"William The Baptist"
Puritan Board Freshman
I had a friend ask this in a FB thread.
I've been praying and thoughtfully considering how I ought to respond. She is not a believer. I knew her from homeschooling sport events in Jr. High. Her family went down a WEIRD path of new agey spirituality after leaving their church (which was more than likely a typical southern baptist arminian dispensational one, considering the circles we were in). In years past I struggled when we had conversations and the realization of her unbelief was fully revealed. Back then I had so much anguish wondering if I must be explaining things wrong and it weighed heavily on me. Praise the Lord that He has shown me the truth of His word more fully where I understand His sovereignty and know my persuasion has nothing to do with her lack of belief. I am not so concerned as convincing her now, as responding rightly.
So her question: "I haven't read any of the previous comments, I just wanted to comment on "Or another way: If God chose to create the world, chose to create you (you didn't choose to be created, did you?-I know I didn't), why is it so hard to accept that He chose you for salvation?"
Does this mean that you believe God chose certain people for damnation?"
My inclination is to say yes the long way. But I struggle with how to explain it fully. I wrestle with the explanation because it is so hard to understand God's foreordaining everything (which I obviously believe) in light of the garden, Adam and Eve, their free will, and their choice of sin... It seems the simple answer would be to just tell her "Yes, He created some vessels for honor and some for dishonor."
How would you answer this question?
I've been praying and thoughtfully considering how I ought to respond. She is not a believer. I knew her from homeschooling sport events in Jr. High. Her family went down a WEIRD path of new agey spirituality after leaving their church (which was more than likely a typical southern baptist arminian dispensational one, considering the circles we were in). In years past I struggled when we had conversations and the realization of her unbelief was fully revealed. Back then I had so much anguish wondering if I must be explaining things wrong and it weighed heavily on me. Praise the Lord that He has shown me the truth of His word more fully where I understand His sovereignty and know my persuasion has nothing to do with her lack of belief. I am not so concerned as convincing her now, as responding rightly.
So her question: "I haven't read any of the previous comments, I just wanted to comment on "Or another way: If God chose to create the world, chose to create you (you didn't choose to be created, did you?-I know I didn't), why is it so hard to accept that He chose you for salvation?"
Does this mean that you believe God chose certain people for damnation?"
My inclination is to say yes the long way. But I struggle with how to explain it fully. I wrestle with the explanation because it is so hard to understand God's foreordaining everything (which I obviously believe) in light of the garden, Adam and Eve, their free will, and their choice of sin... It seems the simple answer would be to just tell her "Yes, He created some vessels for honor and some for dishonor."
How would you answer this question?
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