Excellent! I might add that the issue is theologically deeper still. We tend to think of God as a being outside of but over against the world or universe. But as Paul says in Acts, quoting the pagan poets, God is the one “in whom we live and move, and have our being.” In other words, God is not a being next to us, but being itself, or the one being in whom everything else exists. That of course suggests a kind of panentheism which seems to strike fear in the hearts of evangelicals. But philosophically, and biblically, I don’t think there is any other reasonable way to think of our relationship with God. It also depicts a more biblical eschatology in which it is God’s purpose to bring all of creation into the circle of love which is the Holy Trinity.
One thing that helps me is to remember that synergism does not require God and me to be equal partners. I assume that the boy in John 6 was perfectly free to keep his five loaves to himself; he gave them to Jesus as a free choice. But it would feel ludicrous if the boy went on to claim that he was primarily responsible for feeding 5,000 people, or even deserved half the credit.
So I can go into my day thinking that my decisions do matter, but the results are overwhelmingly in God's hands.
This post made me think of the book by Campbell and Depue, Beyond Justification. One of their overarching and oft repeated ideas is that the reformation (especially) split Paul into justification and sanctification ‘modes’ in different sections of his writing. And folks have been trying to figure it out ever since. And especially in the New Perspective on Paul debates in the last century. Their argument is that all of Paul is really a participatory gospel message that doesn’t need to create these categories.
Simone Weil wrote that grace fills the space within that only God can fill, and grace creates that space as well. Wesleyans speak of provenience grace as you know. Augustine saw it as irresistible, but Wesleyans as empowering us to respond. Thank you for your work, I think you are one of the most interesting thinkers around. I loved Reviving Old Scratch, own at least one other book and your forthcoming book on pre-order. Your prison experience has made you a blessing to us all, or so I believe.
Excellent! I might add that the issue is theologically deeper still. We tend to think of God as a being outside of but over against the world or universe. But as Paul says in Acts, quoting the pagan poets, God is the one “in whom we live and move, and have our being.” In other words, God is not a being next to us, but being itself, or the one being in whom everything else exists. That of course suggests a kind of panentheism which seems to strike fear in the hearts of evangelicals. But philosophically, and biblically, I don’t think there is any other reasonable way to think of our relationship with God. It also depicts a more biblical eschatology in which it is God’s purpose to bring all of creation into the circle of love which is the Holy Trinity.
One thing that helps me is to remember that synergism does not require God and me to be equal partners. I assume that the boy in John 6 was perfectly free to keep his five loaves to himself; he gave them to Jesus as a free choice. But it would feel ludicrous if the boy went on to claim that he was primarily responsible for feeding 5,000 people, or even deserved half the credit.
So I can go into my day thinking that my decisions do matter, but the results are overwhelmingly in God's hands.
I like this view.
I would add the example that the Bible itself is 100% divine and 100% human.
This post made me think of the book by Campbell and Depue, Beyond Justification. One of their overarching and oft repeated ideas is that the reformation (especially) split Paul into justification and sanctification ‘modes’ in different sections of his writing. And folks have been trying to figure it out ever since. And especially in the New Perspective on Paul debates in the last century. Their argument is that all of Paul is really a participatory gospel message that doesn’t need to create these categories.
Simone Weil wrote that grace fills the space within that only God can fill, and grace creates that space as well. Wesleyans speak of provenience grace as you know. Augustine saw it as irresistible, but Wesleyans as empowering us to respond. Thank you for your work, I think you are one of the most interesting thinkers around. I loved Reviving Old Scratch, own at least one other book and your forthcoming book on pre-order. Your prison experience has made you a blessing to us all, or so I believe.
Prevenient
And it can be helpful to view a triune God in these discussions. Then even monergism isn’t entirely monistic.
THIS post and this series are very helpful to me. Thank you.