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| Maple Ridge 2012 |
Preface
I met the late Dr. Pinnock in 2000-2001 in
Manchester, England at Ivy Cottage Church. He was very kind and supportive as I
had moved on from my appointment at Manchester University, after a worldview conflict,
to the University of Wales.
He was a proponent of openness, as he called it. Open theism.
Edited work with commentary from
2010 Theodicy and Practical Theology: PhD thesis, the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, Lampeter
On God’s Sovereignty
Clark Pinnock (1986) explains that God
could have made a world in which he determined every last detail,[1]
but God did not, and instead there exists a world where significantly free
moral agents exist.[2] The created universe therefore does not
always follow God’s intentions.[3]
Continued
Pinnock explains that there is a tension in the Biblical text between God determining things and human freedom.[4] Contrary to strongly Calvinistic or sovereignty orientated approaches,[5] there is within the Bible the idea that God has the power to create any possible universe, including ones with significantly free creatures.[6] Such a universe would ultimately be under the sovereign control of God, but this does not mean that everything occurring is according to God’s intentions.[7] Pinnock states that God did not create a world where he determines every detail,[8] and therefore the Biblical idea of God’s sovereignty is not as deterministic as the Calvinistic concept. Pinnock’s idea is similar to Plantinga’s free will philosophy,[9] the conclusion being that if God creates a world with significantly free creatures, the creatures will eventually commit wrong actions.[10]
The Problem Of Evil
Clark Pinnock would counter that God is not
the primary cause of evil[11]
as he limits himself within creation in order not to prohibit human freedom,[12]
and this would lead to the human problem of evil.[13] This idea, however, would not be suitable for
many Calvinists and those who are Reformed, as Jonathan Edwards writes that God
controls all things.[14]
On Hell
Clark Pinnock (1992) describes a
conditional immortality view within the Four
Views on Hell text by William V. Crockett.[15] Pinnock explains that reconciliation and
redemption would be questionable within heaven if evil existed in hell forever.[16] Surely God would have to
abolish all evil in his new creation postulates Pinnock.[17]
2015
In regard to sovereignty it reads like an incompatibilist view, contrary to compatibilism and a Reformed view.
2015
In regard to sovereignty it reads like an incompatibilist view, contrary to compatibilism and a Reformed view.
In my view reconciliation and redemption does
not Biblically take place with the unregenerate (or demonic forces), but only those in Christ. The problem of evil is Biblically eventually solved in
the present realm, our Universe, which would be restored. It is not solved in
the lake of fire (Revelation) where those opposed to God and Christ, reside
everlastingly.
BROWING, W.R.F.
(1997) Oxford Dictionary of the Bible,
Oxford, Oxford University Press.
CROCKET, WILLIAM
(1992) Four Views On Hell, William
Crocket (ed.),
Grand Rapids,
Zondervan Publishing House.
EDWARDS,
JONATHAN (1729)(2006) Sovereignty of God,
New Haven, Connecticut, Jonathan Edwards Center, Yale University.
http://edwards.yale.edu/archive/documents/page?document_id=10817&search_id=&source_type=edited&pagenumber=1
EDWARDS,
JONATHAN (1731-1733)(2006) Law of Nature,
New Haven, Connecticut, Jonathan Edwards Center, Yale University.
EDWARDS,
JONATHAN (1754)(2006) Freedom of the Will,
Flower Mound, Texas. Jonathanedwards.com.
http://www.jonathanedwards.com
http://www.jonathanedwards.com
PINNOCK, CLARK
(1986) Predestination and Free Will, Downers Grove, Illinois, InterVarsity
Press.
PLANTINGA, ALVIN
C. (1977)(2002) God, Freedom, and Evil,
Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
PLANTINGA, ALVIN
C. (1982) The Nature of Necessity,
Oxford, Clarendon Press.
PLANTINGA, ALVIN
C. (2000) Warranted Christian Belief,
Oxford, Oxford University Press.
[2] Pinnock (1986: 145).
[3] Pinnock (1986: 145).
