this is the continuation of a previous post on classical calvinism vs moderate calvinism.
classical "supralapsarian" calvinism
1. God predestined man to sin.
2. God predestined Christ to reconcile the world to Him.
3a. God predestined some to be reconciled to Him.
3b. God predestined others not to be reconciled to Him.
4. God created the world.
5. man sinned, having been predestined by God to sin.
6. God sent Christ to reconcile the world to Him.
7a. those who are predestined to be reconciled to God are reconciled to Him.
7b. those who are predestined not to be reconciled to God are not reconciled to Him.
according to classical "supralapsarian" calvinism, both the fall and faith are caused by God.
classical "infralapsarian" calvinism
1. God created the world.
2. man sinned of his own free will.
3. God predestined Christ to reconcile the world to Him.
4a. God predestined some to be reconciled to Him.
4b. God predestined others not to be reconciled to Him.
5. God sent Christ to reconcile the world to Him.
6a. those who are predestined to be reconciled to God are reconciled to Him.
6b. those who are predestined not to be reconciled to God are not reconciled to Him.
according to classical "infralapsarian" calvinism, the fall is occasioned by God while faith is caused by God.
moderate "middle knowledge" calvinism
1. God saw that the best possible world (from His perspective) was one in which man would sin of his own free will.
2. God saw that the best possible world (from His perspective) was one in which He would send Christ to reconcile the world to Him.
3a. God saw that the best possible world (from His perspective) was one in which those who would freely believe in Christ would be reconciled to Him.
3b. God saw that the best possible world (from His perspective) was one in which those who would freely not believe in Christ would not be reconciled to Him.
4. God created the best possible world (from His perspective), predestining that i) man would sin of his own free will, ii) He would send Christ to reconcile the world to Him, iii) those who would freely believe in Christ would be reconciled to Him and iv) those who would freely not believe in Christ would not be reconciled to Him.
5. man sinned of his own free will.
6. God sent Christ to reconcile the world to Him.
7a. those who freely believe in Christ are reconciled to God.
7b. those who freely do not believe in Christ are not reconciled to God.
according to moderate "middle knowledge" calvinism, both the fall and faith are occasioned by God.
God - knowing (not causing) each of our free choices - created the best possible world (from His perspective) in which each of our free choices would work 'for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose' (Romans 8:28, NIV). in this way, God is completely sovereign and man is compatibilistically free.
*****
we might question whether this particular world is indeed the best possible world which God could have created. to answer this question, we have to bear in mind that God created this particular world to reflect His glory. to this end, the best possible world which God could have created is the world which most reflects His glory.
if creating any other possible world (eg. a world without evil) could reflect His glory more than creating this particular world, then God would have created that other possible world instead of creating this particular world. however, God created this particular world. therefore, creating this particular world reflects His glory more than creating any other possible world.
for that matter, if not creating at all could reflect His glory more than creating this particular world, then God would have not created at all instead of creating this particular world. however, God created this particular world. therefore, creating this particular world reflects His glory more than not creating at all.
at the end of the day, we have to trust - not against all odds, but with complete assurance - that this particular world is indeed the best possible world which God could have created, that this particular world is indeed the world which most reflects His glory.
link: classical calvinism vs moderate calvinism (22 oct 08)
Thursday, 20 November 2008
Sunday, 16 November 2008
remember, remember
britain recently commemorated the 5th and 11th of november, guy fawkes night and armistice day respectively.
in this morning's sermon at york baptist church, revd gary patchen pointed out that the first world war, ironically, was thought of as the war to end all wars. in fact, the war to end all wars ended 2000 years ago at calvary, and it ended with Jesus and the victory of God.
Much of "traditional" Christianity gives the impression that God has these rather arbitrary rules about how you have to behave, and if you disobey them you go to hell, rather than to heaven. What the New Testament really says is God wants you to be a renewed human being helping him to renew his creation, and his resurrection was the opening bell. And when he returns to fulfill the plan, you won't be going up there to him, he'll be coming down here.
