One of the most persistent accusations leveled against Reformed theology is that God is unjust for allowing Adam’s sin to propagate to his offspring without their consent. The objection is usually framed emotionally: “How is it fair for me to be condemned for a choice I didn’t make?” Of course, we should already recognize that … Continue reading Is Original Sin Fair? A Virtual Consent View
“God is not double-minded. He can decree one thing and desire another, because He has layers of purposes.” 0 — John Piper Many Christians wrestle with a tension in Scripture. On one hand, it says that God "desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim 2:4) … Continue reading Does God Want All to be Saved? Calvinism and the Two Wills of God
If anything affecting someone's salvation can be finally controlled by the action, inaction, or governing parameters of God, then God is ultimately sovereign over salvation, and Calvinism is essentially true. In other words, if we prod into the reasons for someone’s salvation, and the conversation ends up with a statement beginning with “because God…”, Calvinism … Continue reading Calvinism is True “Because God…”
So many debates between evangelical theological camps revolve around Theodicy, or the theological attempts to vindicate our omnipotent, omnibenevolent God from the problem of evil. Within this debate, the emphasis is often on the relationship of God’s predetermination and foreknowledge to evil. I am going to challenge that emphasis! Are Determinism and Foreknowledge Really the … Continue reading Glass Houses Throwing Stones: The Counterproductive Theodicy Debate Between Theology Camps
The Middle Ground 