Brennon's Thoughts: See, I Can Change My Mind; or Accepting Molinism

My brother-in-Christ, Brennon, recently posted an article on his blog about why he is now accepting Molinism. I still have a great deal of problems with this attempt at reconciling Human Free Will with God's Sovereign Will and decrees. Brennon wrote:

So, with this in mind, it is easy to see how God could very easily providentially guide creation to His ends and still deal with free creatures. Take, for instance, the crucifixion. Peter says in Acts that Jesus was "delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death" (Acts 2:23). Well we know that God Himself didn't cause the pharisees to be godless. Rather, God knew what kind of godless men the pharisees would be, and He knew that if they were put in the position they were in, they would act to murder Jesus. Thereby, God was able to decree that Christ would be crucified to accomplish His justice, and was able to use the freely chosen sinful actions of evil men to accomplish this.

My problem with example is the full credit is given to God for Jesus' sacrifice - including the suffering not just the glorious ending.

Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. - Isaiah 53:10

Another important verse is regarding Judas. Jesus knew Judas was a goner when Jesus selected him.

¹²While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. - John 17:12

Given these facts and others. I am unable to understand how we can infer that God decrees outcomes without also having a hand in ordaining means. Let me be clear, I'm not saying that God forces or tempts anyone to do evil. God does allow people to do evil things and uses the outcome to get good out of it. Jesus' crucifixion is indeed of an example that God does take the evil that men desire to do and turns it to ultimate good. However there are times when God does stop people from sinning. This is where Middle Knowledge (Molinism) falls apart. God tells us that at times what man means for evil, God means for good.

¹⁵ When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?" ¹⁶ So they sent word to Joseph, saying, "Your father left these instructions before he died: ¹⁷ 'This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.' Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father." When their message came to him, Joseph wept.
 ¹⁸ His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. "We are your slaves," they said.
 ¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? ²⁰ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. ²¹ So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. - Genesis 50:15-21

Joseph recognized that his brothers were not looking out for his best interest but intended for Joseph to suffer but God intended Joseph's suffering to ultimately save lives and to fulfill the promises made to His great-grandfather Abraham. Does this get Joseph's brothers off the hook for their sin. No. But Jesus does.

These are a few reasons why I think Molinism fails to explain Human will and God's sovereignty. I realize that Dr. William Lane Craig believes that Molinisim is a great tool understand the Bible and Philosophy but I don't think he is right in this although I admire the man for many other reasons. I've been writing several posts on this subject based on the work of William Lane Craig, James White,  and TurretinFan. The posts are regarding  Middle Knowlege (Molinism), Free Will, and God's Sovereignty.  Feel free to check out the past articles. And check out the additional link from James White: Craig vs. Hitchens at Biola Reviewed on the Dividing Line (Update!) This is a link to one of Dr. White's webcasts in which he discusses William Lane Craig's debate against Christopher Hitchen and Dr. Craig describes Calvinism as a "false Christian denomination." And I'm including it here because it points to why Dr. Craig may feel Molinism is a better explanation.

Brennon's Thoughts: See, I Can Change My Mind; or Accepting Molinism

Christopher Hitchens has cancer, the faithful begin to respond - "gotcha"

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I recently found out that Jeff Musall of the Portland Atheist Examiner linked to my article about Dr. James White's  response to the announcement of Christopher Hitchens' illness. You can read my article and get a link to White's response here. The reason I bring this up again is because I have to take issue with what much of what Musall said.  Musall wrote:

What the myriad comments like these are saying with we will "pray for you" is a slap in the face to the nonbeliever more pointed than any simple insult. It would be better if they took the sly smile off their faces and just went ahead and laughed at him. 

Like the "hate the sin, not the sinner" chant fundamentalists use against homosexuality, the cloak of love doesn't quite cover the body of hate. 

Of course, atheists aren't innocent. Many smiled with glee at the passings of Oral Roberts, Jerry Falwell, and D. James Kennedy. And some will party when James Dobson slides into his imagined eternity. 

But we are in the open with it, we don't hide behind false feelings. We didn't like them, and were glad to see them go. I wish the religious could be so honest about atheists.
Here's hoping Christopher Hitchens comes through this just fine, and emerges on the other side not in any way thankful to those who offered their prayers.

It's sad that Musall would think that Christians are hiding their true feelings.Why would I be happy for Christopher Hitchens to die painfully and end up in hell? Can he really think that Christians are that mean and petty? I guess so. By definition if we believe the Bible about God's attitude about such things we can't take that attitude.

Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? - Ezekiel 33:11

⁹The 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. 2 Peter 3:9

It's not Christians who pray for the physical and spiritual recovery of Christopher Hitchens who are being hateful. Hate fills those who are described by:

Many smiled with glee at the passings of Oral Roberts, Jerry Falwell, and D. James Kennedy. And some will party when James Dobson slides into his imagined eternity. 

A video of Hitchen was also posted with Musall's post. Let's look ast it juxtaposed with the attitude Christians like Dr. White have.








"Gotcha!" isn't the appropriate response. Prayer is. No one is better or worse.  We are all sinnersand withoout Jesus Christ we have nothing.

Christopher Hitchens has cancer, the faithful begin to respond - "gotcha"

Brennon's Thoughts: Verses All Arminians Should Know Part 3

Brennon has posted a great list of scriptures that support Arminianism. I'm not certain that they support the Arminian position. Rather than try to responding to them all at once, I will break them down into several posts based on how the list is presented.This topic interests me because I really wanna know what the Bible says. Here is part 3 regarding the idea that Bible teaches that God's grace is resistible. 


Verses that show grace is resistible:

• Jeremiah 7:24

²⁴ But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.

Many Christians talk about "common" grace. This describes the grace that every human being receives from God.  For example, Gravity so that we don't go flying off the earth. However I think this portion of the post is regarding the grace that leads to salvation. The grace of understanding and recognizing your own sin and need for salvation and the desire to please God in gratitude for forgiveness.  From this point of view..everyone begins at the point of resisting this idea. We are aren't even capable of grasping it without God's grace.  IT's not like everyone starts at a neutral position and then after making a decision to follow or not follow Christ after hearing the gospel they either accept or resist the Gospel.  Resisting is the default.  Therefore I think that this verse is not describing resisting grace but describing the position of every sinner.

• Luke 7:30 

²⁹(All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus' words, acknowledged that God's way was right, because they had been baptized by John. ³⁰But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)   - Luke 7:29-30

Does it say that Pharisees and law experts rejected God's grace? No. They rejected God's purpose for them.  Again I must ask what else would you expect unregenerate sinners to do?

• Acts 7:51 - Blatant resistance of the Holy Spirit. It is proper to infer that if they didn't resist, they would have been led to repentance.

 ⁵¹"You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!

Is rejecting the Holy Spirit the same as rejecting grace? No, I don't think so. And I don't think the inference is is that they could have chosen on their own not resist. Again John 6:44 tells us that without the Father drawing us to Christ we are unable to go to him.

• Romans 10:16 - Not all who hear will believe.

 ¹⁶But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?"

Just because some who hear will and do reject the Gospel that does not mean that they are rejecting grace. Given that no one can can accept the Gospel without grace it stands to reason that if they reject the Gospel they didn't have the necessary grace in the first place.

• 2 Corinthians 6:1 - One can receive God's grace, yet not appropriate it in their lives.

¹As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. ²For he says,
   "In the time of my favor I heard you,
      and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. - 2 Corinthians 6:1-2

What does Paul mean? He is addressing fellow workers and warning that you can be used to reconcile others to God (chapter 5) but don't miss out yourself. I do not see how this is saying that grace can be rejected or resisted because for such a one, salvific grace isn't applicable.

I think that this brings up a very important point. What is grace? Grace is God's unmerited favor. It is God gifting you with thing(s) you do not deserve. It is unearned. It's something God does because God wants to do it. It can't be duplicated or demanded or traded. If you don't earn something how can it be rejected?  For that matter how do you reject something that has no place in you. It never belonged to you. Grace is a gift. Grace is a God-given gift that can't be recognized apart from the Holy Spirit. A sinner can't reject something he/she doesn't recognize that exist. He/She must reject it.  And without the Holy Spirit we can't see it or even begin comprehend anything about it.  The Old Testament gives a brilliant illustration of just how much a radical change it is for a human being to be in a position to receive grace.

And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: - Ezekiel 11:19

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. - Ezekiel 36:26

Brennon's Thoughts: Verses All Arminians Should Know

He Lives: Comparative Views of the End Times (Lesson 2-2)

Dr David Heddle has posted a great article discussing the 4 predominate views of eschatology held by many Christians today. It's in-house, intramural debate. It's a very interesting summary!

He Lives: Comparative Views of the End Times (Lesson 2-2)

The Myth of Warfare Between “Science,” “Religion” and “Miracles” | True Freethinker

Mariano has posted a couple of great videos of Dr John Lennox about the relationship between Science and Religion.









The Myth of Warfare Between “Science,” “Religion” and “Miracles” | True Freethinker