- N.T. Wright, Interview with TIME Magazine (7 Feb 08)
in the pursuit of holiness, jerry bridges describes a change of kingdoms which occurs when we pass from death into life. while we continue to struggle with sin, we no longer view sin as a friendly ally to be fed but a defeated enemy to be finally put to death.
Struggling with Sin
"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
"So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!
"So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin." - Romans 7:15-25 (NIV)
The Resurrection Body
"I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
""Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"
"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Corinthians 15:50-57 (NIV)
The Ministry of Reconciliation
"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
"So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." - 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 (NIV)
if we remember the 5th and 11th of november, how much more should we remember the life, death and resurrection of Christ through which we are reconciled to God!
The Lord's Supper
"For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." - 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (NIV)
in this morning's sermon at york baptist church, revd gary patchen pointed out that the first world war, ironically, was thought of as the war to end all wars. in fact, the war to end all wars ended 2000 years ago at calvary, and it ended with Jesus and the victory of God.
Much of "traditional" Christianity gives the impression that God has these rather arbitrary rules about how you have to behave, and if you disobey them you go to hell, rather than to heaven. What the New Testament really says is God wants you to be a renewed human being helping him to renew his creation, and his resurrection was the opening bell. And when he returns to fulfill the plan, you won't be going up there to him, he'll be coming down here.
- N.T. Wright, Interview with TIME Magazine (7 Feb 08)
in the pursuit of holiness, jerry bridges describes a change of kingdoms which occurs when we pass from death into life. while we continue to struggle with sin, we no longer view sin as a friendly ally to be fed but a defeated enemy to be finally put to death.
Struggling with Sin
"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
"So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!
"So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin." - Romans 7:15-25 (NIV)
The Resurrection Body
"I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
""Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"
"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Corinthians 15:50-57 (NIV)
The Ministry of Reconciliation
"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
"So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." - 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 (NIV)
if we remember the 5th and 11th of november, how much more should we remember the life, death and resurrection of Christ through which we are reconciled to God!
The Lord's Supper
"For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." - 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (NIV)
Friday, 14 November 2008
middle knowledge and the double effect
if God created this particular world because He knew that our free choices in this particular world would bring Him the most glory (compared to other possible worlds, or no world at all), then didn't God create this particular world based on our free choices?
no, because God did not create this particular world to enable us to be saved by our free choices. God created this particular world to reflect His glory, and it just so happens that this particular world brings Him the most glory (compared to other possible worlds, or no world at all) as He enables us to be saved by our free choices.
God did not create this particular world based on our free choices. God created this particular world based on His knowledge of our free choices.
in other words, God's sovereign choice to create THIS particular world is based on His knowledge of ALL possible worlds, and God's knowledge of THIS particular world is based on His sovereign choice to create THIS particular world. God has middle knowledge in between His knowledge of ALL possible worlds and His knowledge of THIS particular world (ie. God has middle knowledge in His sovereign choice to create THIS particular world).
no, because God did not create this particular world to enable us to be saved by our free choices. God created this particular world to reflect His glory, and it just so happens that this particular world brings Him the most glory (compared to other possible worlds, or no world at all) as He enables us to be saved by our free choices.
God did not create this particular world based on our free choices. God created this particular world based on His knowledge of our free choices.
in other words, God's sovereign choice to create THIS particular world is based on His knowledge of ALL possible worlds, and God's knowledge of THIS particular world is based on His sovereign choice to create THIS particular world. God has middle knowledge in between His knowledge of ALL possible worlds and His knowledge of THIS particular world (ie. God has middle knowledge in His sovereign choice to create THIS particular world).
