Yet the Orthodox seem to believe that God did not plan the fall. That somehow God was surprised that Adam would sin. But since Christ is the lamb slain before the foundation of the earth, it is clear that God's plan of salvation was put into effect eons before man was ever placed in the garden.
It's funny but every time I get into a discussion with Catholics -- and particularly with Orthodox -- I am numbered among the Calvinists. I think it is because I accept the absolute authority of scripture. You and I may have some disagreements over exactly what is meant by the scripture, but when push comes to shove, both Calvinists and Protestant Arminians accept the absolute inerrant authority of scripture, so at least we have a common reference point for discussion. When we get into arguments with those who put tradition on an equal footing with scripture, then pinning someone down on theology is like (as Harley put it) nailing Jello to a wall.
When discussing theology with Catholics it does appear that I may actually be "Calvinist in the Arminian Tradition". (Actually my principle disagreement with the WCF is over the meaning of one single passage. It is not what the WCF asserts that I disagree with, but with what it denies. But that is for another thread).
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Marlowe
"For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness." -- Psalm 18:28
For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region." -- Acts 13:46-49"Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
Looks like Scripture is telling us that because of the disbelief of the Jews the word was preached to the Gentiles, eventually reaching you and me. All as God willed, according to His perfect plan for His creation, ordained from before the foundation of the world.
Here's a great link I read today which addresses so much of the error that diminishes the work of the Holy Spirit.
I would disagree PM. I think it's simply because you, as a Protestant, are closer to the concept of election and predestination. These are directly tied to God's omniscience and omnipotent attributes. The Orthodox abandoned election (if they ever had it) very early on. The Roman Catholics officially abandoned election during the Reformation even though as Augustine pointed out it was a major belief of the Church. Protestants are slowly losing this concept and today you'll find a lot of Protestants either agreeing with the Catholics and Orthodox or they will sit silently by. As this article points out, this was the main contention of Luther and Erasmus.
If people thought it through a bit they would come to the same conclusion Augustine came to; "There is nothing that we have that we have not been given by God."