[4] Pinnock (1986: 143).
[6] Pinnock (1986: 145).
[7] Pinnock (1986: 145).
[10] Plantinga (1977)(2002: 53).
[13] Pinnock (1986: 108-109).
[14] Edwards (1729)(2006: 414).
[16] Pinnock in Crockett (1992: 154).
[17] Pinnock in Crockett (1992: 154). Browning suggests everlasting hell concepts
such as Hades may relate to the Christian, New Testament use of ancient myths
that consisted of the ‘decent of deities to the underworld,’ such as Orpheus,
Eurydice and Persephone. Christ may be
understood to have descended here after his death (First Peter 3: 19). Browning (1997: 168).
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| Manchester-trekearth |
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| Manchester-trekearth |
Shorty
ReplyDeleteMy Italian American friend is very self-conscious about his height, or lack thereof. So I always steer clear of the subject.
One day, he and I went to lunch at a Sub shop. "I'll take the Italian," he said to the guy behind the
counter. "Salami, Provolone, and peppers."
Do you want a full hero or half one?" came the reply.
"Ah... gimme a half," my friend says.
After placing our orders, we took our seats. A few minutes later, my friend grimaced when we heard... "Small Italian, your order is up!"
…..Doc’s Daily Chuckle (docsdailychuckle@associate.com) by way of “Christian Voices” (ChristianVoices@att.net)
ReplyDeleteLeaving Work Early
Three girls
all worked in the same office with the same female
boss.
Each day, they watched the boss leave work
early. One day, the girls decided that, when the boss
left, they would leave right behind
her.
After all, she never called
or came back to work, so how would she know they went
home early?
The brunette
was thrilled
to be home early...she did a little gardening, spent
playtime with her son, and went to bed
early.
The redhead
was elated to be able
to get in a quick workout at the spa before meeting a
dinner date.
The blonde
was happy to get home
early and surprise her husband, but when she got to
her bedroom, she heard a muffled noise from
inside.
Slowly and quietly, she
cracked open the door and was mortified to see her
husband in bed with her boss!
Gently she closed the door and crept out of the house.
The next day, at
their coffee break, the brunette and redhead planned
to leave early again, and they asked the blonde if she
was going to go with them.
No way!
The blonde exclaimed.
"I almost got caught yesterday!"
Tombstone
ReplyDeleteHarry Edsel Smith of Albany, New York :
Born 1903--Died 1942.
Looked up the elevator shaft to see if the
car was on the way down. It was.
In a Thurmont, Maryland , cemetery:
ReplyDeleteHere lies an Atheist, all dressed up
and no place to go.
On the grave of Ezekial Aikle in
ReplyDeleteEast Dalhousie Cemetery, Nova Scotia:
Here lies Ezekial Aikle, Age 102.
Only the good die young.
In a London , England cemetery:
ReplyDeleteHere lies Ann Mann, who lived an old maid
but died an old Mann. Dec. 8, 1767
In a Ribbesford, England , cemetery:
ReplyDeleteAnna Wallace
The children of Israel wanted bread,
And the Lord sent them manna.
Clark Wallace wanted a wife,
And the Devil sent him Anna.
In a cemetery in Hartscombe, England:
ReplyDeleteOn the 22nd of June, Jonathan Fiddle went out of tune.
A lawyer's epitaph in England :
ReplyDeleteSir John Strange.
Here lies an honest lawyer,
and that is Strange.
In a Silver City, Nevada, cemetery:
ReplyDeleteHere lays The Kid,
We planted him raw.
He was quick on the trigger,
But slow on the draw.
In a Uniontown, Pennsylvania, cemetery:
ReplyDeleteHere lies the body of Jonathan Blake,
Stepped on the gas instead of the brake.
An Englishman says to his friend, the Scotsman, that he has a
ReplyDeleteperfect way of eating for free in restaurants.
"I go in at well past 9 o’clock in the evening, eat several courses
slowly, linger over coffee, port and a cigar.
