http://evangelicalarminians.org/regret-doesnt-make-sense-if-determinism-is-true/
I appreciate SEA reminding me why it makes no sense for me to regret being a Calvinist. If I'm ever tempted to regret my Calvinism, I'll just remind myself that that's nonsensical.
A fine example of perfectly circular reasoning!
ReplyDeleteThat's like saying, "Ahab's obsession with hunting whales makes no sense if he's a character being written by an author."
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ReplyDeleteWhy, O LORD, do You cause us to stray from Your ways And harden our heart from fearing You? Return for the sake of Your servants, the tribes of Your heritage.- Isa. 63:17 NASB
ReplyDeleteLORD, You will establish peace for us, Since You have also performed for us all our works.-Isa. 26:12 NASB
If the Arminian axiom that blameworthiness and praiseworthiness makes no sense under theistic determinism, how could such verses in Scripture exist? One way out for Arminians is to deny inerrancy. Unfortunately, some have chosen that in order to preserve their notion that humans have libertarian free wills.
Also, that meme seems to contradict their point. The Jedi mind trick Obi Wan Kenobi used on the stormtrooper overruled (to some degree) the stormtrooper's mind and will. So, he shouldn't have felt regret given the point of the blogpost.
Notice too that the verses I quoted regard covenant members of God's people (some of whom were truly regenerate as the person who prayed the prayer was [presumably Isaiah himself]). Evidently, God is sovereign over even the sins and good works of believers. And then there are also multiple passages that talk about God's hardening the hearts of non-Christians (some of whom were reprobate like Pharoah and Judas).
DeleteTo me the existence of organizations like the SEA only makes sense if determinism is true. Nothing short of divine determinism is sufficient, for surely no group could remain so obdurately resistant to the truth as an act of libertarian free will.
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