So...I've decided to just briefly have my little say in the Calvinism vs. Arminianism debate.
To start, I am making you aware that I know very little about Calvinism or Arminianism. What typically comes to mind when I think of them is more akin to this nifty illustration I've made than anything else. (Don't be offended, sensitive people.)
I'm not going to spend the next 3000 words writing down the arguments for or against either side. They're all very well documented, and both sides have a fair share of pluses and minuses.
Here is my MAIN problem:
Calvinism and Arminianism only cause one thing: SEPARATION.
Now, chill out. I know how violently protective people get. Hear me out.
Example A:
Let us presuppose that Calvinism is correct and we are predestined to eternity with God.
Wooo! That's great...really. It's going to be outstanding there, and I'm so glad I'll be there.....
That's all fine and good, but how will I know whether or not I'm predestined until I get to Heaven? Is Jesus going to come down and tell me? I mean, He can speak to my heart, and tell me that I am truly a child of the LORD, but really, the reason it's called faith is because you have to believe. If I KNOW that I am a child of the LORD, then me obeying is useless; first of all, because I am a child and second, whether I stray or not, since I am His child, I merely have to return to Him (even when I am at the end of my life) to receive His forgiveness.[Luke 15:11-32 ESV]
So what was the point in me being Calvinist? I won't find out whether or not I was saved until I get to Heaven [or Hell], so while on Earth, me being a Calvinist accomplished nothing, other than giving me a reason to argue with people.
Furthermore, of the few "anti-Calvinist" things I will say here, is that I want you to think about this: if God predestined everything, then God created sin.a Now I suppose that you could argue that God does not predestine everything, only the eternal elect. If that is true, then disregard the following statement, but if not, think about it. If God preordains things, then He preordained Adam to partake of the Fruit of Good and Evil, knowing very very well what the punishment was. If you take that a step further, you can postulate that God is both good and evil, for how can something that is the definition of good, cause something evil? I think we can all agree that this is not the case.
My only other "anti-Calvinist" problem is with the most obvious one. The idea of the elect. I will cite only two Bible verses, because I think this argument only needs two.
"8But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." 2 Peter 3:8-9 ESV
ALL. That's it. Done. Argument ended. How can the Bible, God's Holy Word, directly implanted into the hearts of men and transcribed so that we may know God's teachings and plans, say something that isn't true?
It can't.
So therefore, why would God desire that all should reach repentance, when He Himself has chosen the "non-elect" to perish. I say "non-elect" because if there is an "elect," then there has to be a "non-elect" as well. There are only two endpoints to the equation, Heaven and Hell, so whether it is by choice (i.e. believer or non-believer) or by election (i.e. elect or non-elect) there are only two options. If it is by election, than God has chosen those that would go to Heaven but also those that would go to Hell. I find it very hard to believe that my God would do so, especially considering that He makes it plain in Romans; "For everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved." Romans 10:13 ESV
Again, we have a noun that is not exclusive. Everyone. There's no clause at the bottom of Romans 10 that says "Everyone in reality only means some."
Additionally, if there are an elect, how does God chose this elect? What does He use to make me (or you, elect person) better than Joe Nonelect? This is not substantially discussed in the literature I've read, but it just seems interesting that God loves the ENTIRE world, but only loves a select few enough to save them. (I'm referencing John 3:16 here, just in case you missed the boat.)
Going along with the idea of elect, is the idea of "irresistible grace." This, as best as I can tell, means that no matter what, if you are elect, you will eventually succumb to God's divine irresistible grace. This to me seems like the ultimate excuse (especially when coupled with the idea of election) to be a lazy Christian. If I will eventually succumb to God's grace, and furthermore, if I am of the elect, why should I evangelize? Why should I read my Bible, or go to church, or share the Gospel, or do anything remotely Christ-like? I am of the elect, so I AM going to Heaven, and I WILL be overtaken by God's grace eventually. Although this is a common argument, it escapes me that I could believe that I am chosen and therefore inseparable from God, even since before I knew God or decided to accept His son Jesus. Why then be baptized, or sprinkled, or make a profession of faith, if you are already saved or not saved?
