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Posted on 03/10/2004 9:37:27 PM PST by malakhi
| Statesmen may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue. - John Adams |
Actually, I've only turned to a more Calvinistic theology within the last year of being a Christian for over 30+ years. While I've always known my relationship with Christ it was rather by "accident" that I stubbled onto the Reformed doctrine and primarily the sovereignty of God.
For all my Christian years in all the various churches I've attended, I rarely heard about God's sovereignty and never in the context of God's control. When I heard one tape about this (I was painting a bedroom) I was dumbfounded that such a doctrine is so obscure in the church today. I went to the various scriptural text and, sure enough, God's sovereignty is all over. What more, many of the passages (e.g. John the Baptist, predestination, hardening of Pharaoh's heart, etc.) now made perfect sense. I read through the TULIP, some of the Reformation and the very early church fathers writings (Augustine, etc) and I am absolutely convinced that God's sovereignty was the focus of the early church. While I'm not that familiar with Calvin's writings, I have no trouble explaining it just on my understanding of God's sovereignty.
So to answer your question, I would have to say now after personally researching and reviewing so much pro and con material I objectively believe in election and security. I also find this is NOT a popular belief. (God sovereignty not popular?!?) But be that as it may I believe the theology that I clinged to for 30+ years is in error.
It's like when Elaine grabbed George's toupee off his head and threw it out the window.
"Here's what I think of your hair...!"
Mat 27:43 "HE TRUSTS IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE DELIGHTS IN HIM; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.'"
Well, wouldja lookit that?
Gee, Resty, I wonder who pinged the moderator to the post????
This is the answer I heard for 30 years. Don't you think it's a little unfair of God to "save" some and not others? This is the same position us Calvins are always accused of. However, in the Reform doctrine God shows no partiality.
To: OLD REGGIE; Lead Moderator; logos; Religion Moderator; RochesterFan; Wrigley; nobdysfool; ...
"It was only through my participation on this thread and much thought and discussion that I finally admitted to myself I don't accept the Trinity..."
May we all have a blessed, safe, contemplative Easter, humbled by God's mercy, awed by Christ's sacrifice, comforted by the Holy Ghost's presence, and secure in our faith that the Trinity abides forever.
3,302 posted on 04/11/2004 2:38:28 PM EDT by Dr. Eckleburg (There are very few shades of gray.)
For you are a people holy to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his own possession, out of all the peoples that are on the face of the earth. (Deuteronomy 7:6)
Yes. God chose us, and we agreed to the covenant He offered.
The other two passages simply repeat the same language.
Here is another for you in return:
And if you be unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:15)
I love hearing your testimony, Harley.
painting the ceiling...
Your own "Michelangelo" moment.
"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me. And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning." - John 15:26-27.
Sorry for the delay in replying; its been a busy few days.
Ultimately its a matter of faith, Mack. I believe in the inspiration of the Hebrew scriptures. I don't believe the Christian scriptures are similarly inspired. I may use critical theory at times in examining them, and I recognize that the same can be done to the Hebrew scriptures. But this is more a matter of "faith seeking understanding" (or "disbelief seeking understanding") than it is of relying upon this sort of analysis as the basis for my belief. Conviction comes first.
My point was that those around our Lord Jesus never had any doubts that He claimed to be God. Apparently you do.
I was going to say it first, Steve, but I was too busy coughing up a hairball.
I thought a cat had your tongue.
If you saw how well I paint you probably would compare me to Pablo Picasso rather than Michelangelo. :O)
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