Things:
1. I feel I wasted my afternoon, making my tomorrow rushed.
2. I love Chinese people. This week I was studying at Starbucks at Southkeys, and this little Chinese girl with nerd glasses (no guardian in sight) came up, moved my backpack, sat with me and explained Pokemon to me. I was confused- kids don’t like me, so why did she?
3. I shared with a Chinese girl today. Although she disagreed with me, she offered to let me share with her housemates sometime. Random. It was interesting, as she was opposed to hell as it made her think it was a pressure to believe. I explained that as a Christian, and only shared the positive parts of the Gospel, I would be negligent. Normally I am not super hell focused, but I kinda “felt?” the Spirit leading in that.
4. Earlier this week another girl disagreed with me on hell- she thought that those parts of the Bible were untrue, in order for people to turn to God out of fear. Yet she thought everything anyone ever said, thought, or wrote was from God. I really liked that girl (not due to her beliefs).
5. Although I think the first two years of university are suppose to be the “friendly” years for classmates, this year it has been really interesting- in almost every single law class I have been able to have conversations with my classmates. (In comparison to approximately zero in previous years). I may like people.
6. I kinda want Sarah Palin to have a cooking show. I love the way she talks. I think she should make fewer references to soccer/hockey/tennis parents. Her argument against Obama’s state run health care was…foolish. And her stats on American small businesses were also not well researched.
7. My previous views on Calvinism are changing… And I am no longer sure of how to interpret Romans 12. And if God predestines some…is that simply based on his foreknowledge of who will “choose” him? But no one desires God on their own. Yet otherwise does that mean he has chosen people to go to hell? How does that correlate with his desire for none to perish? I don’t know.
8. This week I argued obnoxiously with a couple of people. Egh. I didn’t mean to. But I did. And now I am not even sure I agree with what I was arguing for.
9. I kinda wonder if there had been more girls in the min. in my first year if I would still have ended up a leader in our min. Maybe I used to be more vision aligned.
10. I am trying to figure out my spiritual gifts, as right now I am confused with what they are.
11. I want a new sweater. A bright red one. With toogles, and zippers and buttons and whistles, and pockets (well…maybe not all those things. But some of those things).
12. There were many happy people on the bus today.
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- Courses: Equality and Discrimination Law, Dr. Curle's Human Rights classes, Issues in Theoretical Philosophy, and Canadian Lit. by Dr. Brush.
- Books: Fiction involving magical powers/fantasy, Ann Rynd novels, Piper books, serious short stories with interesting characters that occur in interesting places not requiring too much plot. Red is Best.
- Food: mushrooms, cherries and grilled cheese. Farmer's Market mini-coffee cakes, strawberry flavoured.
- Ideas: The concept of public transport and those beds that flip up to the wall.
- Locations: Small Cities over towns, particularly London
- Transportation: Walking, Bicycling, Boating
- Movies: Wes Anderson Films, Lost in Translation, Garden State, Stranger Than Fiction,Will Ferrell movies
- Colours: Light Purple, Unicorn (Sparkly White) and Rainbow
- Beverages: Starbucks, specifically the girly drinks. Water. Teas. Chocolate milk.
- Bible books: Romans, Ruth, 2 Timothy.
7 comments:
A post? A great post at that. It's been a while. Good job!
Praise God you're talking more to your classmates! Awesome. Maybe it's not that people get friendlier in upper years, maybe it's that the prayer as part of Student 2 Student is working wondrously.
What was your previous view on Calvinism? In short, God simultaneously elects people to hell (Rm. 9:22, in particular, "vessels of wrath prepared for destruction" [emphasis added]) and desires them to come to repentence (1Ti. 2:4, 5). Piper uses the tension of God abhorring murder (Ex. 20:13) yet killing His Son (Is. 53:4, 10), to demonstrate that it's not inconsistent for God to sovereignly ordain one thing (election or Christ's murder), yet to have moral dispositions seemingly to the contrary (i.e., opposing murder and desiring for all to be saved). Like the Trinity, I think that it's something to take on faith as true and not contradictory.
As for God forknowing us (e.g., in Rm. 8:29), the verse doesn't say that God knew we'd decide that we'd choose Him so He elected us (i.e., conditional election), it says that He knew us. He knew that we in particular would fit into His plan for redemptive history (Ep. 1:11).
I wish that I had watched the debate so that I could know what you're trashing Palin for.
Lego.
haha, it is on youtube.
I have been propping the Republican's hardcore in the last week, without knowledge. For a limited time only in the US I would become a one issue voter (despite hating that concept) due to Obama’s stances on abortion. I maintain that position, but I think despite Palin's public speaking ability (which I enjoy), she wasn't really responding to the questions she was asked. Noted my observation is based on one hour of poor attention. Instead Palin often simply exalted certain Americans (ex. he is a great American hero, just like ________ is a great American hero). (Sorry for the vagueness-I can't quite remember the names, and don't feel like re-watching it right now).
Palin also mentioned how great McCain was often, which is odd, as Biden wasn't doing the same for Obama, and in retrospect, due to the lack of substance in several of her answers, it seemed like she was dancing around the questions. I think it is great that she is so supportive of her president's values, however, I think she could have helped his platform more by giving very direct and persuasive arguments for the policies he supports rather than publicly blessing him. I say these things against her really desiring to find her a competent debater.
