Subject: Eternal Security? |
Bible Note: Greetings Schwartzkm! I would have to agree and disagree with you on this point. I agree that one of the foundamental differences between Calvinists and Arminians is their view on the Sovereignty of God, in fact it is probably the main difference. However, I would disagree that their view on Sovereignty is simply the result of Greek philosophy. Liberals have been trying to make the case for years that almost everything that the Bible says about the nature of God is simply an expression of Greek philosophical thought. The modern result has been the "Openess of God" heresy. Sovereignty is clearly a Biblical teaching. The only point with which I disagree with my Calvinistic brothers and sisters is how that sovereignty and man's will relate to one another. Allow me to use a human analogy. Suppose I am in a college class. I know everything (some have accused me of thinking this). :-) The rest of the class really struggles. However, rather than dominate the class, I choose to let others answer questions poorly rather than answer every question correctly myself. Does this mean that I don't know everything? Of course not, I simply choose to let someone else answer. In the same way, God is sovereign. There is no doubt about that. However, I believe that God in His sovereignty placed us in this world with a limited amount of freedom. We are totally free. We can't change where we were born or to whom. We can't choose everything thing that happens to us. However, we have a limited set of choices which God has allowed us to make. When I choose within my limited ability, I do not take away from God's sovereignty. p.s. - I don't agree with all of Calvinistic theology, but I don't consider it a heresy or intellectually inferior. I can see where they come from and why. So please, try not to be personal when discussing this issue. I already get accused of starting "wars". I really don't want this thread to go down that path. ;-) If you recall the name and author of the book, I would be interested. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |