Calvinism's TULIP pt. 2
A few more thoughts on the ‘T’ (Total Depravity) before we move on the ‘U’.
Before we proceed, you know that here at Interactive Sermon I want to offer much for little. I will include here proper definitions and usages of the words ‘affect’ and ‘effect’ that are commonly misunderstood and wrongly applied across the blogoshere!
Affect – (v) to impress, move, touch, stimulate or influence
Effect – (n) a consequence, result or outcome; (v) to cause or bring about
Darinism: a pretty good rule of thumb in choosing between these two words in writing is to consider whether or not the heart is involved. Did you notice how the definition of ‘affect’ is more a matter of being persuaded, whereas ‘effect’ is more mechanical? A hint for remembering this tip is that ‘affect’ is the root of the word ‘affection’ which poetically speaks of the heart.
So what does my conviction that the Bible teaches ‘Total Depravity’ mean to me? How, beyond giving me an appetite for arguing with Arminians, does this affect me? What are the effects upon my life and relationship to God and others? (Voila! See that?)
Okay, tonight we’ll do ‘affects’. Tomorrow will follow the ‘effects’.
My recognition of my total inability to choose God, and God’s love overcoming that need in ‘regenerating’, or making me alive to hear and receive the good news, affects my heart to worship Him. I truly see Him as the sole reason I am alive in Christ. I suppose those who do not hold the doctrine of Total Depravity would say the same things: that they are given to worship Him for saving them and that they would give Him full credit for their salvation. But, consider this subtle difference: In my equation, it is God who first chose me, and therefore I fall down in awe of Him. In their reasoning, to some extent, they first chose God.
Consider for a moment a Billy Graham Crusade. At every one of these events there is a moment when Dr. Graham offers an invitation for people to ‘slip out of your seats and make your way right here to the platform’, an opportunity for them to publicly choose to receive the gospel. Each time, in stadiums filled with many thousands of people, hundreds begin the trek out of the bleachers and onto the field. Take any two of those people for example: both came as unbelievers; both heard the exact same message with their ears; one chose to trust Christ that night, the other didn’t. Tell me what happened there? Was it that one was a little smarter than the other? One was a better listener? One was a better person? One was more vulnerable? More needy? What was it?
You and I are that guy or gal. We heard the gospel. Was it that we were smarter than another? Was it that the person who shared it with us was better than others? All of this is ridiculous to me. I know in my heart that what happened was that God made me ‘alive’ to hear His call. That affects me. I have to live my life in response.
So, what do you think?
Before we proceed, you know that here at Interactive Sermon I want to offer much for little. I will include here proper definitions and usages of the words ‘affect’ and ‘effect’ that are commonly misunderstood and wrongly applied across the blogoshere!
Affect – (v) to impress, move, touch, stimulate or influence
Effect – (n) a consequence, result or outcome; (v) to cause or bring about
Darinism: a pretty good rule of thumb in choosing between these two words in writing is to consider whether or not the heart is involved. Did you notice how the definition of ‘affect’ is more a matter of being persuaded, whereas ‘effect’ is more mechanical? A hint for remembering this tip is that ‘affect’ is the root of the word ‘affection’ which poetically speaks of the heart.
So what does my conviction that the Bible teaches ‘Total Depravity’ mean to me? How, beyond giving me an appetite for arguing with Arminians, does this affect me? What are the effects upon my life and relationship to God and others? (Voila! See that?)
Okay, tonight we’ll do ‘affects’. Tomorrow will follow the ‘effects’.
My recognition of my total inability to choose God, and God’s love overcoming that need in ‘regenerating’, or making me alive to hear and receive the good news, affects my heart to worship Him. I truly see Him as the sole reason I am alive in Christ. I suppose those who do not hold the doctrine of Total Depravity would say the same things: that they are given to worship Him for saving them and that they would give Him full credit for their salvation. But, consider this subtle difference: In my equation, it is God who first chose me, and therefore I fall down in awe of Him. In their reasoning, to some extent, they first chose God.
Consider for a moment a Billy Graham Crusade. At every one of these events there is a moment when Dr. Graham offers an invitation for people to ‘slip out of your seats and make your way right here to the platform’, an opportunity for them to publicly choose to receive the gospel. Each time, in stadiums filled with many thousands of people, hundreds begin the trek out of the bleachers and onto the field. Take any two of those people for example: both came as unbelievers; both heard the exact same message with their ears; one chose to trust Christ that night, the other didn’t. Tell me what happened there? Was it that one was a little smarter than the other? One was a better listener? One was a better person? One was more vulnerable? More needy? What was it?
