Shifting the Blame

[Van]

Selling the Pig in the Poke Theology

I have been among those who have struggled between what is portrayed as two, distinct worlds of theology - Calvinism/Reformed Theology (Monergism) and Armenianism (Free-will/synergism). I have gladly shared in many debates, prayed, studied, prayed, studied, read, prayed, studied... discussed with my seminary professors, discussed among friends, and all with lots and lots of prayer.

To assume either view does not conflict with Biblical revelation is nonsense. God can have monergistic mercy on those whose faith He credits as righteousness.

While I consider myself to be leaning far more towards "Reformed"/Calvinistic thought, and I bristle when people make broad (and mostly inaccurate) statements and generalities about Calvinist theology (some of which were again repeated in the OP), I still have struggled. That is, until just a few months ago.

Somehow those mostly inaccurate generalities in the OP are not identified. Which speaks of a willingness to disparage with charges devoid of evidence.

I again began comparing scripture verses that seem, both on the surface, and in the deeper context, to reflect one view or the other. There is no doubt, if one is honest, that there are passages, when taken totally IN context, that demonstrate a totally Sovereign God who "elects" those who will be redeemed - and indeed - even "predestinates" them - not just because of His perfect foreknowledge of who will and who will not.

Here we see the general statement that can be taken in number of ways. God is totally sovereign. But Calvinism uses the word sovereign as meaning God exercises exhaustive determinism. However, non-Calvinists say God is totally sovereign in that He causes or allows whatsoever comes to pass. Neither position was taken, thus simply more shuck and jive.

God does choose individuals for salvation through faith in the truth, 2 Thessalonians 2:13. And those chosen individually are predestines to adoption, referring to our bodily redemption at Christ's second coming, Romans 8:23.

Yet there are passages every bit as clear and direct, and taken IN context, that paint a vivid picture of mankind being responsible for his "choice".

This is Calvinist code for fallen men 100% of the time choosing death, as if choice means non-choice, as in choosing the only path to death is a choice. Fiddlesticks.

But - then, while again praying and really allowing myself to just drop my views and allow the Word of God speak to me - and I was drawn to several passages that we often think of as portraying the Trinity... i then walked my way back to the incarnation of Christ - and yet another area of confusion - how Christ could be fully God and fully man at the same time (hypostatic union). Both of these nearly inarguable theological areas that seem to be impossibly conflicting, yet we accept as absolute truth... and it just became so evident:

Since the Trinity is a paradox, and the incarnation of Christ is a paradox, why that means we should accept the paradox that God predestines our every sinful choice, yet is not the author of sin. Twaddle.

And that is where I now find myself. When the "Calvinism" debate comes up, I simply share my "happy place" as I call it - I simply accept that, in God's economy, perfect wisdom, omnipotence, and utter Sovereignty - has "elected" those who will be saved, and yet at the same time, allows us to experience the concept of "choosing" to accept His grace through that amazing and wonderful concept of "Faith". I have lost no more sleep. I have not gotten hostile or frustrated, and I have truly found comfort in knowing that salvation is totally and completely of God (scriptural fact), yet he allows us to play the part out in exercising the faith that He gives us - bringing about a very similar situation as the Trinity and Hypostatic Union - seemingly contrary yet scripturally clear concepts that are, instead - perfectly in union.

This is party-line Calvinism, not some independently arrived at unifying view.

Maybe one can explain it as "our view vs. God's view" (perspective). But that may be a gross oversimplification.

Note that Calvinism has and understands the God's view side, and the lowly non-Cal's advocate man's view. LOL

I have shared this "cathartic" experience with friends - many of which are far more educated, and have many more years of experience in ministry and in spiritual maturity who have paused, and said "that has to be the best way I have ever heard to describe it."

I have heard this effort at selling the pig in the poke time after time, it is always an absurdity.

And this in no way affects one's evangelistic endeavors, it doesn't require making God out to create people with the specific purpose of populating Hell, and it doesn't take away from the most clear passage of all: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9.

To be saved by grace through faith means our faith existed before we were saved by grace. It is like entering a room with its floor covered in grace through a door. You go through the door to enter the room. Thus our faith provides our access to the grace in which we stand, Romans 5:2.

Bottom line, there is no need to buy a pig in a poke, when a perfectly revealed Christ says whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.