The concept of love (particularly how God loves) is a bit different on Calvinism. On Calvinism God loves the elect. Jesus died and rose again, for the few elect. This means that by definition, God as described by the consistent Calvinist is not omnibenevolent. Of course, a calvinist could redefine the word love as it relates to God and claim that it is “loving” for God to allow those he loves to go to hell when they simply could not choose otherwise. Believe it or not, this is what is actually done by some of them.
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Two Things Pro-Choice Advocates Need To Hear
WARNING: I usually am not this direct, because I want to live up to the the second half of 1 Peter 3:15 as a Christian apologist. However, this is an issue that warrants a little force. Please forgive my strong words and know that I only say this because I care.
Abortion is not a political issue, it's just an issue that has been politicized. What's more, the pro-life position is not one that can only be reasonably held on the basis of Bible verses. The separation of church and state mantra, which is given regularly by pro-choicers as a way of sidestepping the real discussion, is just a smoke-screen. To make the point, here are two arguments (one mine, and one from Stephen Schwarz) that demonstrate that no thinking person (Christian or otherwise) should support the pro-choice movement. They demonstrate that abortion is a bad . . . nay . . . a bigoted, narrow-minded, backwoods, illogical, immoral, animalistic activity. See what you think . . .
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F18s, Preaching and the Defense of the Faith
Near here is the United States Naval Air Station at Patuxent River. On that base is the Naval Test Pilot School. The school trains elite pilots to actually do the testing on military aircraft. Only the best of the best are allowed to enter the school, and those who make the grade will have a heavy burden. Several astronauts were selected from the school including two men who are currently on our space station. There is no room for error. In the words of the Commanding Officer, they have to be both "geeks and warriors." They don't just know how to fly (everything), but they are also academically superior. They will also oversee the production of new technology that may or may not make it onto certain planes or helicopters. Each new piece of equipment must be shown to be of great value since space and weight on the control panels is limited. This I think speaks to the task of preaching, evangelism and Christian defense indirectly in several powerful ways. Namely, preachers and Christian apologists must:
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Three Views on Hell
Hell is one of the most horrifying concepts in the Bible. For most of the 20th century there was little question among the people in the pews as to what the Bible taught on this tough subject. You don't want to go to hell, because you don't want to experience everlasting fire. Oh, by the way, there's brimstone too. Let me tell you, as a child I had no idea what brimstone was, but it was still a torturously frightening word. And then as an afterthought you won't be with Jesus. There is, though, a renewed debate over this issue and it's time to define the positions for the layman.
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Distorting Defoe: How Hollywood Shipwrecked Crusoe's Only Hope
“I have since often observed, how incongruous and irrational the common temper of mankind is, especially of youth ... that they are not ashamed to sin, and yet are ashamed to repent; not ashamed of the action for which they ought justly to be esteemed fools, but are ashamed of the returning, which only can make them be esteemed wise men.”
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