Well it’s certainly been a week for discussion. This evening’s topic was one fairly new to me and I found it pretty difficult to address with a clear and Biblical defense: universalism. A definition I found online explains it with the following:

While this does not change my opinion on the situation–I still believe that God has made one “for honor and another for dishonor?” (Rom. 9:21) for His own glory and purposes– nonetheless it leads to many questions that, for the sake of apology, should be answered. What does it mean in those verses that speak of God’s willingness that “none should perish” or that “all be saved”? In addition, what are we to say to those who insist that hell is merely a temporary punishment–somewhat like purgatory, I guess–and that there is the opportunity even in hell to experiences the means of grace necessary to salvation? While it seems very strange and un-Biblical to me, I suppose it is what some people think based on a misunderstanding of verses that do include the term “all.” I seem to remember an observation about the grammar of the statement including a possessive–as in all “of something” (meaning not a universal ALL), but that thought was summarily rejected as a cop out.

Any thoughts on some good apologetic points for this subject?

Alright, so here’s a string of thought that could simply drive you mad . . .

What is the capacity for “choosing” evil that seemed to exist for Lucifer and Adam/Eve? It cannot be a concept that exists apart from God, for God
is infinite and therefore all things existing were pre-existing in His “mind” (a Platonic concept).
And yet may it be ventured to guess that God Himself does have this very
capacity, except that in the perfection of His nature he will always “choose” the good and therefore
the concept of “choosing” evil is an impossibility? It seems to be so: the very
nature of God (the Holy Trinity) is perfect goodness and holiness and He is not limited
to such, but simply is (exists) perfectly in such. Where does this leave the creation (anything/person outside of God)? We know that evil does not orginate in the mind of God, for”in Him is no darkness at all.” [1 John 1:5] It seems to exist in the universe, therefore, as a force counter or opposite to
all that God is. Does this mean that in all created beings there is simply an awareness of what is NOT God–simpy because we are without excuse as to the knowledge of God? And did that “awareness” originate with Lucifer simply because he acted upon it, or was it already acted upon previously by angels without such grievous consequences?  . . .

Ah yes . . . the age old debate of predestination and/vs. free will has struck yet again, in yet another religion class where I find myself on the side of the minority. But no worries, because this time I had at least four additional defenders on the side of right and reason to believe that the professor might have secretly harbored agreement as well!

    I  never seem to tire of defending this position because I truly believe it is what the Bible preaches. That position is that man, in his total depravity of sin, has no ability to attend to or “accept” salvation; and that God, as soveriegn Lord and Creator, has elected some for salvation and some for condemnation according to His own perfect and just will and that in the fullness of His will he regenerates the hearts of His elect, drawing them unto a saving faith and belief in Him, hence salvation (undeserved, unmerited and unaccompanied by any work of man). This makes the process of salvation completely initiated AND fulfilled by God. This does NOT mean that God makes an offer and man accepts or refuses. It means that God bestows His sovereign grace on whom He will through the person and work of Christ Jesus and that He hardens whom He will, allowing them to remain in sin unto damnation for His purpose and glory.
    Many “half-predestinationist” argue that though God did indeed predestine whom He would save, He leaves it up to them to “accept” Him when the time comes. This portrays not only a weak and un-sovereign God, but a Creator who is dependent upon His creatures for the fulfillment of HIS providence. That just doesn’t seem right . . . We are ALL sinful and ALL deserve condemnation (yeah, that’s right, we ALL deserve to go to hell, so think about that the next time you say that to someone). It is completely just that we receive our “comeuppins’ ” for the sins we committed even from our very conception. And yet, God, in the sovereignty of His will, chose, for HIS glory, to have MERCY on some. Not unjust mercy, for He sent His own Son to take upon Himself the punishment that we deserve. To me this displays not the work of a controlling God, but of an omniscient, ominpresent, omnipotent, loving, gracious and perfect God! What could be more holy and just than to punish the deserving sinner? What could be more loving than to save the undeserving sinner by taking the punishment for HIMSELF?
    It is clear that I could go on forever . . . if you’re really curious, I will. 🙂 Or if you need Biblical justification, that’s given easily enough. Or you could just read the Westminster Confession of Faith–that’s more succinct than I will ever be.

Yeah, I’m dogmatic. I’d hazard a guess to say that God’s pretty dogmatic to when it comes right down to it.

And I finally have a dress for formal! Ta-da!!!

What a gorgeous day!

It’s ok to wear flip-flops on a cold day if you have a fever. Right?

Being sick is miserable and thank goodness for drugs. Wish I hadn’t put off my call team hours till tonight….three hours of sounding cheery and prodding stupid prospectives into interesting conversation. No doubt every single one of them would make a fine addition to the Hillsdale College student body. Why not just let them figure it out on their own? If I recall my own experience, every conversation with a rep from a college was just awkward and annoying. BUT who am I to say that the sound of my illness-infested voice won’t convince a wayward student to completely rethink his or her future college choice? Far be it from me to  underestimate my own powers of persuasion.

* * Beg pardon for the nasty cynicism. Comes along with the headache.