What is the Basis of Your Election?

there is a middle voice option;

Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

HankD

 

i believe many/most "Arminian" types would have no problem with the Isaiah passage.

HankD

 

OK but its still my contribution.

There is a middle voice option which is acceptable.

HankD

 

I believe it does.

you said:
'I ask you, which view leaves room for boasting in self? Which view encourages boasting in self? In which view is boasting in self the inescapable outcome?"

IMO, An Arminian type of a meeting of the minds, specifically at the request of God eliminates the "boasting in self" especially after "reasoning" with God at His tutelage.

HankD

 

Of course it does

 

The op assumes this so called "arminian" position without any evidence that it is in fact the " classical arminian position" therefore the op is weak at best and fallacious at worst.

 

Who are these Arminians on this board anyway.

 

And here is where criticism of this so-called Arminian position fails.

Let's break it down.

"God looks down the corridors of time". OK, and where is God when he is looking down the corridors of time? What is God's reference point? He's looking from eternity past, is He not? I think that is how most people envision this scenario.

"Saw who would choose him". For the sake of argument let's just accept this.

"then He elected them" Ah, here is the rub. "Then". When is God making this election? Well, for the Calvinist argument against this analogy to work God is making this election at the point in time that the Arminian is choosing to believe. BUT, God is not observing it "then", He is observing it from eternity past. So God is actually electing this Arminian from eternity past, because that is where/when He is at when he makes the observation.

And we have yet another strawman argument from thatbrian. Really, you should get help for this affliction.

With all that said the "God looks down through the corridors of time" is a bad analogy and one that I don't hold to. Most of these election arguments leave out the frame of reference of time when discussing election.

 

The very definition of a strawman argument. Present a case that no one adheres to and then attack it.

 

My contention is that there is not a "true" Arminian" position, neither a Calvinistic "true" position in that it is an either or situation.

This is what I am challenging, that your basic "either or" view may beflawed on more than one front such as the middle voice option.

or:

Ephesians 1
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

We were not there when God drew up the criteria for the selection of the elect. He certainly does not seem to be a God who does things willy-nilly.
Why the did He choose the elect? what did He see in them? what was his criteria/

All we are told is that it was for His own purpose and the selection was made after the counsel of His own will.

So we cannot know for sure

We also have a dilemma;
A logical train of human thought according to calvinism is that arminianism destroys the sovereignty of God (or so we are told) because man's choice overrides God's sovereignty.

a logical train of human thought according to arminianism is that in calvinism God becomes the author of evil (or so we are told) since He must either declare or decree everything including evil.

So in my view it is equally as likely that the selection criteria was His foreknowledge (as defined by Arminius) or a willy-nilly (or some other better defined criteria, possibly unknown to us) position.

Personally I have decided to wait until I can question Him face-to-face.

To be forthright I lean to a grace (not according to Arminian foreknowledge) position but not to one of which I could dogmatically commit.

HankD

 

Election based totally upon the divine Will of God!

 

Great way to have nobody talk to you Brian! Set up a straw man target then knock it down then insult people who are attempting to reason with you