Come 2 a.m., as they are clearing everything away, I just keep
sitting there until eventually a waiter comes up and asks me to pay.
Then I say: 'I've already paid your colleague who has left.'"
The Scotsman is impressed, and says: "Let's try it together this evening."
So the Scotsman books them into a restaurant and come 2 o’clock
they are both still quietly sitting there after a very
full meal. Sure enough, a waiter comes over and asks them to pay.
The Englishman just says: "I've already paid your colleague who has left."
And the Scotsman adds: "And we are still waiting for the change!"
The UK has questionable restaurant service in spots, more so than North America, I have found.
ReplyDeleteA man dashes into the A&E dept. and yells .. . . 'My wife's going to have her baby in the taxi'.
ReplyDeleteI grabbed my stuff, rushed out to the taxi, lifted the lady's dress and began to take off her underwear. Suddenly after protests from the lady I noticed that there were several taxis - - - and I was in the wrong one.
Submitted by Dr. Mark MacDonald , St.. Andrews Hosp. Glasgow
One day I had to be the bearer of bad news when I told a wife that her husband had died of a massive myocardial infarct. Not more than five minutes later, I heard her on her mobile phone reporting to the rest of the family that he had died of a
ReplyDelete'massive internal fart.'
Submitted by Dr. Susan Steinberg Royal London Hosp.
During a patient's two week follow-up appointment, he told me that he was having trouble with one of his medications.
ReplyDelete'Which one ?'. . .. I asked.
'The patch; the Nurse told me to put on a new one every six hours and now I'm running out of places to put it!'
I had him quickly undress and discovered what I hoped I wouldn't see. Yes, the man had over fifty patches on his body!
Now, the instructions includes removal of the old patch before applying a new one.
Submitted by Dr. Rebecca St. Clair, Norfolk General
I was performing rounds at the hospital one morning and while checking up on a man I asked . . ...' So how was your breakfast this morning?'
ReplyDelete'It's very good except for the Kentucky Jelly. I can't seem to get used to the taste.'. . Bob replied.
I then asked to see the jelly and Bob produced a foil packet labelled 'KY Jelly.'
Submitted by Dr. Leonard J. Brandon . Bristol Infirmary.
Disgusting...
ReplyDeleteEyedropper:
ReplyDeleteA clumsy ophthalmologist.
Parasites:
ReplyDeleteWhat you see from the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Note: friendly mode.Smile
ReplyDeleteI don’t like to be negative on blogs, and I work 60 hours a week and do not want to make hassles. But I reason I need to state this.
It is too controversial for a main post and so I will place it in comments in places.
I also humbly admit my sinfulness and finiteness.
With all the anti-Christian, post-Christian movements in Western society, the Church is hurting itself.
I find often Christians are too weak on justice or love and sometimes both.
Then there is sexual sin, with which I have always admitted as an adult is a struggle for me, in thought primarily. I claim no innocence.
Therefore, I critique it more so as a fellow sinner, saved by grace, in Christ, as opposed to a self-righteous judge. To be clear.
As my post-student self I have been dialoguing with women at work and other from the ages of 17-60+.
I have had many good talks.
Personally, by the way, in my case, I do not find age primary in relating, but rather worldview and shared interests.
I have had a long time to ponder on being single, and although I am no relationship expert, I have developed what I reason are insightful and largely true, at least, perspectives in regard to the problem of evil and relationships. Let us word it that way.
Seems to me, there are two main groups of women, that show interest in me, and I show interest in.
One, the committed Christian. I saw an example of one tonight on a social networking site. She has a very good but likely small Christian ministry. We have not dialogued but she shows as likely at least an occasional viewer of my posts/profile.
I see her personal photos and she has been in a relationship for years and is not married. Further, I look at her photos and she has photos of her and what appears a male ‘relationship partner’ and in some she is dressed beside him with her breasts being very prominent.
Let us cut the crap. I can deduce having studied human nature that 9?% they are having some kind of sexual relations, outside of marriage being together for years.
Virtually no one is being fooled. If that is the goal.
