Who's really in charge?

DAILY BIBLE READING:

1 Chronicles 19:1–21:30 
Romans 2:25–3:8 
Psalm 11:1-7 
Proverbs 19:10-12

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:


Psalm 11:4 (CSB) "The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord - his throne is in heaven. His eyes watch; his gaze examines everyone."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

In our Bible reading this morning, we were once again made aware that there is so much about our God that we cannot understand. His ways are so much higher than our own. Because of this and more, we will be in joyful, captive amazement for all eternity and never grow tired or bored of worshiping our God.

Specifically, we were confronted with a biblical truth that is a topic of debate among Christians and has been for centuries. It is the fact that God is free to do as He pleases while at the same time allowing mankind to do as we please. And yet, He is able to work out His perfect will without going to “Plan B.”

How He accomplishes this is something I could only make feeble attempts to explain. I feel like a kindergarten student trying to explain a college calculus equation. I can do my best to understand it but I am left in amazement at the complexity of it and my God. But, my lack of understanding in no way delegitimizes the truth.

In our Bible reading today, we read of a story that shows the complexity of this issue... 

King David numbered the people of Israel and got in trouble by God for doing so. Apparently, he was relying upon his military might instead of relying upon the Lord.

We may raise the question: “Who was responsible for David’s action of numbering the people?” The Bible states that there were three who were responsible: 

David (1 Chronicles 21:17)
Satan (1 Chronicles 21:1) 
God (2 Samuel 24:1)

Did God determine that David would number the people? Yes. 

Did David make his decision to number the people of his own free will without any divine coercion? Yes. 

Did Satan accomplish his own desires by getting David to number the people? Yes. 

All of these are true.

So, does the Bible teach that God exercises divine control over His creation and makes sovereign choices that have eternal ramifications? Are words like "predestination", "election," and other such words in Scripture? Absolutely!

Yet, is mankind free to exercise their free will and make choices that have eternal ramifications? Does the Bible really teach that "whosoever will may come."? Absolutely!

The Bible teaches both. So, believe them both.

A church father once said: "Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you." (Saint Augustine).

There may be some great truth in that statement!

God's free will vs. mankind's free will

In my “Through the Bible in a Year” reading this morning, I was again made aware that there is so much about my God that I cannot understand. His ways are so much higher than my own. Because of this and more, I will be in joyful, captive amazement for all eternity and never grow tired or bored of worshipping my God.

Specifically, I was confronted with a biblical truth that is a topic of debate among Christians and has been for centuries. It is the fact that God is free to do as He pleases while at the same time allowing mankind to do as we please. And yet, He is able to work out His perfect will without in any way going to “Plan B.”

How He accomplishes this is something I could only make feeble attempts to explain. I feel like a kindergarten student trying to explain a college calculus equation. I can do my best to understand it but I am left in amazement at the complexity of it and my God. But, my lack of understanding in no way delegitimizes the truth.

For instance, I read this morning that God was the one who hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that he would not let Moses and the Israelites leave Egypt. Yet, I also read that Pharaoh hardened his own heart.

Here are the verses:
- Pharaoh was responsible for hardening his own heart: Exodus 8:15; 8:32; 9:34-35

- God was responsible for hardening Pharaoh’s heart: Exodus 4:21; 7:3; 9:12; 10:1; 10:20; 10:27; 11:10; 14:4, 8

- These verses simply state that Pharaoh’s heart was hardened without letting us know who was responsible: Exodus 7:13-14, 22; 8:19; 9:7

So, who hardened Pharaoh’s heart? Did God? Yes. But, does that mean that Pharaoh was divinely coerced into hardening his heart so that he had no choice in the matter. Absolutely not! Pharaoh hardened his own heart because he was free to do so and it was the option he chose for himself.

In the Old Testament, there is another story that shows the complexity of this same issue: God’s divine control over His creation and mankind’s free will to do as he chooses…

King David numbered the people of Israel and got in trouble for doing so. Apparently, he was relying upon his military might instead of relying upon the Lord.

