So, if someone were to ask me point blank, I'd probably say I leaned on the side of Arminianism. To put it at its most painfully simple as I understand it, I do think salvation is by God's grace but we have to accept it and live accordingly, and therefore it is also possible by our choices/actions to opt out. Thus, unlike some, I hold humans to be part of the whole salvation dance in some mysterious way (and that it is, at least theoretically, possible to lose one's salvation. Theoretically at least. I also think that if one has truly tasted of God's grace, one wouldn't want out, somewhere along the lines of the ungrateful servant of Matthew 18).
Anyway, why do I bring this up? Because I equally, if confusedly, hold with God's sovereignty. I firmly believe that if God wants a situation to be, it will be. I am a case in point: I never sought this life, but God wrought it anyway -- not to say I'm ungrateful! -- just that if I had had my way, this probably wouldn't have been it. Not better, just different.
So, confused, schizophrenic theologian that I am, I firmly believe that I am responsible for my actions and that God brings about his desired results (sometimes letting us, in the short term at least, thwart him though). I say this because I have a couple big things looming in the next month, starting this week. Neither of them will I post here, but suffice it to say I want to do my absolute best and so am nervous, but oddly enough am then comforting myself with God's sovereignty.
So here's where my theology hits the road and leaves the categorization behind for practicality's sake (both sides would probably claim the following statement!): I am responsible for doing my very best, but God is responsible for the outcome once I've done my best. If the answers that come back are no, then (assuming I've done my part) this is not to be. All the same, I'd appreciate prayer from this week all the way through a month from today's date. I need strength, clarity, endurance, focus, and diligence. It's going to be a long month.
And through it all I simply ask that I glorify God.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
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1 comments:
Interesting that the request for prayer implies a belief in the efficacy of prayers in achieving an otherwise (possibly) unrealizable result. Of course, Matthew 18:19 gives assurance that it is so (with the caveat that "two of you agree," an admittedly difficult state of affairs...
But rest assured that you are already in the prayers of many, and by giving us all somewhat more specific (albeit simultaneously vague) guidance, it is highly probable that there will be sufficient agreement in our supplications.
Praying that all goes well for you.
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