One of the strongest objections to the doctrine of Molinism is what has commonly been called “the grounding objection” which, stated simply, is; “Where is God’s knowledge in future events grounded?” Many who ask this question object the idea that, if God’s knowledge is based in his eternal decree then Molinism is undone because it eradicates the notion of libertarian freedom. On the other hand, they think that if the Molinist says that God’s knowledge is grounded in the decisions of his free creatures then God is somehow handcuffed by his creation. ...

Since my post on Molinism/Middle Knowledge garnered some interest I figured it would be helpful to provide some more resources on the subject for anyone who is interested in exploring, as William Lane Craig puts it, such a fruitful doctrine further: Audio William Lane Craig’s multi-part series " Doctrine of God" taught in his Sunday School class (Defenders) at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church Articles Refutation of Boyd’s Neo-Molinism, William Lane Craig Molinism and Romans 9, William Lane Craig On the grounding objection, William Lane Craig Subject: Misconceptions about Middle Knowledge, William Lane Craig Does God Choose Who Will Believe?, Jeff Robinson Philosophia Christi is a scholarly periodical published by the Evangelical Philosophical Society which regularly has articles both for and against Middle Knowledge, recently Vol 11 Num 1 2009 featured Steven B. Cowan (Editor of Five Views on Apologetics) against and Scott A Davison (Professor of Philosophy at Morehead State University) for with some good interaction between them both. ...

What it means Greek αἵρεσις Transliteration/Pronunciation hairesis/hī’-re-sēs Strong’s G139 Definition Often translated “sect” or “party”, this word generally means a subdivided group with their own interests. Early Christians were called a Jewish sect (Acts 24:5, Acts 28:22). It’s also interesting to note that in 1 Cor 11:19 we are told that there must be sects among us in order for “those who are genuine” to be recognized. Acts 20:30 also warns us against people who rise up speaking twisted things who “draw away disciples after them”. 1 Timothy 4:1 warns us against the same type of thing, as does 2 Peter 2:1 (which actually uses the word “hairesis”). ...

What if I were to tell you that I had a perfectly rational explanation to the question of free will and predestination that has been ravaging the Church of Jesus Christ for centuries? I bet you would think that I was mad, unlearned (after all, what have all the highly educated theologians been fighting about), and overly simplistic. Well there is such an answer and many may be surprised to find out that it is fully accepted by Catholics, Baptists, Presbyterians, etc. In other words, it’s not the sole product of a sectarian group with a vested interest in a particular theological system. ...

Ok, I admit that “prove” here won’t be in the Cartesian, 100% without-a-doubt, sense that many empiricalists in our culture think is required before we can reasonably be said to “know” something is true. However, this time-tested argument will help you show your non-believing neighbor that your belief in God is not an irrational leap of faith. This argument is simple and based on natural revelation which means it doesn’t require the other person to accept the authority or validity of the Bible beforehand. Interestingly enough, this also means that this argument isn’t the exclusive domain of Christianity. While it doesn’t point to a specific God, it does help establish the basis for the belief in God which is one of the biggest barriers to belief in our postmodern, philosophically naturalistic culture. ...

What it means Greek καιρός Transliteration/Pronunciation kairos/kī-ro’s Strong’s G2540 Definition Primary meaning is time, season. Specifically it carries the idea of an appointed or anticipated time rather than a sequential set of moments like chronos, the other word commonly translated as time. Interestingly enough, this is also the name of one of the Greek gods which, while not uncommon, indicates the unique importance placed on this word outside of a simple description of chronological events. ...

Close your eyes for a minute and try to picture the model Christian man. Chances are you’ll envision someone who is meek, mild, quiet and complacent. Just like many deacons and elders in the average Church. What’s wrong with this picture? Well, for starters, it is far removed from the risk-taking, bold, and outspoken men we find in the Bible. True, many of those men made huge mistakes, but one thing that you can be certain of is that a man who takes no significant risks suffers no significant losses. He also enjoys no significant gains.I believe that one of the reasons the church has largely become impotent. I base this observation on the lack of willingness by most men who identify themselves as Christians to diligently study and then stand up and defend what they claim to believe in.A friend of mine who is a former Muslim, specifically a former member of the racially motivated Nation of Islam, described this lack of zeal this way. As a Muslim he was encouraged to learn not only correct Islamic doctrine, but also the doctrine and corresponding arguments both for and against their positions. They were also encouraged to actively engage everyone they came into contact with and to not shy away from agreements and debates.Now you might say, well that’s unique to Muslims. Yes, it may be true that Islam happens to simply appeal to more aggressive men, after all Muhammad personally took part in the killings and savage warfare found in the early history of Islam.However we need to also look at Mormonism and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. In fact, any religion or ideology that grows is watered and tended by men who are full of zeal for what they believe in.Contrast this with the average deacon or elder we described above who is more apt to fight over the color of the carpet or whether to allow the youth to play their “new fangled” praise and worship music than they are to engage anyone in any real debate or discourse that just might persuade them of the truth they claim to have found for themselves. Big difference, huh? ...

It seems that few holidays are more divisive within the Christian community than Halloween. Countless Churches have, by this time, already had their “Fall festivals”, many more will have theirs this weekend, and an enterprising few will have theirs the week after (for anyone whose sweet tooth has not yet rotted out). The internet abounds with articles spelling out the evils of Halloween and why Christians should avoid it like the plague-ridden un-dead corpses many will dress up as. However, instead of adding yet another insulting post on why you will be visiting the hell many will re-enact this coming Halloween, I want to tell you why our fascination and struggle with this cultural holiday makes me laugh and cry at the same time. ...

Bad habits Many pastors trained in Greek like to try and shed light on the Scriptures by telling their congregations the Greek words behind the text. And often, they decide to help their audience connect with the word by using an English derivative. As good as their intentions may be, it unfortunately this practice adds more confusion than it sheds light. In this case, the most common practice is to define this word with it’s English derivative, dynamite. The problem with this is that it violates a basic principle of translation which, in this case, adds modern connotations of destruction, damage, chaos, and mayhem that would be foreign to the original authors, especially since dynamite was not invented until 1867. ...

Membership is a hotly debated topic in the Christian realm these days. From the dwindling numbers being posted by all denominations to the lack of apparent commitment being demonstrated by “church members” to their local congregations, it seems everyone is seeking a remedy to the central question of “How do we fix it?” While these are certainly issues worth exploring, I would like us to step back and examine what it really means to be a member of something. Whether it be our family, the church, or a state/nation, we can’t escape the reality that we live and function as members of entities that are larger than ourselves with others we often don’t see eye-to-eye with which inevitably produces friction, hurt feelings, and strife. ...