Barth Inspires Reformulation of Chief Reformed Doctrine

Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009 Posted: 11:31:31PM HKT

Organisers have expressed their intention to publish the 20 contributions by pastors and leaders from diverse places, backgrounds and professions, after the event ends just a few days shy of the annual Reformation Day celebrations held on October 30 to 31.

The team behind the conference is also mooting the possibility of running another conference next year.

There are various views of predestination.

The Calvinistic (taking its name from John Calvin) view sees every event that takes place in the universe, including the moral actions of individuals, as having been predetermined by God from eternity.

Reformers Martin Luther and John Calvin, who formulated the theory, emphasised that fallen human beings, being totally depraved, will always reject Jesus Christ in the offer of the Gospel unless God quickens their spirit in His work of regeneration. Since the Bible testifies that not everyone will accept Christ (indeed, more will reject Him), the doctrine emerges where God is said to have decided and determined from eternity who will have the privilege of receiving His mercy and who will be given over to His justice.

An Arminian (taking its name from Jacobus Arminius, a Dutch theologian who lived between the 16th and 17th centuries) view holds that God did not predetermine the moral actions of human individuals, to whom He has given moral freedom whether to accept or reject His offer of salvation through Jesus Christ. Rather, with His foreknowledge, God relentlessly pursues each individual until every single ‘sheep’ is back in His fold.

This view maintains that God’s will is to save the entire human race and has made salvation possible for every individual. Even so, each person must personally choose to receive God’s gift of grace.

Reformed believers maintain that their view, as opposed to that of the Arminians, ascribes the glory of salvation fully to God and preserves His sovereignty.

On the other hand, Arminian proponents stress that salvation is completely the work of God and the faith or moral decision to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour that is required of each individual is not a good work in itself and hence nothing for which people could be credited.

The point of contention appears to be whether God's primary attribute is His sovereignty and mastery or His humility and service.

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Edmond Chua
edmond@christianpost.com