june2007blogentries

June 2007 Blog Entries

Derimill.com

Home

Past Blog Entries

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

June 18, 2007 - The Process of Staying Put

First of all, I apologize for the long absense from the WorldWideWaste of Time. For some reason, when I tried to update the site from home, nothing would display on the page. All should be better now though, as I've removed the trolls from the computer in a less than socially acceptable way.

Anyway, if you haven't heard, Jess and I aren't going anywhere. As much as we would like a change, like a Colorado change, that's not happening. This isn't necessarily a bad thing though. It's actually really good. Apparently I was the perfect fit for the church, apart from one little doctrinal issue. That little doctrinal issue would be the free will of man. I believe that man has the ability to choose God or not choose Him. I have a problem with election. Maybe it's something I need to wrestle with more, but I can't comprehend God electing people to go to hell. Yes, I understand that election is God choosing who comes to be saved, but doesn't that also equally mean that he chooses who will go to hell?

Man is depraved, but I think God has given us the free will to choose Him. It would be really sad if some people didn't have the chance, because they were damned to hell before they were born. What's the purpose of evangelism then? There's no use right? It just wouldn't make sense for Christ to tell us to go out into the world and be His disciples. Does this not make sense for anyone else? If anyone has a persuasive argument, I'm willing to listen.

Isn't it ironic how John Calvin just happened to be a Calvinist?

~_<>~_<>~_<>~_<>Comments~_<>~_<>~_<>~_<>

[Comment by: Margaret]

[Comment: "I'm sorry things didn't work out with the Colorado church, Deric. (Although Brad and I are selfishly glad you guys aren't moving :-) I remember my college professors trying very hard to explain the free will/ election dilemma. My college (Master's) had a VERY precise doctrinal statement and most of the theology majors spent all their time wrestling with the fine points of it. Basically the way I remember the professors explaining it (since the doctrinal statement did accept election) is that God chooses who He saves but He doesn't choose who to condemn. Yeah, it didn't make much sense to me either. They based the idea off man's total depravity- if man is completely depraved, then we lack the ability to turn to God in the first place. God has to spark something in a person in order for that person to turn from sin and consider God. But the professors were insistent that this doesn't mean that God chooses who to condemn. Some of them got into God's 'foreknowing' who would respond to Him and who wouldn't, and Him choosing only to work in those who would respond favorably. Anyway, all this to say, I'm with you. Any way that's stated, it pretty much by default means that God is choosing who NOT to save. Thanks for bringing up an important point!"]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

P.S. Here's a commercial I made for our Saver's Bowling Night starring my little sister. Tell me what you think.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

> 2007 June