ARCHIVE: Open Theism part 1 -
April 13th, 2005, 06:06 AM
"Open theists proclaim that God cannot know future contingent events. That is the fancy way of referring to events in the future, which result from human beings making free choices. Now that claim sounds innocent enough, but let me show you some of the consequences of that. Think back to the moment when Jesus Christ was dying on the cross. Incidentally, let me tell you what John Sanders, one open theist, says about the cross. He says that God the Father had no knowledge that His Son would end up being crucified. And at that particular moment, when God the Father looks down from heaven and sees His Son hanging on the cross, John Sanders put it in language somewhat like this, "Oops, I guess we have to switch to plan B." Because, you see, to these open theists, God is completely surprised by any large number of events that happened in the world. But this poor, impotent deity, who is described by the open theists, this finite God of open theism, had no way of knowing at the time that Jesus was dying if even one human being would accept His Son as Savior. This poor, impotent deity faced the possibility that the suffering of His Son on the cross would bring about the salvation of no one. Another open theist, who happens to be a friend of mine, Bill Hasker, teaches at a college in Indiana, says that the very fact that there is a church of God is a matter of God's dumb blind luck because God had no way of controlling whatever outcome might follow the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross. Now I believe all of these consequences are absurd."--Ron Nash
Trustees of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the flagship school of the 16 million-member Southern Baptist Convention, passed a resolution saying, "Open theism's denial of God's exhaustive definitive foreknowledge constitutes an egregious biblical and theological departure from orthodoxy and poses a serious threat to evangelical integrity."
The Evangelical Theological Society approved a resolution rejecting open theism and supporting the position that "God has complete, accurate and infallible knowledge of all events past, present and future, including all future decisions and actions of free moral agents."
I agree with Ron Nash, the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and the Evangelical Theological Society. What do you think?
Slogan/motto:
He is no fool who gives up that which he can not keep for that which he can not lose.
Reputation:
April 13th, 2005, 09:06 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChristisKing
I agree with Ron Nash, the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and the Evangelical Theological Society. What do you think?
I agree wholeheartedly as well, Open Theism is a humanistic blight on Christianity, and it is unBiblical and demeaning of God. However, understand that this site is a serious outpost OF open theism, so be prepared to be attacked, it's coming ...
Psalm 96:2 Sing to the LORD, bless His name;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
Psalm 148:13 Let them praise the name of the LORD,
For His name alone is exalted;
His glory is above earth and heaven.
Anything is better than God choosing, electing and predestinating us, right? -
April 13th, 2005, 09:31 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Berean Todd
I agree wholeheartedly as well, Open Theism is a humanistic blight on Christianity, and it is unBiblical and demeaning of God. However, understand that this site is a serious outpost OF open theism, so be prepared to be attacked, it's coming ...
I picked up on that just from the responses to my limited posts in here. That is why I posted this, what a horrible theology! I can't imagine how you could ever believe that God "doesn't know" something. What kinda god is this?
But if it helps your arminian theology work better then I guess it's tempting to run with it. I mean anything is better than God choosing, electing and predestinating us, right?
Last edited by ChristisKing; April 13th, 2005 at 09:41 AM.
I picked up on that just from the responses to my limited posts in here. That is why I posted this, what a horrible theology! I can't imagine how you could ever believe that God "doesn't know" something. What kinda god is this?
But if it helps your arminian theology work better then I guess it's tempting to run with it. I mean anything is better than God choosing, electing and predestinating us, right?
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