Calvinism
What it means Greek πᾶς Transliteration/Pronunciation pas/pä’s Strong’s G3956 Definition The primary definition is: each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything The secondary definition is: some of all types This word is hotly debated by the Reformed crowd when it comes to doctrines such as particular election, limited atonement, and irresistible grace. The claim by most [...]
I recently received the following via a Facebook message (reposed with permission): Wes Pardon the unsolicited message–and I see that with your 3K+ friends, your ability to reply may be limited–but I’m a long-suffering “anti-Calvinist” who’s only now beginning to study Molinism. I noticed through Facebook’s VERY unprivate data search mechanisms that you are a [...]
Continue reading about Another primer on Molinism/Middle Knowledge 1 of 2
A Calvinist friend of mine recently asked me the difference between “unwilling” and “unable” and why I consider the two to be mutually exclusive when talking about mankind’s ability to sin or not. Here’s my reply If I am unable I cannot be unwilling because my inability precludes my willingness either way. I know you tire of [...]
One of the most common proof-texts used to show that God arbitrarily elects some to salvation while damning others without merit or cause is Romans 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. Many people have a hard time with this passage as it is often posited as evidence of [...]
In a previous post I laid out an ontological argument (following Descartes’ formula) for God’s loving the whole world (on contrast to the rather limited view of love posited by the reformed doctrine of Limited Atonement). Here I will attempt to provide a Biblical case from the standpoint of Christ’s words to “love thy enemies”. [...]
I recently came across the draft of a paper written by Ken Keathley on Molinism titled “A Molinist View of Election Or How to Be a Consistent Infralapsarian”. The full PDF version is avaliable here. The final version is included in the book Calvinism: A Southern Baptist Dialogue. On supralapsarianism and historical Calvinism Keathly writes: [...]
I ran across a recent Tweet via Google Buzz that read: Would we be more pious than Jesus? – “I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given Me” – Jn 17:9 During the course of our conversation on the implications of the thought expressed above I come up with the [...]
Continue reading about The ontological argument for God’s love for the whole world
A friend of mine recently asked what, if any, impact the belief in causal determinism (or lack thereof) has in practical day-to-day living. Here’s my answer: Well, one example to the contrary1 is this: I never locked my doors. This was because I believed that men had no free will and that not only were [...]
Continue reading about How does a belief in causal determinism influence how one lives?
In a recent conversation on a Calvinistic friend’s Facebook page1 I read a comment by a lady who claimed assurance and comfort in the midst of loosing her child2 through the notion that God causally directs all events that come to pass. In other words, she holds the belief of many reformed folk that God [...]
Norm Geisler, author of Chosen but Free1 gave an excellent sermon outlining the Biblical, theological, and philosophical/logical difficulties found within 5 point Calvinism. Video 1 Video 2 Video 3 Video 4 Video 5 Video 6 Video 7 Video 8 Video 9 A great exposition of the complementarian view of the free will vs. predestination issue. [...]
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