We may raise the question: “Who was responsible for David’s action of numbering the people?” The Bible states that there were three responsible: David (1 Chronicles 21:17), Satan (1 Chronicles 21:1) and God (2 Samuel 24:1).

Did God determine that David would number the people? Yes. Did David make his decision to number the people of his own free will without any divine coercion? Yes. Did Satan play a major role in getting David to number the people? Yes. All of these are true.

So, does the Bible teach that God exercises divine control over His creation and makes sovereign choices that have eternal ramifications? Are words like "predestination", "election," and other such words in Scripture? Absolutely!

Yet, is mankind free to exercise their free will and make choices that have eternal ramifications? Does the Bible really say, "Whosoever will may come."? Absolutely!

The Bible teaches both. Believe them both.

A church father once said: "Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you." (Saint Augustine).

There may be some great truth in that statement!

Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.

Saint Augustine

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/s/saintaugus165165.html#qZuY67i2y4rFWvPQ.99

Calvinism, Civility and Conversions

Frank Page
SBC Executive Committee President

With all of the division in the Southern Baptist Convention over the issue of Calvinism, I was overwhelmed with joy this morning as I read an interesting article in the Florida Baptist Witness. It was titled: "Calvinism advisory team listens, learns at first meeting." 

The article recounted a recent meeting that was wisely called by the SBC Executive Committee President Frank Page. Around the table were various influential SBC leaders of the Calvinist and non-Calvinist persuasion.

The article quoted Page as saying of the August 29-30 meeting: "The goal for the meeting was not to argue theology or to try to change each other’s minds. ... I was greatly heartened by the civil tone that marked the meeting." With the division that has been taking place in the SBC over this issue, Page's actions to call this meeting were courageous and wise. I'm certain that he was relieved that it was characterized by civility.

The article went on to say that Page's purpose for this group was to create "a strategy whereby people of various theological persuasions can purposely work together in missions and evangelism." Again, wise leadership! The primary goal of the Southern Baptist Convention is to create a partnership among churches for the purpose of obeying all aspects of the Great Commission. With our varied theological paradigms, discussion needs to take place to see how we can work together to accomplish that primary objective.

I was so glad to read that discussions have started and that they were characterized by civility as we as Southern Baptists seek, with renewed vigor, to carry out the Great Commission. There is so much more kingdom work to accomplish and no time to "draw the line in the sand" among the Lord's servants. Most certainly, there is room for discussion and understanding as we strive for a biblical mindset on all matters of theology. However, in no way should  we allow Satan to divide us or hinder us from carrying out the Great Commission in partnership with each other. 

George Whitefield

I have read much about the greatest movement of God on American soil, an event called the First Great Awakening. As thousands upon thousands were saved, it literally changed the cultural landscape of our country. Whose preaching brought about this present day Pentecost? Calvinists? Non-Calvinists? The answer is ... both. It was led by Calvinists (George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, etc.) as well as non-Calvinists (John & Charles Wesley, etc.) alike. It was as they partnered together that more people came to faith in Christ in the period of a few years than we have experienced in that same time frame since then. Oh, that we could learn from Christian history!

To be sure, Whitefield was not indifferent to John Wesley's opposing views. He wrote a lengthy letter to point out what he believed was error in Wesley's theology. Yet, while that letter was confrontational, it was also characterized by compassion.

John Wesley

But, it is important to note that with this unreconciled difference, they were still used by God to win the lost. To show the mutual respect these two "sides" had for each other - at the end of his life, George Whitefield (Calvinist) asked John Wesley (non-Calvinist)  to preach his funeral. Wesley graciously did so. Talk about civility!

I am convinced that the best days are yet ahead of the SBC if we can get past the "line in the sand" mentality that we hold with so many of our brothers and sisters-in-Christ. If only we can find the common ground in the non-negotiables of the Gospel to proclaim a crucified and resurrected Christ to a lost and dying world. 

There will be time enough to speak to each other about where our beliefs differ ... and we must have those conversations. But if we can agree that Jesus Christ died, was buried and rose again to forgive any who will believe and surrender themselves to His lordship over their lives, then we must work together to share that message. There is little time to tell the lost about the Gospel. We must be about the Father's business.