You and I are that guy or gal. We heard the gospel. Was it that we were smarter than another? Was it that the person who shared it with us was better than others? All of this is ridiculous to me. I know in my heart that what happened was that God made me ‘alive’ to hear His call. That affects me. I have to live my life in response.
So, what do you think?
Technorati Tags: Calvinism, TULIP, Total Depravity, Soteriology, Gospel
7 Comments:
I like the "Arminian Advisory."
And this discussion, including your proper handling of affect and effect.
And I think "total inability" isn't limited to salvation. But that's kind of like skipping ahead, isn't it.
By Radioactive Jam, at 9/27/2006 9:45 AM
Darin-
Thanks for the effect/affect lesson. I'm normally strong in grammar, but this one has eluded me from grade school to age 41. Maybe your concise lesson will sink in.
I'm curious. Total Depravity naturally leads into the next topic, your "U". We know that many who consider themselves Arminian actually believe in Total Depravity, and then somehow argue an illogical path to the "C" instead of the "U" (trying not to get too far ahead). But then there are those who actually deny Total Depravity, a position that is impossible to support Biblically. So my question is this:
Do you think some Arminians deny Total Depravity because they can't logically link it to the "U"? That in essence, they are "working backwards" in order to refute the later points? I've come to that conclusion with some folks, just interested in your take or that of your readers.
By Anonymous, at 9/27/2006 9:49 AM
I know I could never "choose" to serve and follow a holy God... I know God is the one who brought my dead soul to life...
By LeAnne, at 9/27/2006 10:52 AM
Two, related thoughts. Some theologians effectively deny Total Depravity by arguing for "prevenient grace". That is, even though on our own we are unable to choose God, God moves in every heart to bring us to a point of genuine neutrality with regard to our salvation decision. I can't find any evidence in Scripture to support the doctrine, but it's common Arminian thought.
It seems to me the affective motive for that argument is the desire to protect God from charges of arbitrariness or favoritism. They do not want God to seem unfair, as the U would imply.
However, God is unfair. Election not only seems unfair - it is unfair. But to measure God by the standard of "fairness" is to assess Him by a fallen standard: "Fairness" is merely what "Justice" morphed into as a result of sin and the fall. I can find many passages that describe God as "just", but not one that describes him as "fair."
LOL - it seems to me an indicator of how Totally Depraved we are that we want to require God to adhere to our depraved/fallen standard.
By Richard Griffin, at 9/28/2006 10:06 AM
so true Richard... we always try to give human attributes to God. We put him in a nice little human package and get disappointed when His plan is not our own. We think that God is ours, where in fact we are His creation that He molds into holiness, which we could never attain without His interceeding. For He is the antonym of me...
I think back to all the things that I have wanted and God gracefully did not allow to happen. Things that seemed harmless and "good for me" at the time... but praise God that the world is not controlled by my mind...
My prayer is that God continues to mold me to only desire His will... every moment... and I do not continue to try to live by my desires.
Love ~G
By germaine, at 9/28/2006 12:26 PM
Great stuff, all!
Jam, I like the direction your comment "isn't limited to salvation" will take us. I've been convinced for years that we (the evangelical church) have unintentionally preached a gospel of saved by grace but maintained by works. Is that what you were thinking?
I like Richard's thoughts on fairness and I'm pondering his words as I look forward to talking about the 'U', as that's where the fairness concerns really start to fly.
G, you brought Crowder into the conversation! Awesome. I am planning to bring a little Crowder myself in 'Part 3'.
I'm guessing one of the problems people have with Total Depravity is similar to one of the things that makes the gospel a stumbling block - the fact that we CANNOT improve our situation. We, especially in America, hate the thought of determination and hard work not being effectual.
By Darin, at 9/28/2006 1:46 PM
Yes.
I included this quote from Brother Lawrence in a recent post:
“That when [Lawrence] had failed in his duty, he only confessed his fault, saying to God, I shall never do otherwise, if You leave me to myself. ‘Tis you must hinder my falling, and mend what is amiss. That after this, he gave himself no further uneasiness about it.”
That's now how I think, not how I react to my own failures. And yet in my spirit - whatever that is - I "know" Brother Lawrence got it right. Well, God did say His ways aren't my ways...
By Radioactive Jam, at 9/29/2006 8:19 AM
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