tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post7678335956966095393..comments2024-03-27T17:15:37.606-04:00Comments on Triablogue: Rick Warren: Evangelical DeistRyanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17809283662428917799noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-76938306158946807632010-04-03T16:31:47.001-04:002010-04-03T16:31:47.001-04:00Roy,
I've answered that type of question on m...Roy,<br /><br />I've answered that type of question on many occasions.stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16547070544928321788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-25784680888117206382010-04-03T13:11:29.637-04:002010-04-03T13:11:29.637-04:00"But in God's all-wise purposes it brings..."But in God's all-wise purposes it brings him most glory."<br /><br />This is off-topic, but I've never understood what it means to say that something is necessary "to bring God glory".<br /><br />Does this mean that something about His character is revealed that could not be revealed otherwise in any other way?<br /><br />Is He made to "appear" more powerful, more majestic or more <i>something</i> than He otherwise might appear to humans? If so, the benefit is certainly not for Him, since that would imply He lacks something in the first place, no?<br /><br />Is He Himself "happier" or more "satisfied"? Again, if so, there's an implication that He is somehow incomplete.Rob Zechmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05369463377497705313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-21404881575290803122010-04-03T11:11:46.896-04:002010-04-03T11:11:46.896-04:00"Scripture says Satan is the "god of thi..."<i>Scripture says Satan is the "god of this world", yes?</i>" <br /><br />Lowercase "g", yes. <br /><br />"<i>Is there no Scriptural recognition of Satan's influence and "control" over facets of earthly existence?</i>"<br /><br />This includes rebellious Man as well.<br /><br />"<i>If you're going to suggest he's just acting as God's proxy, I'm not sure what the point there is to Satan's existence, then. Why have a middleman?</i>" <br /><br />Your logic implies that one must be autonomous from God to have authentic existence. If that is the case then every human being must be autonomous from their Creator. However, this is not the case since Scripture teaches us that God uses evil agents to fulfill his good purposes: Joseph's story, Job's story, the King of Assyria, the Jewish and Roman leaders who crucified our Lord (Acts 4).<br /><br />"<i>Why have a middleman?</i>"<br /><br />This reality may not comport with Man's sensibilities. But in God's all-wise purposes it brings him most glory. And thus, we can only respond by placing our hand over our mouth.Alan E. Kurschnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08963783504805163298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-58448937311733145722010-04-03T10:50:42.276-04:002010-04-03T10:50:42.276-04:00Scripture says Satan is the "god of this worl...Scripture says Satan is the "god of this world", yes?<br /><br />Is there no Scriptural recognition of Satan's influence and "control" over facets of earthly existence?<br /><br />If you're going to suggest he's just acting as God's proxy, I'm not sure what the point there is to Satan's existence, then. Why have a middleman?Rob Zechmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05369463377497705313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-12202182594395719472010-04-01T21:03:42.804-04:002010-04-01T21:03:42.804-04:00"it is evangelical deism. That theology that ..."it is evangelical deism. That theology that so dominates evangelicalism..."<br /><br />Alan, I appreciate your take on this; in my opinion, that's dead-on. Thank you for pointing it out.Ken Silvahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01390319268507275969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-35354178953002365632010-04-01T16:09:31.600-04:002010-04-01T16:09:31.600-04:00Warren represents a whole lot of people out there....Warren represents a whole lot of people out there.<br /><br />God helps those who help themselves.<br />I'll do my best, and Jesus will do the rest.<br /><br />John 15:5-6:<br /><br />"Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned."<br /><br />The fruit is not produced by the branch. But by the vine and roots, and the Husbandman. (That's a cool word I thought for gardener.)<br /><br />Perhpas Warren is on the right way as he is studing Edwards now, and will be visiting with Dr. Piper. I pray he sees his error in the Scriptures, and embraces the truths of the Bible with a new heart and mind. Amen.donsandshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03665794015011057098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-78089898176192650512010-04-01T15:22:28.480-04:002010-04-01T15:22:28.480-04:00"Is that deism?"
No, it is evangelical ..."<i>Is that deism?</i>"<br /><br />No, it is <i>evangelical</i> deism. That theology that so dominates evangelicalism: God is not in control (or causes) the bad things in his creation. It is similar to the ancient heresy of dualism: Satan and God are duking it out---sometimes God wins, and sometimes the Devil wins.Alan E. Kurschnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08963783504805163298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-26658969072229230912010-04-01T14:56:11.964-04:002010-04-01T14:56:11.964-04:00Is that deism? Perhaps, if Warren assumes that God...Is that deism? Perhaps, if Warren assumes that God does not interfere with natural mechanisms. This seems more like a form of liberalism, where the presence of the divine is known through the actions of the faith community.<br /><br />Notice the folk theology of "we are his hands and feet?" While there may be a sense that this is true (Col 1:18?), the implication is that God's acts in the world are done primarily through believers. So is that the <i>Evangelical</i> part of <i>Evangelical Deism</i>?Randall van der Sterrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08618509337299843429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-79730956728952174232010-04-01T14:42:13.975-04:002010-04-01T14:42:13.975-04:00Would you call Arminianism deist, or do you think ...Would you call Arminianism deist, or do you think this quote tells us that Warren goes further than Arminians?Jugulumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09932658890162312549noreply@blogger.com