The Dangerous Doctrine of Open Theism

Lately I have been discussing open theism with some friends with an emphasis on molinism (or middle knowledge). I came across a good slide presentation which goes through the basic tenants of openness and gives a good defense of the classical position. You can find the slide show here. Chris Poteet goes through all this pretty quick, but it is great for an overview. It takes a minute to load.

I thought this would be especially good because some of you visiters are molinists and there has been some good discussions going on in a few of the comment boxes.

Please continue to discuss and work through these different doctrines. We are called to "be transformed by the renewal of [our] mind[s]." (Romans 12:2) Let us be semper reformanda, always reforming.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Powerful God

From Friday night until early Saturday morning, we had the most awesome, powerful thunder and lightning storm this city has ever seen. With over 7,015 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes reported, this was a spectacular show. I was in bed staring out the window when the loudest thunder I have ever heard was booming through the night.

Seeing and hearing something as powerful as lightning and thunder really makes me think about the power of God. He is so powerful and always on His throne. He never "steps down" or takes a break from being God. When the weather becomes so fierce and amazing it really shows how God is in control. Nothing is governing it but God. Wow, what an amazing, holy God we serve!

Unexpected

For the last two weeks, a dove has made its home in our hanging flower pot on the back porch. She has a few eggs which some other birds are trying to snatch for a snack. It is amazing though, because she never leaves; we water the flowers and she just moves over a bit. Even when things get kinda loud, she still has stuck around.

A dove. Quite unusual in these parts. It is so amazing to watch her, a little creature made by God, and think how awesome God is to create such a seemingly insignificant creature with so much detail. Praise God from whom all things flow, even little doves.

Definition

meliorism: The view that humans must work cooperatively with God to create a universe with more good and less evil since God is omnibenevolent but not omnipotent, and thus needs human help. Humans cannot attain perfection but can indefinitely improve.

"Now, the calling of the Holy Spirit is without any regard to any merit in us. If this day the Holy Spirit shall call out of this congregation a hundred men, and bring them out of their estate of sin into a state of righteousness, you shall bring these hundred men, and let them march in review, and if you could read their hearts, you would be compelled to say, "I see no reason why the Spirit of God should have operated upon these. I see nothing whatever that could have merited such grace as this - nothing that could have caused the operations and motions of the Spirit to work in these men." For, look ye here. By nature, men are said to be dead in sin. If the Holy Spirit quickens, it cannot be because of any power in the dead men, or any merit in them, for they are dead, corrupt and rotten in the grave of their sin. If then, the Holy Spirit says, "Come forth and live," it is not because of anything in the dry bones, it must be for some reason in His own mind, but not in us. Therefore, know ye this, men and brethren, that we all stand upon a level. We have none of us anything that can recommend us to God; and if the Spirit shall choose to operate in our hearts unto salvation, He must be moved to do it by His own supreme love, for He cannot be moved to do it by any good will, good desire, or good deed, that dwells in us by nature."

C.H. Spurgeon

Theological Pursuits

Yay! New T-shirts from Theological Pursuits. TULIP and Luther are my favs.

Definition Thursday

Thanks to all who guessed at last week's word, too funny. Okay, here is this week's. Again, take a stab at it, the humorous ones are the best. :)

meliorism

Not sure what's up...

There has been a lack of theologically rich posts around here. I'm going to check into the programming, maybe the problem lies in the html. I'll get back to you when I find the problem.

"Theological Traffic Cop"

My favorite, J.I. Packer.
I'll have to pick up my own copy.
Oh, boy, wonder what they said about T.D. Jakes...

Speaking of traffic cops, I just got my first speeding ticket. Yay for me.

Definition

aporetics: The philosophical method that seeks to unravel problems into their strands and to present clear-cut issues, usually antinomies, to enable an assessment of the pros and cons of different apparent solutions.

Calvinist Robots

As Christians living in this world persevering to the end because of the joy set before us, we encounter many questions in our own faith. One big question is this:

"If God forordained and predestined everything for everyone, then are we not all just fulfilling a program already determined by God? Are we indeed mindless robots marching on towards glory or condemnation, depending on our programming?"

Are we robots? No. The Bible say we are clay; molded by God, just as God desired. (Romans 9)

"Okay," you say to yourself, "How does clay differ from robots in this sense?" First of all, we have minds which are cabable of thinking, processing, evaluating, and making decisions. This does not mean that we have no prior inclination or that we are free of any effects of influence. To get a better commentary than I can provide go to A Form of Sound Words.

