Chosen but free

Before coming to Liberty or taking Theology 202 I hadn’t really heard of Arminian or Calvinism before, so this is a pretty new topic to me.  I think that Geisler does a good job of combining the two very different viewpoints. I would definitely agree that a combination of the two viewpoints seems the most logical and most reasonable explanation. I think that Geisler did a good job of using scriptural references to support his stance on the topic. I think that people would have to be crazy to believe the “Extreme Free Will View” and that God acts as he becomes aware of our acts.

            I also do not agree with the “Extreme Sovereignty View” and that God only selects whom He wants to be saved. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for everyone and he did not endure that horrible death to only save a select few. I think John 3:16 can help to support my opinion. I think Geisler did a good job of giving an alternative view to the two extreme views, and I think the lay out of the book helps his position become clear to the reader.

            I agree with Geisler’s view that God knows everything, so he knows who will accept his gift of everlasting life, but that does not mean that there are only a select few. I like how the book was laid out with the different headings throughout the chapters because it made the book easier to understand. I do think this whole subject can get a little confusing because some parts of the Bible need to be taken literally while other parts are only figuratively. I think that Geisler does a good job of explaining his position and backing up his idea.

I think that by including both opposing sides and explaining each side separately, Geisler is able to easily show the reader the reason for his beliefs. I also think that by including both sides of the argument he is able to make his point stronger. I think it was a very strong point to say that the two opposing sides are not logical opposites, and this also helps to make his point stronger.

Chosen but Free does a great job of explaining what seems to be the best solution to the on going tension about predestination and free will. I also think that Ergun Caner did a good job of explaining this topic in class and I can see how this book has some very similar viewpoints. I agree with Geisler’s opinion that predestination of extreme Calvinism must be rejected. I think out of any of the crazy views of either side, predestination has to be the craziest.

In conclusion, I enjoyed learning more about a topic that was not too familiar to me, and it was great that I happened to agree with what Geisler had to say. 

worship

Worship goes beyond just singing at the beginning and ending of a church service. I believe that as Christians our whole lives should worship God. I think that everything we do to honor God is also an act of worship. I think the talents and gifts God has given everyone are to be used to bring him worship, whether it be through athletics or singing, etc. I thought it was very interesting how Dr. Caner brought up how hymns are songs that sing about God and are for others to hear about God, and other praise songs are for Christians to sing to God. I never thought of worship songs as having two different purposes. 

       As a 21 year old I like more contemporary worship at church, but I know that the type of worship is often a subject that can divide many churches. I know that at my church at home we had some controversy when the music started to become "too contemporary". The way that some churches deal with this problem is to have a traditional service at one time and a contemporary service at a different time. I think this could be good in some ways but I also think it could divide the church in certain ways. I don't think that worship should be something that divides a church, worship should bring a church together and draw it closer to God. I think your church should have worship that you appreciate and enjoy but Jesus should definitely be the center of the worship, not everyone's individual preference of music. I think that if a church is truly centered around God, then worship should not be an area of division but an aspect that makes the church stronger. Caner Theology 202 Lauren See.

My testimony: When I was five, I remember sitting at the kitchen table with my mom and praying to accept Jesus into my heart. I grew up in a Christian home and went to church every Sunday with my family. As a child I loved hearing Bible stories at church and learning about Jesus, but it wasn't until I was older that I realized being a Christian meant more than just hearing stories about a man who died on a cross to save the world. During my high school years I wandered from God and wanted to be in control of my own life. I was having fun, I was blessed with a great family and friends and I did not see the importance of wanting to pursue a relationship with the God who created the universe. At the end of my senior year I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease and at this moment in my life I realized I was not in control. It was a huge struggle for me to accept that I had a disease, and even harder to accept that Crohn's is a chronic disease. At first I depended completely on my parents and doctors, for some reason I thought they would be able to heal me. It wasn't long before I realized that Jesus was the only one that I could place my trust in, and that HE was the only one that had the power to heal me. I had to come to Liberty a semester late because of my Crohn's disease, but during Spiritual Emphasis in the Spring of 2009 I rededicated my life to Christ. My relationship with God has grown leaps and bounds in the past three years. Although I have gone through some of the toughest, scariest times in my life because of Crohn's disease, I can look back on them and clearly see how God brought me through them, and strengthened my relationship with Him. I am soooo thankful for salvation, and consider myself extremely blessed to be able to able to continue to grow in my relationship with Jesus. I would have no hope for my life if I had not placed my trust in the ONLY ONE who has the power to save.