http://neiswonger.reformedblogs.com "Aw... he just likes to argue." Thu, 22 Nov 2007 01:07:01 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en (A response to a friend) Well it’s a tough one, because those of a Greek orthodox persuasion are very into being Greek, and so the Greek theology is closely tied in with their sense of themselves and their thoughts of their own identity as a people. What I mean is, for ... http://neiswonger.reformedblogs.com/2007/11/21/on-the-old-churches-and-why-protestants-are-still-right/ “You have given us a good explanation, one that many opponents of Calvinism don’t understand. It still doesn’t explain why God chooses some and not others, or rather why he would choose some for destruction. That is left to the inscrutable, hidden, mysterious will of God. Barth pointed out the ... http://neiswonger.reformedblogs.com/2007/10/08/the-five-points-of-calvinism-and-the-inscrutibility-of-god/ The Five points of Calvinism.  You know the whole ‘5 points’ thing is kind of funny. John Calvin never had five points. While I really think he would have agreed with them, his was mainly an exegetical way of looking at what he thought Scripture was saying about some very important ... http://neiswonger.reformedblogs.com/2007/09/20/the-five-points-of-calvinism/  (A response to a friend) I'm an Augustinian.  Poor and ragged as we might be. The essence of Calvinism is that the effective cause of the salvation of the sinner is the Grace of God, mercifully given in Jesus Christ, and not some pre-existing good found in the sinner apart from God.  ... http://neiswonger.reformedblogs.com/2007/09/14/calvinism-really/ Last night I was watching Stevie Ray Vaughn. First live at the Monterrey Jazz Festival in 82, then his triumphant return in 85. The first time, they nearly boo-ed him off the stage. When he came back in 85, he headlined the event to the cheers of adoring thousands. Really ... http://neiswonger.reformedblogs.com/2007/08/30/we-are-either-more-than-we-admit-or-more-than-we-can-bear/ On Contemplative Spirituality, Reason, and the Pre-trans Fallacy. Part One of Two. <a href="http://christiantheology.wordpress.com/2007/08/11/to-a-friend-about-jesus-contemplative-spirituality-and-mere-human-reason/"></a> “It appears that you are operating under the pre-trans fallacy.” Thanks for the comment, and I can see why you might think so.  But I wouldn’t consider this an example of a Pre-Trans Fallacy and I will try to ... http://neiswonger.reformedblogs.com/2007/08/17/on-contemplative-spirituality-reason-and-the-pre-trans-fallacy-part-one-of-two/ On "Faith Alone" in the thought of Phillip Melanchthon I wouldn't want you to misunderstand me as to writing that what you said, was well said.  It was meant to imply neither agreement nor that your arguments had persuasive force, but that I can appreciate you apart form all of that.  ... http://neiswonger.reformedblogs.com/2007/08/10/on-faith-alone-in-the-thought-of-phillip-melanchthon/ To a Friend, As much as I disagree with much of what Van Til said and wrote, saying that General Revelation, God's revelation of Himself in creation, is of equal authority with Special Revelation, meaning the Scriptures themselves, seems to be true. It’s good that you are careful on these distinctions because ... http://neiswonger.reformedblogs.com/2007/08/01/on-cornelius-van-til-and-his-supposed-denial-of-sola-scriptura/ A Recent Spate of Calvinism.  Part Five. http://neiswonger.wordpress.com/2007/06/29/a-recent-spate-of-calvinism-part-four/">Continued from Part Four. “Now since one and the same grace may in one instance be efficacious, and in another inefficacious, it follows that the so-called gratia efficax must be conceived according to its essence as efficax ab extrinsico. In this conception there is no ... http://neiswonger.reformedblogs.com/2007/07/24/19/ First causes and second thoughts.  (an answer to a friend) Plato and Aristotle were the big "First Cause" guys.  They wrote quite a bit about it in their books on everything from politics to metaphysics.  It's must reading for those interested.  Aquinas was the main technical formulator of the Five Ways, ... http://neiswonger.reformedblogs.com/2007/07/19/first-causes-and-second-thoughts-an-answer-to-a-friend/