From my perspective, this video is both misinformative and misleading. You can listen to the video and then read my comments. The video should have made it clear that by Reformed theology they really mean Calvinism. (1) Calvinist always seem to use this excuse - that it is misunderstood by non-Calvinists - when its tenets are challenged. (2) Spurgeons rendition of an Arminian prayer is judgmental, implying they are arrogant and sefl-elevating. One can also surmise how a Calvinist would pray: God, I thank you that I am not like these others who were not chosen, because you elected me for salvation and damned them for no reason except your good pleasure. (3) Not only so, but that rendition of an Arminian by Spurgeon betrays his erroneous understanding of, at least, classical Arminian theology. He should have read the Works of Arminius where grace is attributed from beginning to end as needful for man to be saved and obey God, without which he can offer nothing good. (4) Unconditional election, Piper says, is their theology and that, among other things, is precisely what is wrong with Calvinism as it has no Bibliical warrant whatsoever. The issue is not that we have nothing in ourselves that moved God to save us; both Arminian and Calvinism, on the surface, at least, agree to this. The issue is the unbiblical, as well as anti-grace notion that Calvinisms theology hold re: election. (5) Piper says, Salvation is designed to cut the legs away of all human boasting, and I agree. The problem is that Calvinism soteriology not only cuts the legs away from human boasting but it also cuts the legs away from God moral character as good and loving - in a word, gracious - towards men as sinners. (6) Note where Pipers Calvinism places Christ. hes not the big picture; hes the narrow picture. In Calvinism, the foundation of salvation is not Gods love demonstrated on the Cross but Gods sovereign, mysterious, and, therefore, seeming arbitrary act of electing this particular person for salvation and the refusal to elect that particular for salvation, in essence, electing them for eternal damnation. (7) Pipers implication that non-Calvinists (particularly Arminians, most likely) strut and brag regarding their salvation is as condemnatory as Spurgeons mock prayer and, as well, betrays his misunderstanding of classical Arminian theology. (8) Piper says that the Cross is good news. Unfortunately, according to the tenets of Calvinism (if one were to be honest), the Cross is good news only for the elect; for the majority of mankind, it is damnable news; its the non-elects worst nightmare because there is no provision for the non-elect in the atonement. The Cross is not good news for mankind. (9) Re: the prayer that this video would show you clearly understand the essence the true essence of Reformed theology would have some value if the video had presented its true essence. All this video did was mislead one to think what Reformed/Calvinist theology actually teaches by skirting around the edges and not providing a true picture of the essence of their soteriological teachings. Finally, all this video showed was that one of the most misunderstood things in the modern evangelical church today is the Reformed Doctrines of Grace espoused by Arminius and classical Arminian theology.
Posted on: Thu, 05 Jun 2014 06:03:08 +0000
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