tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10584495.post9007629253542617690..comments2024-03-28T12:34:14.649-07:00Comments on dangerous idea: Calvinism, salvation, and possible worldsVictor Repperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10962948073162156902noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10584495.post-65080215220164290042009-12-12T17:54:53.357-07:002009-12-12T17:54:53.357-07:00I can think of a third motivation to evangelize: a...I can think of a third motivation to evangelize: a threat of punishment (even if not the fate of the non-elect) for refusing to join Christ in doing so. Not a particularly noble motivation, and probably not one that plays much role in Calvinistic evangelism (or so I would suppose--certainly not a motivation I've ever detected in Calv evangelists), but technically possible.<br /><br /><br />A fourth motivation might be love for truth and, as a corollary, the desire to increase the knowledge of truth among people. (I obviously don't agree that some distinctively Calvinistic positions are true, but that's beside the point--I have no problem in the least acknowledging this as being a real factor in principle; and, in my experience, usually in practice, too! {s})<br /><br /><br />I also think it's entirely possible, as a psychological event, for Calvinists to do so out of love for the people evangelized to--the idea being that strictly speaking it's impossible for any person on this side of final judgment to know for sure who is and is not God's pre-chosen non-elect. Whether this counts as a man being more merciful (much moreso loving) than God, in principle, is another matter; but that doesn't abrogate this happening in principle due to ignorance on the part of the evangelizers. (This is not to be confused with an evangelist trying to evangelize out of love for the non-elect per se; which might or might not be a sin against God in principle. I could see arguments going either way on that, though I'm inclined to think it must principly count as a sin. But it might not, if the love being expressed thereby is not 'saving love' in quality, per the distinction some Calv theologians draw between different kinds of love that might be expressed by God to a person.)<br /><br />Would this last category count as an example of your (3), Victor? On the balance, at the moment, I'd say not. But I'm not entirely sure it isn't.<br /><br />Thoughts?<br /><br />JRPJason Pratthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01602238179676591394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10584495.post-41556749150987529042009-12-12T14:54:41.136-07:002009-12-12T14:54:41.136-07:00Nicely stated.Nicely stated.bossmanhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14787721955360743058noreply@blogger.com