Post by Dr James Ach on Aug 5, 2015 20:05:31 GMT 3
This is really just a different way to restate some of the things we've already written about the failure of the watchman to do his job, and the consequences that follow, a dynamic we discussed in Refuting Tony Miano's Adoption Strawman
It's quite simple: God gets angry over servants that are wicked. Matthew 25:26 (culmination of the parable of the ten talents). But what is it that these servants are supposed to be doing? They are to be setting good examples so that sinners see their works and glorify God (Matt 5:16). They are to bring more laborers to the haverest (Luke 10:2, Matt 9:35-38). They are to warn and teach every man so they may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus (Col 1:28) But why? Easy. Without laborers the harvest doesn't get gathered, and the remaining crops get wasted.
If grace were truly irresistible, as Calvinists affirm, no amount of laborers would matter, nor the efforts of the watchman (Ezekiel 3). Common sense tells us that there is a reason that God gets angry when we fail to be witnesses, because the ones we fail to reach are subject to hell fire (2 Cor 4:3-4, Matt 5:15). There is no point to God being angry if what we fail to do has no significant impact on election of those predestinated to be saved by irresistible grace. The only reason for God to be angry is if our inaction has consequences. Those consequences show that a sinner's damnation can be the result of our failure to be a faithful steward of His testimony; yet if they are the result of our inaction, then they can not be equally the result of God not electing them.
God gets angry at the church for failing to be witnesses. The result is then that people go to hell. God wouldn't react that way if your witness didn't make a difference, and it would only make a difference if the person being witnessed to had the ability to resist grace and actually be able to receive a bona fide offer of the gospel. If he did not have the ability to resist grace, then the person will be saved regardless of who witnesses to him or how ineffective the presentation is, and God would then never be angry about it.
For the Calvinist who disagrees, ask yourself this: will how I preach the gospel matter if this person isn't elected? Will my failure to preach properly have any real significance on this person's election? Will an elected person go to hell if I fail to preach repentance? Will an elected person still go to heaven if you preach with an altar call? What if a person just prayers a prayer? If he's not elected, that prayer won't save him anyway, if he is elected, what difference does it make? That prayer won't make or break his election. A Non Calvinist can answer these questions because we believe it DOES matter. The Calvinist, however, can not, and be consistent with his views of TULIP.
Therefore, the only reason for God to be angry is if grace actually CAN be resisted, and election is NOT unconditional and a servant's failure to do his job results in the loss of souls for which Christ died. And by the way-for the Calvinist objecting on the grounds of limited atonement to the last sentence-,God wouldn't be mad about the loss of souls if Christ didn't die for the ones that are lost as a result of your inaction.
It's quite simple: God gets angry over servants that are wicked. Matthew 25:26 (culmination of the parable of the ten talents). But what is it that these servants are supposed to be doing? They are to be setting good examples so that sinners see their works and glorify God (Matt 5:16). They are to bring more laborers to the haverest (Luke 10:2, Matt 9:35-38). They are to warn and teach every man so they may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus (Col 1:28) But why? Easy. Without laborers the harvest doesn't get gathered, and the remaining crops get wasted.
If grace were truly irresistible, as Calvinists affirm, no amount of laborers would matter, nor the efforts of the watchman (Ezekiel 3). Common sense tells us that there is a reason that God gets angry when we fail to be witnesses, because the ones we fail to reach are subject to hell fire (2 Cor 4:3-4, Matt 5:15). There is no point to God being angry if what we fail to do has no significant impact on election of those predestinated to be saved by irresistible grace. The only reason for God to be angry is if our inaction has consequences. Those consequences show that a sinner's damnation can be the result of our failure to be a faithful steward of His testimony; yet if they are the result of our inaction, then they can not be equally the result of God not electing them.
God gets angry at the church for failing to be witnesses. The result is then that people go to hell. God wouldn't react that way if your witness didn't make a difference, and it would only make a difference if the person being witnessed to had the ability to resist grace and actually be able to receive a bona fide offer of the gospel. If he did not have the ability to resist grace, then the person will be saved regardless of who witnesses to him or how ineffective the presentation is, and God would then never be angry about it.
For the Calvinist who disagrees, ask yourself this: will how I preach the gospel matter if this person isn't elected? Will my failure to preach properly have any real significance on this person's election? Will an elected person go to hell if I fail to preach repentance? Will an elected person still go to heaven if you preach with an altar call? What if a person just prayers a prayer? If he's not elected, that prayer won't save him anyway, if he is elected, what difference does it make? That prayer won't make or break his election. A Non Calvinist can answer these questions because we believe it DOES matter. The Calvinist, however, can not, and be consistent with his views of TULIP.
Therefore, the only reason for God to be angry is if grace actually CAN be resisted, and election is NOT unconditional and a servant's failure to do his job results in the loss of souls for which Christ died. And by the way-for the Calvinist objecting on the grounds of limited atonement to the last sentence-,God wouldn't be mad about the loss of souls if Christ didn't die for the ones that are lost as a result of your inaction.