Thursday, 6 November 2008
weekends away
this weekend, i'll be going down to london for a prison ministry conference.
next weekend, i'll be going up to durham for a course on preaching from the gospel of Mark.
the following weekend, it's off to the lake district for houseparty 2008!
next weekend, i'll be going up to durham for a course on preaching from the gospel of Mark.
the following weekend, it's off to the lake district for houseparty 2008!
gunpowder and guns
today is the 403rd anniversary of the foiling of the gunpowder plot. today is also the 2nd anniversary of my ord.remember, remember the 5th of november!
Monday, 3 November 2008
the doctrine of the double effect
The doctrine [of the double effect] distinguishes two kinds of outcomes of actions: intended consequences of actions, and outcomes that are foreseen but not intended. Suppose that the outcome in question is evil...
For example, if the brakes on my car fail and I deliberately swerve to avoid a busy pedestrian crossing, seeing that in so doing I'll hit a passer-by, the evil outcome (the death of the passer-by) is foreseen but not intended by me. My intention is to avoid the people on the pedestrian crossing, not to kill the passer-by (if the passer-by were to leap out of the way, I wouldn't be disappointed at having my intentions frustrated).
- Stephen Holland, Bioethics: A Philosophical Introduction
the doctrine of the double effect lines up with graded absolutism, which i believe is philosophically and theologically sound. evil that is foreseen and intended (ie. evil that is formally intended) is always wrong, while evil that is foreseen but not intended (ie. evil that is materially intended) is never wrong.
God's sovereign choice
"What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath - prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory - even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?" - Romans 9:22-24 (NIV)
the objects of God's wrath are prepared for destruction, while the objects of God's mercy are prepared by God in advance for glory. the objects of God's wrath are foreseen but not intended by God, while the objects of God's mercy are foreseen and intended by God.
1. God foresees and intends good.
2. God foresees but does not intend evil.
3. God foresees and intends that evil 'works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose' (Romans 8:28, NIV).
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." - Genesis 50:20 (NIV)
For example, if the brakes on my car fail and I deliberately swerve to avoid a busy pedestrian crossing, seeing that in so doing I'll hit a passer-by, the evil outcome (the death of the passer-by) is foreseen but not intended by me. My intention is to avoid the people on the pedestrian crossing, not to kill the passer-by (if the passer-by were to leap out of the way, I wouldn't be disappointed at having my intentions frustrated).
- Stephen Holland, Bioethics: A Philosophical Introduction
the doctrine of the double effect lines up with graded absolutism, which i believe is philosophically and theologically sound. evil that is foreseen and intended (ie. evil that is formally intended) is always wrong, while evil that is foreseen but not intended (ie. evil that is materially intended) is never wrong.
God's sovereign choice
"What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath - prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory - even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?" - Romans 9:22-24 (NIV)
the objects of God's wrath are prepared for destruction, while the objects of God's mercy are prepared by God in advance for glory. the objects of God's wrath are foreseen but not intended by God, while the objects of God's mercy are foreseen and intended by God.
1. God foresees and intends good.
2. God foresees but does not intend evil.
3. God foresees and intends that evil 'works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose' (Romans 8:28, NIV).
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." - Genesis 50:20 (NIV)
Saturday, 1 November 2008
labour pains
it is interesting to ponder why - of all the possible consequences of sin - God chose to 'greatly increase [the woman's] pains in childbearing' (Genesis 3:16, NIV). could it be that this typologises the process of being born again?
sin gives birth to death
"When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." - James 1:13-15 (NIV)
the Spirit gives birth to life
"Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." - James 1:16-18 (NIV)
1. every good thing in this world is a foreshadowing of the new creation.
2. every evil thing in this world is a remnant of the old creation.
3. every evil thing in this world 'works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose' (Romans 8:28, NIV). at the same time, there will be labour pains as the old creation gives way to the new creation.
as Christ - the first man to be born of the Spirit and the first man to be raised in the Spirit - is the firstfruits of man, so man (first Jew, then Gentile) is the firstfruits of creation. of course, Christ is fully God and fully man.
as Christ was born to bear the image of God, so we are being born again to bear the image of God. as we are being born again to bear the image of God, so is the world being born again to reflect the glory of God.
given that the world is being born again to reflect the glory of God, we should ensure that we are being born again to bear the image of God.
"Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."" - John 3:5-8 (NIV)
"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." - Romans 8:22-25 (NIV)
given that we are being born again to bear the image of God, we should ensure that the world is being born again to reflect the glory of God.
"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." - 1 Peter 1:22-23 (NIV)
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." - 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (NIV)
even as the new creation will only be completed when 'there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away' (Revelation 21:4, NIV), God has ordained that we participate in the process of completing it (and even speed its completion) by loving one another (cf. 1 Peter 1:22-23) and spreading the good news (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21).
"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness." - 2 Peter 3:9-13 (NIV)
sin gives birth to death
"When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." - James 1:13-15 (NIV)
the Spirit gives birth to life
"Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." - James 1:16-18 (NIV)
1. every good thing in this world is a foreshadowing of the new creation.
2. every evil thing in this world is a remnant of the old creation.
3. every evil thing in this world 'works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose' (Romans 8:28, NIV). at the same time, there will be labour pains as the old creation gives way to the new creation.
as Christ - the first man to be born of the Spirit and the first man to be raised in the Spirit - is the firstfruits of man, so man (first Jew, then Gentile) is the firstfruits of creation. of course, Christ is fully God and fully man.
as Christ was born to bear the image of God, so we are being born again to bear the image of God. as we are being born again to bear the image of God, so is the world being born again to reflect the glory of God.
given that the world is being born again to reflect the glory of God, we should ensure that we are being born again to bear the image of God.
"Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."" - John 3:5-8 (NIV)
"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." - Romans 8:22-25 (NIV)
given that we are being born again to bear the image of God, we should ensure that the world is being born again to reflect the glory of God.
"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." - 1 Peter 1:22-23 (NIV)
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." - 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (NIV)
even as the new creation will only be completed when 'there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away' (Revelation 21:4, NIV), God has ordained that we participate in the process of completing it (and even speed its completion) by loving one another (cf. 1 Peter 1:22-23) and spreading the good news (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21).
"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness." - 2 Peter 3:9-13 (NIV)
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
on church
i have been going to kay poh road baptist church (kprbc) since i was a kid, even before i became a christian. i was baptised in kprbc in april 2006 and have been a member of kprbc since then.when i did my ucas applications towards the end of 2005, i looked at academic rankings, cost of living, support for international students etc - everything but how my choices would shape my relationship with God. in fact, i am not sure that i even was in a relationship with God back then.
in spite of this, God has really blessed me in york with neverending opportunities to grow in the grace and knowledge of Him, through the university of york christian union, york baptist church and events such as new word alive.
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." - 2 Peter 3:18 (NIV)
i have been going to york baptist church since i came to york, apart from a few weeks visiting different churches in york and the weeks when i have been out of york.i did not set out to be a regular worshipper at york baptist church when i first came to york. i went to york evangelical church on my first two sundays in york last year, and also considered going to another church when i got back to york this year (a pull, rather than a push factor - my three housemates all go to calvary chapel york). but after seeking God's guidance, i believe that york baptist church is where i belong in york.
[on a side note, i am no more a baptist because i go to baptist churches in both singapore and york, than i am a methodist because i went to acps, acs(i) and acjc for ten years. nevertheless, i agree with certain baptist distinctives such as believer's baptism.]
your relationship with your church is probably the third most important relationship in your life, after your relationship with God and your relationship with your family. after all, your church is your family in Christ.
"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." - Galatians 6:10 (NIV)
Monday, 27 October 2008
graded absolutism
Suppose you're a teller in a bank. A robber grabs a customer, holds a gun to the customer's head, and says, "Unless you give me all the money in your drawer, I'll blow his brains out." What should you do?