Last verse:
3This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 ESV
So...that's my beating up on Calvinists. Although this is a relatively one-sided argument from me, I do have several moot points with you Arminianists too.
Example B:
Walt Harris, a student from Millbrook, Alabama, has quite a few Calvinist friends. These friends, who hopefully read his arguments with an attempt at being unbiased, probably dislike Walt a little bit more, because they now know (or think) that he is an "Arminianist." Regardless of their true feelings towards me, they now know that we disagree on an important aspect of our faith. This has just caused at least some division, which is therefore proof of my argument on the USELESSNESS of both parties.
While I am not an Arminianist, or at least I do not wish to be classified as one (me being the non-denominational 'Christian-hippie' that I am), I do admittedly subscribe to more Arminian beliefs than Calvinist.
BUT
The main point still exists. The ONLY thing that being a Calvinist or Arminianist does for you (in this world AND the next, think about that) is cause division.
It causes division between friends (which it has for me before), it causes division between churches, it causes division between spouses, family, and I believe especially causes division among believers and non-believers.
How can someone who doesn't believe want to be a part of a faith (I hate the term 'religion') that is so sharply divided over issues of semantics? (Yes, the only reason we have both sides, period, is the semantics of the Bible.)
Furthermore, why would a world that tends to think most Christians are (to use the cliché) 'holier-than-thou' snobs want to be a part of something that says "you have to be chosen to get to Heaven"? Fundamentally, this is what Calvinism says.
Lastly, and I did a poor job of driving this home, especially since I pointed out all my problems with Calvinism, even though I couldn't come up with many for Arminianism [although I do not support or fully subscribe to either], is the fact that either way, in the end, we will NEVER know whether or not we are predestined until we get to Heaven, and by then, it will not matter anymore.
NEVER. That's an absolute. We will never ever ever know, not in 200 million years, and surely not within our lifetimes, short of Jesus' triumphant return. Even if we get to Heaven or Christ returns, I doubt that God is going to tell us whether or not predestination exists. I'm not going to say He won't, because it is quite possible, and I wouldn't mind knowing.
BUT can you honestly say that when you see your mansion and those streets of gold, that you're really even going to give a crap why or how you got there?
a Perry, http://people.cis.ksu.edu/~bbp9857/calvinism.html
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"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction." - Blaise Pascal
21.7.10
In 17 Days, Nothing Will Change
Not a very positive way to start a blog, right? Especially one that's being written about how I want my life to be a better story (i.e. to change).
In 17 days, I will graduate from college. I will have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography and Graphic Design.
For many, graduating from college is one of the most superlative moments of their life. Even if they are going on to further their education, they still feel like one of the larger life hurdles is over for them, and they are finally a "true" adult.
For me this is not true.
For one, I am moving back in with my parents this fall, which arguably is a step backward from "true" adulthood.
I am continuing my education, but not as a graduate student, no no no. I am a "second degree" undergrad, because I made some faulty decisions and chose the career that I thought I would have the most fun at, rather than the one that God chose for me. [Even though I do love my art, and it is a huge part of my life, it is not where I'm supposed to be.] My pre-pharmacy education will hopefully take another year, upon which I'll get into Samford, and be good to go, albeit in debt $150,000.
Furthermore, the last summer class I'm taking, Chemistry 2, which should be a pretty average course, difficulty-wise, is killing me. I'm making grades that I've never made on tests, and just completely lacking the motivation to do better.
I'm feeling overwhelmed with moving out and lately, I'm having the Garden State moment.
I've had it before, but this time it feels more permanent. It's the primary reason why I could care less about repainting my currently magenta/gold bedroom at home (and besides, it was never mine to begin with anyways).
The point is: something has to change.
Since chemistry is most certainly not going to get easier for me, and since my $150,000 is not going to pay itself off, and since I eventually want to be an "adult," or at least something akin to that, I've decided that I need to change.
I need to rearrange my priorities, which for me means unplugging my tv. Spending free time studying rather than seeing how hot Piper is looking on Covert Affairs (one of my new favorite shows). I need to spend more time with God; praying, studying, worshiping and sharing. I know that's a Sunday school answer, but if its true I find it hard to omit. Of course, there are others, and since this is for the Living A Better Story Contest I figure I should be more specific.
