Posted on 01/03/2005 8:18:33 AM PST by kiriath_jearim
Open or Closed Case? Controversial theologian John Sanders on way out at Huntington. By Stan Guthrie | posted 12/22/2004
While John Sanders and the Board of Trustees at Huntington College in Indiana disagree on whether God exhaustively knows the future, they agree that his days as a theology professor at the evangelical school are running out. The issue, according to both Sanders and G. Blair Dowden, the college's president, is not Sanders' belief in open theology, but his notoriety in advocating the doctrine. Both acknowledged that others on the faculty hold the same open theology views.
"You can be an open theist," Sanders told CT. "You just can't be a well-known one. That makes this a very interesting case."
After an executive session of the board was held in October, Dowden told members of the faculty that there "was very little support for John's continued employment at Huntington." Neither Sanders nor Dowden expect him back for the 2005-2006 academic year, which begins next fall. Dowden told ct that while the controversy is "directly related" to open theism, there is no requirement for professors on the issue.
"Not at all," Dowden said. "We have some other faculty who are open theists, but they're not teaching theology or Bible. It's not a litmus test."
Sanders, who has taught at the school of about 1,000 students for seven years, has been a focus of controversy over open theism for the past four years, he said. In November 2003, Sanders narrowly avoided being expelled from the Evangelical Theological Society over his beliefs. Some society members believe open theology violates the society's commitment to scriptural inerrancy.
Huntington removed Sanders from the tenure track over the controversy, but school officials attempted to give him some financial security by signing him to three-year rolling contracts, automatically renewable annually, unless the administration or board says No. In the event Sanders were to be dismissed, he would receive payment for the balance of the contract.
Sanders told ct he expects to be relieved of his position shortly, and that Dowden has "made it clear that my contract will not be renewed after the 2004-5 academic year." Sanders said that he is looking into other teaching positions and research grants, but that he has no other options waiting in the wings right now.
Earlier reports in ct and the Chronicle of Higher Education that Sanders had been "fired" were inaccurate. Dowden, who called Sanders a "brilliant scholar" and "excellent teacher," has been a defender of Sanders.
"John has done everything we have asked of him," Dowden said. But Dowden said that the United Brethren in Christ, which sponsors the school, "finds open theism troubling—some [leaders find it] very troubling."
Dowden added that academic freedom, while important, is not absolute. "For all Christian colleges, academic freedom is bounded in some way."
Sanders said the school is not following its own guidelines. "I do believe that the right to publish and academic freedom statements that the professors actually are working under are being violated," Sanders said. "They are being trodden upon."
Some students at the school are upset. Joni Michaud, a senior history major who is a leader in a student group supporting Sanders, said the controversy is "a case study in academic freedom." The group meets weekly to discuss strategy, has sent letters supporting Sanders to the board, and is seeking to raise awareness among other students. Michaud said the treatment of Sanders violates the school's statements lauding the "benefits of controversy" in an academic setting.
"If Dr. Sanders is indeed fired, I will graduate with a much lowered opinion of the institution," said Michaud, a pre-law major. "I will probably not make any financial contribution, and I will discourage people from attending."
Such talk is no doubt troubling to administrators, who have announced a freeze in tuition rates for the 2005-2006 academic year. Huntington College, to be renamed Huntington University in mid-2005, says the annual U.S.News & World Report survey of colleges consistently ranks it as one of the top comprehensive colleges in the Midwest.
Dowden said the board will next meet January 19-23, and the fate of Sanders could be formally decided then.
[Stan Guthrie is senior associate news editor for Christianity Today]
Name them.
But you said God knows who will acept it thereby making them one of the elect. That sure sounds like they were saved based on their own actions, not by grace. It sure sounds like some are doing something that God favors, while others are not.
That doesn't answer my question as to why bother with creating, dead in sin, those that He knows will be regenerated?
Okay but then you understand you are using a concept of one absolute to reject other absolutes without providing a foundation as to why yor absolute is true.
Can you then provide some basis for the truth that we have free will ?
No..I have no absolutes.
This was answered by Paul 2000 years ago.
Romans 15For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”[f] 16It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. 17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”[g] 18Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
Then why present free will as one ?
I missed your humor, this is an asbolute. Good one, funny. Sorry for being slow.
Open Theism is vile, a stench in the nostrils of the Lord. Plain and simple.
Good thing I read ahead to see you proudly proclaiming "I have no absolutes."
Pity.
I've learned it's difficult enough to debate theology with various believers. But it's a real waste of time to argue with someone who has no common ground.
Apples and oranges is one thing.
Apples and lawn mowers takes more time than I've got.
Good luck in the gray.
So if it was to set an example, I don't see how this works, because no one will know until they were regenerated, until they are dead.
Based on your homepage, it is evident you don't.
Chapter, verse?
I don't, it's just a belief.
John 10:
14 "I am the Good Shepherd. I know My sheep, and My sheep know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know My Father. I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, too, which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice, so there will be one flock and one Shepherd.
I have no absolutes is an absolute.
"To suppose that whatever God requireth of us that we have power of ourselves to do, is to make the cross and grace of Jesus Christ of none effect." -- JOHN OWEN, III:433
Actually, I wasn't trying to be humorous, I just don't know how to put it in the right wording...I guess, I should say that I am not aware of having any absolutes, because, when talking on this subject, all I have are beliefs...they could be right or they could be wrong.
Thank you...saying one has absolutes, means to me that one knows something that I don't believe we can know. I am merely being honest when I say that I do not know, but I have some beliefs...based on nothing more than what God gave me.
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