If he is a non-Christian and she is a Christian, and I state if, then we have this same old Western dilemma with Christian women dating and mating non-believers at the expense of believers.
If they are both believers, there is zero excuse, despite social reasons for not marrying or instead the relationship should be ended.
Mathew 5 and 1 Corinthians 7 and 2 Corinthians 6 bring one to the clear theology that marriage is the fix, largely, for fornication. It is very imperfect in this sinful realm, of course.
To not follow that directive when there is a viable partner is definite and definitive sin.
At any age of adulthood.
If one ignores the believer that is interested where there might be mutual interest, that is also definite and definitive sin.
Certainly some are doing this to me...even as I am talking to many women, some in Christ.
In Christians are not marrying (2 Corinthians 6) and fornicating because as I have read Christian men are wimpy, or weird or whatever, this is a female cop-out.
The Christian also discredits self and ministry by publicly claiming Christ and by fornicating.
Cont.
Hey...
ReplyDeleteAgain, virtually no one is fooled. If you are dating someone for a year or more and not on the marriage track, come on, fornication is basically likely if not certain.
If not in the flesh, in the mind (Mathew 5, 1 Corinthians 7).
Christian women, need to realize that social rules and social status can be as problematic to females as pornography is to men.
To state that one needs a boyfriend and because only the non-Christians are good, that is the only option, is non-Biblical and a cop-out.
By actions you also at times can deny access to you from Christian men that need to learn how to date better etc...
Realize that the non-Christian can be more experienced and cool, because he can just mate with you for awhile and move on. If you get pregnant, abortion on demand is an option in his worldview, most likely, for example.
Also no guarantee there will be a public and in the family Daddy if the birth occurs.
The Christian man has to be more careful.
And you negate the possibility that perhaps you can learn some spiritual truths from that ‘dork’ or ‘nerd’, you have written off or are saving for ‘maybe later’...
To trust in female intuition and/or social rules, family/friends over Scripture and to be guided by the Holy Spirit is a sinful cop-out.
Putting career above marriage is also sin, if you are fornicating in the process.
And you can fornicate in the head, even while not dating (Matthew 5, 1 Corinthians 7).
Think about that...cont..
Cont...
ReplyDeleteTwo, the closet Christian that believes but is following the secular route and fornicating.
One needs to ponder.
If you stick with this person outside of Christ there is no guarantee they will come to Christ (1 Corinthians 7, 2 Corinthians 6).
You risk ageing and becoming less attractive if/when you do decide to marry ‘Christian’.
Many men do not like it when they sense have been rejected and later the woman is much older and less attractive and leaves one as a lost option.
I dislike it.
If you have children with the non-Christian, it is less likely that the children will eventually be saved.
Do you want to spend your earthly life, in this present realm with those you may very well have no everlasting future with?
Both these groups, by not dating Christian men, and/or by ignoring Christian men for a ‘better’ option, career or because of social reasons, are although not the primary cause, besides their own potential sin, are effecting single men to potentially sin because of little options with Christian women.
I am not playing Adam here and blaming the woman. Each man will be judged for his own sin, independently, but my point stands.
It is not true that most Christian men prefer porn over actual women. I know I have heard and read studies that some men prefer the cop-out of porn to a relationship, but many, many Christian men are not like that...period.
Lack of willingness to dialogue with a Christian man one likes, perhaps secretly, is a red flag.
I do not buy the ‘I don’t want to hurt him’ argument. If you have rejected the man already, he is already hurt if he likes you.
I reason this is more about the female protecting self. And why is that, exactly?
If the man as not yet sold you emotionally enough to commit to him at all, even as a friend with potential, for example, have you considered that maybe you have not given the man a significant chance to win your heart?
Remember that pre-existing conditions and social rules can have a Christian man virtually written off at the start. But is this Biblical?
I realize that intellectual arguments don’t cause (primarily) romantic feelings.
I am not completely stupid here...Winking smile
But whose rules are you following? Consider we are also influenced by demonic beings to sin.
Acts 4; heed to God and not man.