Scattered Thoughts on Theology and Ministry…
I recently came across a quote by Richard Muller (“Grace, Election and Contingent Choice” in The Grace of God, the Bondage of the Will) in which he disagrees with a commonly held misconception about Reformed views on Freedom. There he says: It was never the Reformed view that the moral acts of human beings areContinue reading “Reformed Views on Predetermined Human Action”
On 3/8/16 Thomas Jay Oord came to Fuller to give a presentation based on his new book: The Uncontrolling Love of God. The presentation was followed up with a very interesting dicussion in which participants who sympathized with Oord’s position and those who did not were both able to ask questions and press him onContinue reading “The Uncontrolling Love of God – Lecture Notes”
Several years ago Paul Molnar wrote a book on Divine Freedom and the doctrine of the Immanent Trinity – now he adds to his works on the Trinity by offering us a book on Freedom and the economic Trinity (specifically in Barth, Torrance, and contemporary theology). Summary Molnar’s aim in this book is to exploreContinue reading “Faith, Freedom, and The Spirit”
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. – Paul in his Letter to the Galatians At Soma (the college group I lead) we are currently in a series on Relationships – Where’s Your Heart. It’sContinue reading “Two Concepts of Freedom in Galatians”
Redemption is a comprehensive term regarding our salvation through justification, expatiation, and reconciliation in Christ. It is eschatological and teleological. It is the consummation of Gods’ redeeming purposes in the new creation. It tells us that glorification is an essential part of our salvation. In Atonement Torrance runs through the uses of the words forContinue reading “Redemption & Limited Atonement”
Yesterday in our Masks mini-series we talked about “Masks” and how we put them on to hide from ourselves, from God, and especially from other people. I offered you the second step to taking off your mask – today I offer you last and most important step… Remember the Cross Chances are that when youContinue reading “Exposed – Remember the Cross”
Without a doubt, predestination is one of the most argued about doctrine. This is partially due to the fact that predestination seems to challenge a key concept that most people deem necessary for moral responsibility, namely the principle of alternate possibilities (PAP). The PAP, which states that one must have alternate possibilities in order forContinue reading “Predestination (Uh Oh!)”
Edward’s Theology There are several key themes in the theology of Edwards, today I would like to take up two. These key themes are the concepts of freedom and divine grace, “which can be regarded as a pivotal notion of his theology.”[1] A sermon which Edwards preached at his grandfather’s memorial service entitled “Living UnconvertedContinue reading “Jonathan Edwards: A Brief Theological Biography (Pt. 2)”
Election day is around the corner and many Americans are still on the fence. Obama or Romney? Many Christians will go to the polls on Election day and vote based upon which candidate better lines up with “Christian Values.” This is a legitimate way to decide who will get one’s vote. Many Christians in myContinue reading “Obama, Romney, and Christian Ethics”
The relationship between creation and providence is not one that is often considered. Usually when we talk about creation we think about the “7 day” or the creation/evolution debate. When we talk about providence we usually speak of God’s providence in “helping me get that job” or “keeping me from getting in that car accident.”Continue reading “Creation and Providence (Pt. 2)”
CWoznicki Think Out Loud 