My previous views on Calvinism were:
-God has predestined some. (Romans 9, Ephesians 1)
-It isn't possible for humans on their own to desire God. Therefore it is the Holy Spirit that opens believers' hearts to him.
-In the end of the ages, it is said that people of every people group will praise God. I think that would mean that God has to have elected those, in order for this to be true/for sure. This also serves a double purpose by acting as an encouragement in missions and evangelism.
-Due to his sovereignty over salvation, we are able to pray and ask God to change a person's heart.
- The Bible doesn't promote a theology entitled 'Freewill'
-That by some being chosen as non-elect, God is glorified through being just.
There were definitely other thoughts too these are just all that were at the top of my head.
I have been perplexed with the verses that express the desire of God for all to come to know him (2 Pt 3:9, 1 Tm 2:3-4, Ezk 19:23), and having his Son die for all (John 3:16), if he has already decided to set aside certain individuals for hell. It seems contradictory to his purpose in his Son. Why kill Jesus for everyone, if God didn't want some people to believe in Him?
I have heard that Romans 9 is actually discussing the Israelites, which for a long time I disagreed with (recently because of a sermon on the grammar used at the beginning of the passage). Now it seems applicable to simply the Israelites.
Also a thought I heard recently about predestination, is that it is due to God being out of time, he is able to tell who would be believers, and are then later referred to as the elect in the baby. I find this hard, because I know no one wants redemption on their own- it is Holy Spirit inspired. Which might mean the Holy Spirit is always at work within everyone, calling people to Him. However, if that is true, then it would appear he could be resisted. I am just confused. :(
I really want to have a God who is sovereign over salvation, so I can pray trusting that God has the power to change hearts. But if He could be overpowered by human will, what type of God is he? Though I guess Revelations 3:20 would be evidence that Christ is waiting for individuals to choose him. I am confused.
Hey Merrison,
I've really enjoyed reading your blog. I just started! I'm thinking about starting one, that is just stories for my supporters. I'll be sure to mention you!
Regarding Calvinism: I hear what you are saying. I think it's good that you're re-evaluating. I think we should always be willing to re-examine what we believe to be the truth.... to be willing to say..
"If I'm wrong... then I want to know that I am wrong." I really respect that about you. Right now the topic of pre-destination and hell are heavy on my heart... and very emotional topics. Especailly now since my brother left for Afghanastan. One thing Erwin McManus said at our staff conference is that we shouldn't ever be able to preach about the theology of hell with out being deeply grieved by it.
A passage that has really encouraged me in my pursuit of truth is John 16:12-14
Perhaps in light of your search.. you could also look at Deut 30- particularly vs 19. And James 1:13-15
I'd be interested to hear what conclusions you come to regarding your re evaluation of your position!
Love
M.R
I will soon watch the debate so that I can interact on it.
I'm not sure whether your post here on Calvinism is more of a statement, "I am re-thinking my views on the absolute sovereignty of God out loud, here on my blog," or if you're saying, "There are certain verses which I find confusing, and difficult to harmonize to one another, so I am open to feedback." I suspect that it's more of the former. Nevertheless, I will give some point form notes:
-you said, "Why kill Jesus for everyone, if God didn't want some people to believe in Him?" referring to John 3:16
-if Jesus died for everyone, I would not believe in Calvinism, pretty much based on your objection
-I think that Jesus only died for the elect (Rm. 5:8; Ep. 5:25), although God saved the whole world in a different way than He saved just the elect (1Ti. 4:10) (I would recommend Driscoll's sermon Unlimited Limited Atonement to hear the whole perspective)
-when considering those verses that seem to imply that Jesus died for every single person (e.g., 1J. 2:2), or for specific unbelievers (e.g., 2P. 2:1) I found that the conversation (it starts [abruptly] at 1:32) that Piper (who believes that Christ died only for the elect, affirming Limited Atonement/Particular Redemption) and Bruce Ware (believing that Christ died for all mankind, denying Limited Atonement), along with Dever (who also affirms 'L' [from TULIP]), was the most helpful resource I know of for thinking through the scope of the atonement of Christ
-in terms of reading John 3:16 I have two thoughts:
1. if the word "world" in the verse is referring just to believers in the world, which is at least possible given the Greek word (John uses that Greek word at least 14 ways throughout the NT), the verse would clearly not imply that Christ died for the whole world;
2. I think that the love of God here is referring to the world;
3. I think that John 3:16 refers to the offer of the cross (i.e., the Gospel) goes out to all people, which does not contradict the atonement of the cross only going to the elect (this appears to be what Calvin believed)
-you said that you weren't sure whether Romans 9 applied to all people (John Wesley would agree with that)
-I don't think that within Romans 9 there is any real reason to think that the doctrines there are limited to just some people, it sounds like Paul is talking about God's electing/reprobating love for all people
I can't believe there were 5 comments before I even got here!
There is waay too much publicity for Sarah Palin.... maybe she can sell glasses instead...
Hey Pete- It is actually the later,"There are certain verses which I find confusing, and difficult to harmonize to one another, so I am open to feedback."
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