A. Give the robber the money, thereby playing an active part in a robbery.
B. Don't give the robber the money, thereby playing a passive part in a murder.
Answer: A
Giving the robber the money has the effect of enabling him to commit robbery, but that's not your intention. You're not trying to help him do wrong, either as a goal or as a means to some other goal. Your intention is merely to keep him from committing the even graver wrong of murder.
- Adapted from J. Budziszewski, Ballot Box Blues
Jim finds himself in the central square of a small South American town. Tied up against the wall are a row of twenty Indians, most terrified, a few defiant, in front of them several armed men in uniform. A heavy man in a sweat-stained khaki shirt turns out to be the captain in charge and, after a good deal of questioning of Jim which establishes that he got there by accident while on a botanical expedition, explains that the Indians are a random group of the inhabitants who, after recent acts of protest against the government, are just about to be killed to remind other possible protestors of the advantages of not protesting.
However, since Jim is an honoured visitor from another land, the captain is happy to offer him a guest's privilege of killing one of the Indians himself. If Jim accepts, then as a special mark of the occasion, the other Indians will be let off. Of course, if Jim refuses, then there is no special occasion, and Pedro here will do what he was about to do when Jim arrived, and kill them all.
Jim, with some desperate recollection of schoolboy fiction, wonders whether if he got hold of a gun, he could hold the captain, Pedro and the rest of the soldiers to threat, but it is quite clear from the set-up that nothing of that kind is going to work: any attempt at that sort of thing will mean that all the Indians will be killed, and himself. The men against the wall, and the other villagers, understand the situation, and are obviously begging him to accept. What should he do?
A. Accept the captain's offer, thereby playing an active part in a murder.
B. Refuse the captain's offer, thereby playing a passive part in 20 murders.
- Adapted from J.J.C. Smart and B. Williams, Utilitarianism: For and Against
if the answer to the first example is A (which seems right), then the answer to the second example must be A as well (which does not seem right).
*****
what if we apply graded absolutism?
A. Accept the captain's offer, thereby playing an active part in a murder.
B. Refuse the captain's offer, thereby playing a passive part in 20 murders.
A. Accept the captain's offer, thereby saving 19 lives.
B. Refuse the captain's offer, thereby not saving any lives.
in accepting the captain's offer, Jim is materially cooperating with the captain. however, Jim is innocent because while he is materially cooperating with the captain, he is not formally cooperating with the captain.
in other words, Jim is innocent because while he is materially committing a murder, he is not formally committing a murder (he is formally saving 19 lives).
A. Give the robber the money, thereby playing an active part in a robbery.
B. Don't give the robber the money, thereby playing a passive part in a murder.
Answer: A
Giving the robber the money has the effect of enabling him to commit robbery, but that's not your intention. You're not trying to help him do wrong, either as a goal or as a means to some other goal. Your intention is merely to keep him from committing the even graver wrong of murder.
- Adapted from J. Budziszewski, Ballot Box Blues
Jim finds himself in the central square of a small South American town. Tied up against the wall are a row of twenty Indians, most terrified, a few defiant, in front of them several armed men in uniform. A heavy man in a sweat-stained khaki shirt turns out to be the captain in charge and, after a good deal of questioning of Jim which establishes that he got there by accident while on a botanical expedition, explains that the Indians are a random group of the inhabitants who, after recent acts of protest against the government, are just about to be killed to remind other possible protestors of the advantages of not protesting.
However, since Jim is an honoured visitor from another land, the captain is happy to offer him a guest's privilege of killing one of the Indians himself. If Jim accepts, then as a special mark of the occasion, the other Indians will be let off. Of course, if Jim refuses, then there is no special occasion, and Pedro here will do what he was about to do when Jim arrived, and kill them all.
Jim, with some desperate recollection of schoolboy fiction, wonders whether if he got hold of a gun, he could hold the captain, Pedro and the rest of the soldiers to threat, but it is quite clear from the set-up that nothing of that kind is going to work: any attempt at that sort of thing will mean that all the Indians will be killed, and himself. The men against the wall, and the other villagers, understand the situation, and are obviously begging him to accept. What should he do?
