Will the Calvinists say to the One who made the Arminian, 'Why did you make him that way?' But who are you, O Calvinist, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make him like this?' Does not the Potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for Arminian purposes and some for Calvinistic use?
Shandelon! How dare you suggest any other interpretation to be possible of that treasured Calvinist’ proof-text than that which would fit their deterministic theological goals! Don't you know that verse is off bounds! What a trouble maker "you" "you" "you" are! ;)
I've always wondered why people who claim to be formal calvinist have an amnesia attack? Either Skan was a major hyper hyper hyper calvinist, is having amnesia on what he believed, or is misrepresenting.
Actually the passage is strikingly applicable. The Jews were "elect" and confident in that and Paul says God's going to cast many of these supposedly "elect" straight to hell, and who is the Jew to complain to God the Creator for doing so? So it all comes back (as it always has) to salvation coming upon ALL who believe, and these who believe are the true elect, and not the supposedly elect being saved no matter what. The problem with Calvies is that they reason too much like the Jews in Rom. 9-11.
Go back to the OP. It implies no one should question the Arminian or the validity of his theology. The OP isn't even a debate between monergism and synergism. It's a cutsie tactic that will appeal to the synergists; one of those "gotcha" moments that are intelluctually wanting. The fact is that we are to take the Word seriously and contend for the truth in the face of error. With that in mind both groups are within their right to challenge the other.
determinism
The doctrine that all events, including human action, are ultimately determined by causes external to the will.
key phrase being "events determined by causes external to the will"
Do any "Calvinists" here believe that when man exercises his will the event that he chooses based on that exercise is somehow not caused by that choice?
Seems to me when a man makes a choice the cause of the action upon which his choice is based is... his choice.
hmmm... doesn't sound like determinism
to me...
what some(one) here fails or refuses to recognize is that it is possible for x to be determined by y but caused by z.
Determine is not always a
synonym for cause, hence the apparent complete misapprehension of some relatively simple scriptural concepts regarding the sovereignty of God and the free agency of man.
If God determined that you will be a wicked reprobate of the worst nature he simply has to do NOTHING to efficiently cause it,
only allow it to happen. You will fall into it naturally by the force of your own will governed by your nature which you inherited from Adam, which he received through his choice to rebel against God.
rom 9:19 - Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault?
For who hath resisted his will?
Rom 9:19
- "Nay but O man, who art thou that repliest against God?
Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it...
9:32 ... Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law.
For they stumbled at the stumblingstone...
Interesting, It looks like the potter determined to make known his wrath preparing a lump unto dishonour... how did this happen?
Looks like it happened because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law.
Here we have God determining as the potter and man acting of his own accord to accomplish God's purpose.
The real problem comes in understanding how it is possible for man to make a choice which is against his nature.
Either man's nature does not determine his choices OR man needs his nature to be changed in order to make a different choice...
Yall crack me up.
This post was tongue in cheek but the reaction makes me think there must be something to it.
:)
It's just interesting that Calvinists love quoting this passage in Romans 9 when anyone questions why God would make someone unable to willingly respond to His appeal for reconciliation but still hold they responsible for that response, but they get their panties all in a wad when anyone applies the same logic to the question as to why God would decree before the foundation of the world which of his children would be Calvinistic and which ones wouldn't.
Doesn't seem that unreasonable of a parallel to me.
Do you all not believe that God decrees whatsoever comes to pass, or don't you?
Do you think God is sovereign over everything except our theological views, or what?
Nope.
It implies that if Calvinism's premise is true then Calvinists shouldn't question as to why God made some to be Arminians and some to be Calvinists.
If you deny contra-causal freedom and insist that God decrees whatsoever comes to pass so that it unchangeably will come to pass (as some do); then this is a valid implication.
Thanks.
I thought it was cute too. :love2:
Aww, now your just being mean.
:(
Well, God chose the weak to shame the wise, so maybe since I'm more intelluctually (sic) wanting than you, I'll be more likely to be chosen?
Oh, wait that wouldn't be unconditional...Hmmm? :laugh:
No, I'm saying that if God unchangeably decrees whatsoever comes to pass (a view held to by most Calvinists), that would undoubtably include our particular belief system.
And if the non-elect reprobate shouldn't question why God made him such (the faulty application of Rom 9 by Calvinism); then the Calvinist shouldn't question why God made me, an Arminian, such as I am either.
:)