Some advice on debating theology
1 Peter 1:2a (NKJV)
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father
Paige Patterson, while preaching on this verse at Southeastern Seminary, said:
While it may be a healthy exercise to wrestle with the doctrines of election, sovereignty and free will, theological debate must not distract Christians from fulfilling the Great Commission.
If you're a more ardent advocate of Calvinism than you are of Jesus as an answer to men's souls—and the way you tell that is by what you talk about most—then you are out of step with the clear teachings of the Word of God.
Two thousand years we've been talking about this, it's the only reason you build cafeterias and coffeehouses on seminary campuses, and nobody has come up with an explanation that will satisfy anybody else. Under such conditions, is it not better to say, “God, in your greatness, you have done and thought and acted in ways too transcendent for me to embrace.”
Good advice. I need to talk less about why people get saved and start doing more of the how.
Romans 10:13-14 (NKJV)
For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
Comments
Personally, I think if your simply talking about Jesus in public your ahead of 99.9% of the populaton. Sure it's easy to have spiritual discussions when with Christian frineds; however, it's a bit more challenging when your not in your comfort zone.
MikeYou are absolutely right. At one church where I was candidating for Pastor one individual questioned me endlessly on this issue. I guess "correctness" on "election" was more important than Pastoral vision, style, etc. To widen this the same happens over almost any area of theology. Such incredible debates, books, and division over baptism that too often no one is baptized. Such heated dicussion over the timing of the Rapture/Retuurn of Christ that we are not living in preparation for it.(Matthew 24:12-44 for example). Mike, yes, again we would have to move out of our comfort zones and into obedience.
DanielAmen ! We need to focus on souls and not the little theological differences. Jesus called us to spread the Gospel. That should be the focus of everyone who calls themself a Christian.To often we are caught up in the social aspect of the church rather than telling everyona about Jesus. Check out my blog http://noreligionjustjesus.blogspot.com/
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