A. Accept the captain's offer, thereby playing an active part in a murder.
B. Refuse the captain's offer, thereby playing a passive part in 20 murders.
- Adapted from J.J.C. Smart and B. Williams, Utilitarianism: For and Against
if the answer to the first example is A (which seems right), then the answer to the second example must be A as well (which does not seem right).
*****
what if we apply graded absolutism?
B. Refuse the captain's offer, thereby playing a passive part in 20 murders.
A. Accept the captain's offer, thereby saving 19 lives.
B. Refuse the captain's offer, thereby not saving any lives.
in accepting the captain's offer, Jim is materially cooperating with the captain. however, Jim is innocent because while he is materially cooperating with the captain, he is not formally cooperating with the captain.
in other words, Jim is innocent because while he is materially committing a murder, he is not formally committing a murder (he is formally saving 19 lives).
Thursday, 23 October 2008
classical calvinism vs moderate calvinism
classical calvinism
1. God created the world.
2. in the world, 'all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus' (Romans 3:23-24, NIV).
3. if not for God's transforming grace, all are condemned.
4. God's transforming grace is limited.
5. God's transforming grace is irresistible.
6. those whom God shows transforming grace to are transformed. consequently, they freely believe as a result of being shown God's transforming grace.
7. those whom God does not show transforming grace to are not transformed. consequently, they freely do not believe as a result of not being shown God's transforming grace.
God is sovereign in the sense that God shows transforming grace to some but not others.
man is compatibilistically free in the sense that man freely believes (or freely does not believe) as a result of being shown (or not being shown) God's transforming grace.
moderate calvinism
1. God created the best possible world (from His perspective).
2. in the best possible world, 'all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus' (Romans 3:23-24, NIV).
3. if not for God's transforming grace, all are condemned.
4. God's transforming grace is unlimited.
5. God's transforming grace is resistible.
6. those who accept God's transforming grace are transformed. consequently, they freely believe as a result of accepting God's transforming grace.
7. those who reject God's transforming grace are not transformed. consequently, they freely do not believe as a result of rejecting God's transforming grace.
God is sovereign in the sense that God created the best possible world (from His perspective).
man is compatibilistically free in the sense that God occasions (not causes) man to freely accept (or freely reject) His transforming grace.
link: more on classical calvinism vs moderate calvinism (20 nov 08)
1. God created the world.
2. in the world, 'all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus' (Romans 3:23-24, NIV).
3. if not for God's transforming grace, all are condemned.
4. God's transforming grace is limited.
5. God's transforming grace is irresistible.
6. those whom God shows transforming grace to are transformed. consequently, they freely believe as a result of being shown God's transforming grace.
7. those whom God does not show transforming grace to are not transformed. consequently, they freely do not believe as a result of not being shown God's transforming grace.
God is sovereign in the sense that God shows transforming grace to some but not others.
man is compatibilistically free in the sense that man freely believes (or freely does not believe) as a result of being shown (or not being shown) God's transforming grace.
moderate calvinism
1. God created the best possible world (from His perspective).
2. in the best possible world, 'all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus' (Romans 3:23-24, NIV).
3. if not for God's transforming grace, all are condemned.
4. God's transforming grace is unlimited.
5. God's transforming grace is resistible.
6. those who accept God's transforming grace are transformed. consequently, they freely believe as a result of accepting God's transforming grace.
7. those who reject God's transforming grace are not transformed. consequently, they freely do not believe as a result of rejecting God's transforming grace.
God is sovereign in the sense that God created the best possible world (from His perspective).
man is compatibilistically free in the sense that God occasions (not causes) man to freely accept (or freely reject) His transforming grace.
link: more on classical calvinism vs moderate calvinism (20 nov 08)
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