Question of the Day
Where are the New Arminians?
Possible answer: If it ain't broke....
Grace and Peace,
Raffi
The Shack: Top 10 Theologically Dead-On Excerpts
Don't get me wrong. There's plenty in The Shack that, in BW3's words , "needs to make a pit stop for some more theological tune ups." But then there are some moments where you just gotta stop and say, "Bullseye!" Here are my top 10 said moments... 10. "...I don’t need to punish people for sin. Sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside. It is not my purpose to punish it; it’s my joy to cure it." 9. "Seriously, my life was not meant to be an example to copy. Being my follower is not trying ‘to be like Jesus’ ... I came to give you life, real life, my life. We will come and live our life inside of you, so that you begin to see with our eyes, and hear with our ears, and touch with our hands, and think like we do. But, we will never force that union on you." 8. "Judgment is not about destruction, but about setting things right." 7. "I’ve never taken control of your choices or forced you to do anything…To ...
Comments
Simeon to Wesley(with Wesley's responses after each question)--"Sir, I understand that you are called an Arminian; and I have been sometimes called a Calvinist;and therefore I suppose we are to draw daggers. But before I consent to begin the combat, with your permission I will ask you a few questions. Pray, Sir, do you feel yourself a depraved creature, so depraved that you would never have thought tf turning to God, if God had not first put it into your heart?
Yes, I do indeed.
And do you utterly despair of recommending yourself to God by anything you can do; and look for salvation solely through the blood and righteousness of Christ?
Yes, soley through Christ.
But, Sir, supposing you were at first saved by Christ, are you not somehow or other to save yourself afterwards by your own works?
No, I must be saved by Christ from first to last.
Allowing, then, that you were first turned by the grace of God, are you not in some way or other to keep yourself by your own power?
No.
What then, are you to be upheld every hour and every moment by God, as much as an infant in its mother's arms?
Yes, altogether.
And is all your hope in the grace and mercy of God to preserve you unto His heavenly kingdom?
Yes, I have no hope but in Him.
Then, Sir, with your leave I will put up my dagger again; for this is all my Calivinism; this is my election, my justification by faith, my final perseverance: it is in substance all that I hold, and as I hold it; and therefore, if you please, instead of searching out terms and phrases to be a ground of contention between us, we will cordially unite in those things wherein we agree."
Wesley also said he comes within a hair's breath of Calvinism. An Arminian or Methodist is a bit uneasy about insisting on use of the term "eternal security". Actually they wonder why present assurance is not good enough for others.
Kinda goes with our post nicely doesn't it?
Thanks for the updates from the conference, BTW. Great job. Get some sleep, will ya!
Grace and Peace,
Raffi