Today's the last day of Craig's Apologetics series. The topic was: Election/Predestination.
A rare subject, of course I would love it if he does a whole long series on this, provided it is as today's format. That is, not too much reading, but teaching nonetheless, while at the same time give Q&A sessions, not discussion.
I am amazed at how he control the audience from talking too much. I supposed he realized this topic could easily get out of hand, when one's passion's too much from either the teacher or the students. It is good to call a stop immediately and be well prepared so you can say: I have much to cover yet.
I agree completely to 99% of what he said and responded to questions. There were always those who got troubled by this doctrine. Craig wondered how it wasn't so 10 years ago. Perhaps, because only today, most evangelistic work is done by the other side of predestination and thus brought in believers of that sort. Redeemer's ecclesiastical format welcomes just about as many types as them, so it is not surprising. Lots of "domestic fish" to catch, in a manner of speaking. That 1% was when Craig put God and unfairness together. He did defined his "fair" terminology. But fair is a good thing, an attribute to God. I would propose a different word for God or a redefinition of fairness. That such fairness is not accountable in predestination. God owns no one for that which He gives to His elects. So God is not unfair in order of creations, but He unequally distributes His blessing to non-living matter, plants, animals, humans.
In explaining the mystery of free will special only to Adam and Eve (posse non peccare), he used the example from Tolkien's Similarion where Melcor (Satan) realized he could make supernatural music-a special kind of free will that does not need to play along with Eru's (God's) music.
The whole Q&A discussion was very educating for me, in terms of pedagogy. It is great that Craig was very well prepared in his materials. I supposed only when he's not subbing anyone. He even picked on Tim Keller's brain whenever he could on the subject. I thought for Craig, he could have access to Keller anytime? Perhaps Michael Liu has the same obstacle with Pak Tong.
I see the mystery of free will in the original man as displaying God's capability to even create a creature that has free will to choose against God. This will go deeper into infra/supra lapsarianism.
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At the 5pm service, it was Tim Keller (high five!). Interestingly, we couldn't access the balcony because there were no volunteers. I really appreciate the honestly, regardless of motive, which I know not. It did make me think of volunteering. However, my principle stands, that until I am part of their prayer group, I won't commit this way. I plan to join the Men's fellowship this Tuesday at 7am. The sermon was on Spiritual Growth from 2 Peter 1:3-11. Keller took from his note from when he was at a church where J.I. Packer was preaching. There were 5 points, he only had time to take 3. I remember only 1: To grow spiritually, one needs to be vulnerable to people.
My respect for Keller grew when he spoke of his impatience at his recent trip to grocery. Long line, cashier couldn't speak English well enough, grunting. Then, he remembered of the OT verses he read in the morning regarding God commanding Israelites to treat foreign residents well, as while they were mistreated in Egypt, God delivered them. (Lev 19:34)
Soli Deo Gloria.