MY TIMES ARE IN HIS HANDS-ELECTION

“My Times are in His Hands...”                                                  4-10-04

        “The Lot is cast into the lap; but  the whole disposing thereof is
          of  the Lord.” Proverbs 16:33  “The  Kings heart is in the hand
          of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever
          he  will.” Proverbs 21: 1  “Man’s  goings are of  the Lord;  how
          can  a  man then understand  his own way?”   Proverbs 20: 24
        “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine
          own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He
          shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3: 5-6  (KJV)

    As we consider these passages from the  Proverbs collected  by King 
Solomon, there is  an  important  principle  brought  to  mind.   God  is 
Sovereign in the universe He has created.  Bible  believing Children of  
the Lord God accept this with joy.  If our lives were left to chance  and
we had  no  assurance of  God’s  control on  the earth  there  would be 
little assurance with regard to our eternal  destiny.   If  the  Lord  God 
is not in control here,  can we know He  is in charge, anywhere?  With 
that in mind we could leap to “Calvinism” with  little problem. We find 
systematic deductions and conclusions developed by John Calvin and 
espoused  by many Bible scholars of  today and in history are not deci- 
pherable  by the average Bible student.  Can we bring ourselves to the 
point of teaching  “Calvinism” as a legitimate Bible doctrine,  ignoring
so-called “free  moral  agency” of  mankind?  One author I discovered 
in a book from the 19th century indicated we must accept this doctrine
to experience everything the Lord has for  us in this life.  I do not have
access to the publication at this time since I probably  loaned it and no
longer possess it.  (Unwise practice)   

     While discussing these principles with  a person  self described as a 
preacher  of  the Sovereignty of  God  with Calvinistic  leanings,  it was 
expressed  this way; “I  go along with Calvin as long as  he agrees with 
the  Scripture.”  Another  person, a  self-described  Calvinist,  stated in 
plain  language  the  futility of  failing  to  completely  align  with either
Armenian or Calvinistic belief.  My limited experience shows there are
few who will discuss  the matter without  strong  emotional  ties to one 
or the other.  It would seem these beliefs,  on the  part of most, are not
based on their having searched the  Scripture on  their own.  It's as  if
they were spoon fed their beliefs/doctrine by a  persuasive pastor, tea-
cher,  or by reading a book.  Very  few  people  I have  met are able  to 
offer a Scriptural  basis for  their belief on  any subject.  Being  one of  
the most highly educated cultures on this  planet  today;  it  is evident 
our knowledge of God’s Word is limited to what we “pick up”  from  a
Pastor, teacher,  parents or persons with whom we dialogue.  It's rare, 
indeed, to talk with one who has established belief from personal, pri-
vate  Bible  study.  Scripture  states  the  Berean  believers  "searched  
Scripture" to  determine  whether they could trust the teaching of  the
Apostles.  For  this  trait  they  were  counted  more  noble  than  those  
who  did  not prove the spirit of the Apostles by searching Scripture.  
                                                                                             (Acts 17:11)

As we give  thoughtful consideration to the teachings of John Calvin,  
(I do not  believe he was trying to establish “Calvinism” as  a doctrine 
any more than Martin Luther was trying to establish “Lutheranism.”)  
We admit to the credibility to his scholarship and integrity of doctrine, 
but doctrine,  we hold,  must  be tried  through personal,  private Bible
study.  As much as  possible, we must  make these  doctrines our own. 
God has Children,  no  grandchildren.  May you  and I  be of  the more 
noble sort,  enlightened by  the  Spirit of God;  ready to listen; quick to 
prove.

     Other considerations came to mind when reading the book, “Sou-
thern Baptists  and the  Doctrine of   Election,”  1988  Sprinkle  Pub.  
Robert B. Selph.  Because certain  popular and successful  men who 
were and are of my same denomination seemed completely in agree-
ment with John Calvin,  should  I accept “Calvinism” and teach it as 
a valid doctrine of Scripture?  

  Secondly, there  is the matter of  sectarianism.  Denominations are 
a fact of life in our culture.  There are many shades of  belief among
people of  good will.  Must we  align  ourselves  with  doctrine called  
by the name of a man?  In the early church there was a similar situa-
tion addressed by Paul the Apostle in his first  letter to the church at 
Corinth.  He wrote, under authority of the Spirit of God, “For ye are 
yet carnal:  for wheras  there is among you envying,  and strife,  and 
divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?  For while one saith, I 
am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos;  are ye not carnal?”  Scrip-
ture  describes one  who  is aligned with anyone  other than the Lord  
as “in the flesh.”  God deliver us from a blind faith that has not been 
proven  in the crucible  of  “closet”  prayer,  taught from the Word of 
God,  enlightened by His Holy Spirit.  Anything  less is vain.   (I trust 
this will  not be considered to be an attack on the Scriptural doctrine 
of Predestination or Election.  It is intended to be thought provoking, 
to stir us all to the proving of  our  individual  theology.  We must not 
fall  into the trap of  accepting what others say/write about Scripture 
without  proving  it and making  it our  own.  Confirming  or  denying  
Calvinistic Theology  is  far above  my  abilities.)  If we fail  to search 
Scripture, on our own,  to  establish  personal  beliefs,  we  are  being
simple or indolent.  Will  our Lord use one who  is  lazy?    

                                               donporter  August 6, 2012