"Nearly Parallel Truths"?
Check this out. Philip Johnson gives Spurgeon's explanation of divine sovereignty and human responsibility.
He says that these twin truths are not a parodox or mystery; but rather "nearly parallel truths." It sounds like double talk to me. Call it what you want; you still do the same thing. The end result is that you have avoided the question.
The Calvinist worldview has no good reason for believing in human responsibility. The Calvinist knows that the Bible teaches human responsibility, and yet his worldview does not have the philosophical means to sustain a robust view of human responsibility.
He says that these twin truths are not a parodox or mystery; but rather "nearly parallel truths." It sounds like double talk to me. Call it what you want; you still do the same thing. The end result is that you have avoided the question.
The Calvinist worldview has no good reason for believing in human responsibility. The Calvinist knows that the Bible teaches human responsibility, and yet his worldview does not have the philosophical means to sustain a robust view of human responsibility.
posted by Daniel | 10:04 AM
5 Comments:
You are too correct!
Acts 4:27-28 "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together “to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done."
Sounds like Peter and John had a faulty worldview as well. Did they not see that making God the author of this evil crucifixtion of Jesus would negate human responsibility?
What are you implying? Do you really think that God is the author of evil?
I was just pointing out how God ordained the specific details of the crucifixtion (from the foundation of the world), and yet Pilate and the rest of those involved were held completely accountable for their actions. If you interpret that as making God the author of evil, then so be it. However, it is clear from scripture that He is not.
SDG
Nathan,
I don't think that God is the author of evil. I asked this question because I was puzzled about your response.
Yes, I believe that Jesus was crucified because God planned it to happen that way.
Yes, I believe humans were responsible for his death.
However, just because God planned the cruxification, this does not mean that God "causally determined" individuals to act in a way that violated their volition or causally necessitated their actions. If their actions were causally necessitated is difficult to hold to a robust view of moral accountability for human actions.
The exact relationship between God's plan and human volition I believe is best explained in William Lane Craig's book The Only Wise God.
God bless,
Daniel
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