Why “Foreknowledge" Doesn’t Solve the Problem

“…elect…according to the foreknowledge of God the Father…” – 1 Peter 1:1-2

     In light of the most recent #CalvinismDebate (which can be found here and here), I felt a blog regarding election was in order.  Proposition 1 of the debate was, “Calvinism necessitates unconditional predestination and unconditional election is incongruent with the God revealed in Jesus Christ”.  Each side was asked to debate in an affirmation or denial form.  Those who affirmed (who would prefer to be non-Calvinists) spent most of their time arguing how “double predestination” was at the heart of their problem with Calvinism.  The problem isn’t so much so that God chooses people and seeks them, but that He doesn’t chose  and doesn’t seek others.  Why would God do that?  Why would God , who as 1 Timothy 2:4 says, “desires all men to be saved”, allow men to go to Hell under His watch?  If God could save everyone, why doesn’t He?

What Window Blinds can Teach us about Corporate Worship

"Also for the house he made windows with artistic frames." - 1 Kings 6:4

The windows in the temple of God communicate much to us about worship.  First, we know based on how other translations rendered this verse, they are "latticed","beveled" or "recessed" (i.e. the windows of the temple have blinds!).  What does God's interior decorating teach us?  First and foremost,worship must be functional.  The blinds serve a basic purpose, light the sanctuary so the priests can work.  So whatever is done in corporate worship must be done for a purpose, so the people of God (priests)  may do the work they are meant to do (the meaning of liturgy is “public- work”). What is our work?  Our work is to worship God through proclaiming the Gospel.  All of a worship service is about the Gospel: from the songs we sing (Col. 3:16),to the ordinances  we observe (Roman 6, 1 Cor. 11:23-34), to the sermon that is preached (Luke 24:44).  Our worship must function for the end of proclaiming the Gospel.

I'm Back!!!

After the advice of a friend I am back to blogging.  Hope to do it as the Lord gives me insights into His Word and grants the opportunity to share it with others.  Not going to allow it to consume me, but to be consumed by Him!  May it richly bless others.