The question I posed was quoted from Rand @ A Form of Sound Words. He gives quite a biblical post on the topic.

Definition Thursday

Okay, because Brian brought up a good word, we'll go with that today.

This week's word: aporetics

Again, just give a good guess and I'll post the answer Saturday.

God Willing...

...I will be leaving June 5 for Santarem, Brazil. The Brazilian Consulate just issued me a visa for five years, unlimited. This is an answer to prayer because they haven't been issuing anything longer than 30 days. Obviously, I'm very excited. My plan is to be there for the summer and return August 23, in time to start school in the Fall. My purpose is to ultimately have God's name glorified, magnified, and exalted. To spread a passion for the surpremacy of Christ in all nations for the joy of all peoples, through Jesus Christ.

Please pray:
1) That God will be magnified
2) That the sufferings of Christ will be presented to the people I encounter by my sufferings (Sometimes, I hesistate to pray for this, not knowing what this might entail)
3) That the people I meet will be as blessed by me as I them
4) For safe travels
5) That God would comfort and give peace to family members staying at home (This may be the hardest for them)
6) That all my luggage would arrive (I don't know if I could live without all my books)

I thank God that He is a sovereign God. I know He loves me and that whatever may happen is for His good purposes and His own glory. Praise be to God!

I know I go to the library too often when...

...the librarian calls me "Juls"
...my library card number is memorized
...the librarian[a different one] brings some of her personal CDs for me to borrow

Do I need a life or what???

Definition

Isagoge: Preliminary study of the Bible in terms of its literary history prior to the study of its interpretation.

The Layman's Perspective

Check out Earnestly Contending's The Layman's Perspective

Great use of audioblogger to exalt and magnify our Lord Jesus Christ.

Definition Thursday

Today is Thursday, which means you have to come up with the definition of the word I give you. The answer will be posted on Saturday.

This week's word is:

Isagoge

5 Solas

Derek Webb's arm...stolen from arongahagan.

Challies May DVD Giveaway

Referral #: 61421

Blog the Word ~ Romans 5

Micah has "tagged" me to read a chapter of the Bible using audioblogger.
So, I'll read Romans 5.

Now I tag Andrew.

BiggerGod.com

Visit BiggerGod for a great site. (There are several different intros).

Definition

Hallel: (Heb. "praise") (good job, anonymous!) A term for Psalms 113-118 (and more generally to other groups in Psalms 104-150), sung during major Jewish festivals (good job, Daniel!) as expressions of praise to God. The term "hallelujah" occurs throughout.

Definition Thursday

Every Thursday I will post an unsual (not well-known) word which has had some significance on Christian thought (this will include anything from people to biblical ideas to anti-biblical ideas). I want you, my readers, to guess the meaning. On Saturdays, I will post the correct definition or meaning. My reasons for doing this are twofold: 1) it allows me to become familiar with words I would not otherwise, and 2) I pray it will draw my heart and yours closer to God on our way to becoming more Christ-like.

This week's word:

Hallel

(I can already see you scrambling to dictionary.com to find the answer, this is not allowed!!!)
(This week I'm being easy on you, look for harder words in the coming weeks)

God is Holy!

"Holy is his name" ~Luke 1:49 (ESV)

"Hence that dread and amazement with which, as Scripture uniformly relates, holy men were struck and overwhelmed whenever they beheld the presence of God...Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God." ~John Calvin

"The one concept, the central idea I kept meeting in Scripture, was the idea that God is holy. The word was foreign to me. I wasn't sure what it meant. I made the question a matter of diligent and persistent search. Today I am still absorbed with the question of the holiness of God. I am convinced that it is one of the most important ideas that a Christian can ever grapple with. It is basic to our whole understanding of God and of Christianity." ~R.C. Sproul (The Holiness of God, pg. 12)

Holiness is something which will continue to stretch my mind. What does it mean to be holy? God is the one and only being who completes this with fullness. The word "holy" is not only used in Scriptures to draw attention to how God is different and apart from us, but also to draw attention to His absolute purity. As Christians, we are called saints, literally meaning, "holy ones."

So, why are we called, "holy ones"?

Being made in the image of God means that we reflect God to the world. We show him off, so to speak. We present to the world who God really is. We magnify and glorify Him. If not directly, indirectly. Meaning, God is glorified in everything. We can get on board and be a part of it, or we can waste our life. Why wouldn't we want to be a part of it? What a honor to share in this privilege.

Everytime I start to write about the holiness of God, I have to just stop and soak it all in. It seems endless. Wow, what a great God we worship! He is holy!

Testing...123