R*o
发帖数: 3781 | 1 A Commendable But Mistaken Zeal
Talbot and Crampton assure us that "The sovereignty of God is ... the most b
asic principle of Calvinism ... the foundation upon which all [including Chr
istianity itself] is built." 10 Boettner agrees: "The basic principle of Cal
vinism is the sovereignty of God." 11 Such fervor for God's sovereignty is c
ommendable. However, in order to make certain that everything is under His c
ontrol to the extent that it must be in order for their doctrine to be consi
stent, Calvinists have made God the effective cause of every event that occu
rs: "Whatever is done in time is according to his [God's] decree in eternity
." 12
This perspective makes it impossible for man to have any real choice concern
ing anything he thinks or does. Spurgeon referred to "a class of strong mind
ed hard-headed men who magnify sovereignty at the expense of [human] respons
ibility." 13 The Calvinist believes that for man to be able to make a genuin
e choice even in his rebellion against God would be a denial that God is sov
ereign. Thus God must be the cause of all sin beginning with Adam and Eve. B
oettner argues, "Even the fall of Adam, and through him the fall of the race
, was not by chance or accident, but was so ordained in the secret counsels
of God." 14 That unhappy conclusion is necessitated by a concept of sovereig
nty which is required neither by the Bible nor by logic.
We have noted the claim by some Calvinists that man is free to respond to Go
d. At the same time, however, the doctrine of Total Depravity requires that
he can respond only negatively and in opposition to God. Congdon points out,
"Classical Calvinists may talk about man having a `free will,' but it is a
very limited freedom! That is, a person may choose to reject Christ - all pe
ople do -but only those who have been elected may choose to accept Him. This
is no `free will'! Are the open invitations to trust Christ in the Bible ac
tually a cruel hoax? I don't think so. Are all people free to put their trus
t in the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior for their sin? Yes. That is wh
y the call to missions is so urgent." 15 | R*o
发帖数: 3781 | 2 God call all mankind to repent. This call must be sincere. God want to
save all mankind and He can.
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【在 R*o 的大作中提到】
: A Commendable But Mistaken Zeal
: Talbot and Crampton assure us that "The sovereignty of God is ... the most b
: asic principle of Calvinism ... the foundation upon which all [including Chr
: istianity itself] is built." 10 Boettner agrees: "The basic principle of Cal
: vinism is the sovereignty of God." 11 Such fervor for God's sovereignty is c
: ommendable. However, in order to make certain that everything is under His c
: ontrol to the extent that it must be in order for their doctrine to be consi
: stent, Calvinists have made God the effective cause of every event that occu
: rs: "Whatever is done in time is according to his [God's] decree in eternity
: ." 12
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