GO!
In the next year I want to make A's. All A's. Nothing BUT A's. That one's pretty simple. I need to change.
I want to get a job, paying or non, in some sort of pharmacy-relevant environment. I need the experience, and I want the knowledge. I need to change.
I want to do the Ride:Well Tour. There, I said it. I know it's a big shoe to fill, but its so true. Minus getting into pharmacy school, I want this more than almost anything else I have on my list. This one is tricky though, because in order to be able to have June 1 - August 1 off, I have to get a really good PCAT score, and get good grades, so that I can get into Samford my first time around. If not, I need to take summer classes and try to get into Auburn, therefore, no Ride:Well. I'm almost to my goal amount for my new bike, and I'm committed to starting to train this fall. I need to change.
I want to raise a meaningful amount of money for Blood:Water, and another charity. I'm adding the "other charity" part because if you know me, you know I love Blood:Water and I can get a little annoying about it sometimes possibly. I figure I should share the love, and try to help some other cause, especially since there are so many. I need to make my community aware, and stir people's hearts to heal the world. I need to change.
I want to take beautiful photographs. I am the worst photography major you will ever meet. I have barely touched my camera over the past two years, and although I still take decent photos, I am totally out of touch with a facet of my life that completely consumed me for a while. I know this sounds unimportant to you, but getting back that person to me is huge. I need to change.
I want to be a man worth marrying. I want to be the type of man that can be with someone forever. This requires a lot of growing up. A lot of intimacy. A whole hell of a lot of scariness. And for me, it requires being more open than I ever have before. I need to change.
{I could go on for days, but I figure realistically, I'm not going to commit to a bunch of stereotypical, metaphorical goals and then let myself, and especially the people around me, down.}
So....
Finally, I want to be able to dance. That link probably just lost me the contest, and even though it's much less serious, it is true. Besides, the mood needed lightening. And seriously, I believe that dancing is an interestingly vital part of our being made in God's image. It is about freedom, and intimacy, and being alive. Even still, I need to change. [At least enough to make it through a reception.]
I think the Living A Better Story seminar would help by giving me the motivation and encouragement to know that my goals aren't crazy. To know that even though I'm an average human being, I can be wonderful. My story can resound throughout my surroundings and motivate others to change their stories. I think it would help me to compassionately move others, because I believe without a strong stirring in the heart, no one is ever truly motivated for change. I'm sick of being an average guy with good intentions, and although I know I can make these changes on my own, Living a Better Story would be an absolutely astounding chance to take a first step. A "no-turning back step," if you will.
In chemistry, reactions don't happen unless you force them too. Sure, some reactions happen readily, and easily, but they still require that irreversible moment to start them, from which you can't ever go fully back. If I go to the seminar, not only will I change because my heart desires it, I will also change because I know that I can and I must. That first step is the one that I can't turn back from, and once I take it, I know the other risks and rewards will pan out, somehow and some way. I want the extreme difficulty, and the ridiculous amount of satisfaction that comes with knowing I've given it my all, and my all is all I can do.
I will change.
The link to the conference website is here.
-----------------
"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea." - Antoine de Saint Exupéry
In 17 days, I will graduate from college. I will have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography and Graphic Design.
For many, graduating from college is one of the most superlative moments of their life. Even if they are going on to further their education, they still feel like one of the larger life hurdles is over for them, and they are finally a "true" adult.
For me this is not true.
For one, I am moving back in with my parents this fall, which arguably is a step backward from "true" adulthood.
I am continuing my education, but not as a graduate student, no no no. I am a "second degree" undergrad, because I made some faulty decisions and chose the career that I thought I would have the most fun at, rather than the one that God chose for me. [Even though I do love my art, and it is a huge part of my life, it is not where I'm supposed to be.] My pre-pharmacy education will hopefully take another year, upon which I'll get into Samford, and be good to go, albeit in debt $150,000.
Furthermore, the last summer class I'm taking, Chemistry 2, which should be a pretty average course, difficulty-wise, is killing me. I'm making grades that I've never made on tests, and just completely lacking the motivation to do better.
