Martin Luther on Predestination
From On the Bondage of the Will:
This is the acme of faith, to believe that He is merciful who saves so few and who condemns so many; that He is just who at His own pleasure has made us necessarily doomed to damnation; so that, as Erasmus says, He seems to delight in the tortures of the wretched, and to be more deserving of hatred than of love. If by any effort of reason I could conceive how God could be merciful and just who shows so much anger and iniquity, there would be no need for faith.
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3 comments:
I already commented on your newest post so I have no time. But I must state atleast my own views on this matter.
I do not believe in Calvinistic predestination. God does not delight in the death of the wicked. He desires all to repent. And he so loved the world He did something to save it.
The Bible never states that God predestines individuals to choose to believe, but it does say that He knows those who will and that He either predestines the "plan" or the results of their faith, not their faith.
I'm sure there will be more discussion later. CYA then.
Pablo,
I’ve got less to comment on here. I was raised a Calvinist, so I find quotes like this one illuminating. All Christians must at least recognize this as part of their religious heritage. Of course, being an agnostic, my struggle does not center around Calvinist vs. Arminianist soteriology. I would point you to the verses on this page to consider, though:
http://www.albatrus.org/english/theology/predestination/verses_concerning_predestination.htm
First off, wonderful blog.
Secondly, I would differ considerably with the denial of a the bibical teaching on predestination. While I respect Arminian teaching (as much as Calvinist, at least, as I'm not a Christian), I do believe that the Bible is pretty clear that God chooses whom will be saved before their birth.
Even if you believe he simply foreknew who would be saved, you have to wonder why God would create any of us if he knew the majority would deny him and burn in hell.
If I even thought there might be a possiblity that one of my children might end up in hell, I wouldn't procreate at all, which begs the question as to why Christians procreate, as that's a very real possibility according to their worldview.
The fact is, you can only escape God's willing our eternal destruction by two ways: Adopting an open theistic or worldview, where God is only aware of the possibilities, or second, adopt the God is mystery escape.
Frankly, I agree with Martin Luther, though I don't feel any harmony with worshipping the egocentric monster he called God.
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