tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post8560030354921190826..comments2024-03-29T13:30:56.758+13:00Comments on Anglican Down Under: Of that which we cannot speak we should be silentPeter Carrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535218286799156659noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-40652945011060160362009-03-13T20:02:00.000+13:002009-03-13T20:02:00.000+13:00"In rejecting Calvin's predestinarianism I wonder ..."In rejecting Calvin's predestinarianism I wonder if Arminians would uniformly describe Calvin as a 'false teacher'?"<BR/><BR/>Well, that would be a stretch, but quien sabe? Insofar as they even know the term, Arminians have historically been Methodists (and then Pentecostalists, which grew out of the Wesleyan Holiness tradition), and the best line on them I recall is from the Robert Redford film 'A River Runs Through It', about sons of a scholarly Presbyterian minister in 1900's Montana. When elder son gets engaged to Methodist girl, father demurs: 'Methodists? They're Baptists who can read.'<BR/><BR/>(Ouch. I used to attend a Baptist church.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-49629247382921579332009-03-13T14:41:00.000+13:002009-03-13T14:41:00.000+13:00Hi AnonymousExcellent points-thank you.In rejectin...Hi Anonymous<BR/>Excellent points-thank you.<BR/>In rejecting Calvin's predestinarianism I wonder if Arminians would uniformly describe Calvin as a 'false teacher'?Peter Carrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09535218286799156659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-71319426070549036202009-03-13T00:37:00.000+13:002009-03-13T00:37:00.000+13:00"But what about Calvin? Is he ever deemed a false ..."But what about Calvin? Is he ever deemed a false teacher by evangelicals? (No doubt some commenter will provide evidence, but I do not know of it)."<BR/><BR/>I know plenty of people who would consider themselves 'evangelicals' ('Bible people') who would reject Calvin's predestinarianism if they knew of it. They're called 'Arminians'. Is 'double predestination' "dangerous pastoral nonsense"? I suggest: only if you make the untenable claim to know for certain who the elect are (and no Calvinist would say that). Double or even Single Malt Predestinarianism is a heady drink with all kinds of questions - so are all the alternatives (like 'open theism'). But Biblical theology can't stand just by itself, because there is an endless number of Bible readers. Who is nearer the truth? Theology and Philosophy should have a symbiotic relationship - not a parasitic or antagonsitic one.<BR/>I like Barth, not for recasting the question of election (where I find him doubtful), nor for his dismissal of natural theology (he's too reactive there), but for reasserting the Trinity at the heart of revelation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com