I'm feeling overwhelmed with moving out and lately, I'm having the Garden State moment.
I've had it before, but this time it feels more permanent. It's the primary reason why I could care less about repainting my currently magenta/gold bedroom at home (and besides, it was never mine to begin with anyways).
The point is: something has to change.
Since chemistry is most certainly not going to get easier for me, and since my $150,000 is not going to pay itself off, and since I eventually want to be an "adult," or at least something akin to that, I've decided that I need to change.
I need to rearrange my priorities, which for me means unplugging my tv. Spending free time studying rather than seeing how hot Piper is looking on Covert Affairs (one of my new favorite shows). I need to spend more time with God; praying, studying, worshiping and sharing. I know that's a Sunday school answer, but if its true I find it hard to omit. Of course, there are others, and since this is for the Living A Better Story Contest I figure I should be more specific.
GO!
In the next year I want to make A's. All A's. Nothing BUT A's. That one's pretty simple. I need to change.
I want to get a job, paying or non, in some sort of pharmacy-relevant environment. I need the experience, and I want the knowledge. I need to change.
I want to do the Ride:Well Tour. There, I said it. I know it's a big shoe to fill, but its so true. Minus getting into pharmacy school, I want this more than almost anything else I have on my list. This one is tricky though, because in order to be able to have June 1 - August 1 off, I have to get a really good PCAT score, and get good grades, so that I can get into Samford my first time around. If not, I need to take summer classes and try to get into Auburn, therefore, no Ride:Well. I'm almost to my goal amount for my new bike, and I'm committed to starting to train this fall. I need to change.
I want to raise a meaningful amount of money for Blood:Water, and another charity. I'm adding the "other charity" part because if you know me, you know I love Blood:Water and I can get a little annoying about it sometimes possibly. I figure I should share the love, and try to help some other cause, especially since there are so many. I need to make my community aware, and stir people's hearts to heal the world. I need to change.
I want to take beautiful photographs. I am the worst photography major you will ever meet. I have barely touched my camera over the past two years, and although I still take decent photos, I am totally out of touch with a facet of my life that completely consumed me for a while. I know this sounds unimportant to you, but getting back that person to me is huge. I need to change.
I want to be a man worth marrying. I want to be the type of man that can be with someone forever. This requires a lot of growing up. A lot of intimacy. A whole hell of a lot of scariness. And for me, it requires being more open than I ever have before. I need to change.
{I could go on for days, but I figure realistically, I'm not going to commit to a bunch of stereotypical, metaphorical goals and then let myself, and especially the people around me, down.}
So....
Finally, I want to be able to dance. That link probably just lost me the contest, and even though it's much less serious, it is true. Besides, the mood needed lightening. And seriously, I believe that dancing is an interestingly vital part of our being made in God's image. It is about freedom, and intimacy, and being alive. Even still, I need to change. [At least enough to make it through a reception.]
I think the Living A Better Story seminar would help by giving me the motivation and encouragement to know that my goals aren't crazy. To know that even though I'm an average human being, I can be wonderful. My story can resound throughout my surroundings and motivate others to change their stories. I think it would help me to compassionately move others, because I believe without a strong stirring in the heart, no one is ever truly motivated for change. I'm sick of being an average guy with good intentions, and although I know I can make these changes on my own, Living a Better Story would be an absolutely astounding chance to take a first step. A "no-turning back step," if you will.
In chemistry, reactions don't happen unless you force them too. Sure, some reactions happen readily, and easily, but they still require that irreversible moment to start them, from which you can't ever go fully back. If I go to the seminar, not only will I change because my heart desires it, I will also change because I know that I can and I must. That first step is the one that I can't turn back from, and once I take it, I know the other risks and rewards will pan out, somehow and some way. I want the extreme difficulty, and the ridiculous amount of satisfaction that comes with knowing I've given it my all, and my all is all I can do.
I will change.
The link to the conference website is here.
Living a Better Story Seminar from All Things Converge Podcast on Vimeo.
-----------------
"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea." - Antoine de Saint Exupéry
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