. All of the wrangling, argument, and discussion of Arminianism vs Calvinism can be distilled down to this basic point. And until that point is conceded, no Arminian will ever be able to progress in their walk with Christ in any meaningful way, into the deeper things of God. Why? Because Arminians deny that God is absolute Sovereign. They may say He is, and may even vigorously argue for that Sovereignty, but deep down, they do not believe it, for if they did, they would be forced to abandon their twisted view of redemption, because the inconsistency would weigh on their spirits and grow heavier and heavier until they finally yield to the Holy Spirit's insistence that they abandon such nonsense. Most choose to resist the Holy Spirit at that point, and He is content to leave them playing in the Kiddie Pool.

Not that those in the Kiddie Pool are unsaved, they are just immature. Maturity in Christ involves letting go of man-made doctrines and doctrines of devils, and being taught by the Holy Spirit. The "happy-clappy" "bless me" feel-good pablum that is foisted on most Christians in churches across America is just that: pablum. And not even nutritious (for the spirit) pablum at that! That Arminian pablum that most Christians subsist on is akin to a starvation diet of wormy bread and stagnant water. That is why I believe there will be a great falling away, when it truly will cost something (namely your life and your possesions) to name the Name of Christ. We haven't seen that yet. But it's coming.