What is the Difference Between Calvinism and Arminianism?

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CALVINISM AND ARMINIANISM? 

A Critical Reflection By Ezekiel Kimosop 

INTRODUCTION

Calvinism is a term used to describe doctrines held by the Reformed Calvinistic tradition that is associated with Protestant Reformation theologians Martin Luther [1483-1546] and John Calvin [1509-1564].

Both theologians were influenced by the philosophical writings of Augustine of Hippo, a Classical theologian and philosopher [354-430AD].

Arminianism describes the doctrines advanced by Dutch theologian Jacobus Arminius [1560-1609] and his followers who questioned and rejected some of the doctrines advanced by Calvinism.

Arminians were part of the Calvinistic Reformed group but later split up following the Remonstration or protest in the Synod of Dort [1618-1619] against certain doctrines taught in the Reformed tradition that they considered inconsistent with the teaching of Scripture. 

For the purpose of this reflection, we shall highlight some areas of distinction or disagreement that Arminianism holds against Calvinism. This reflection is merely a general overview. It is not a scholarly treatment of the dichotomy of Calvinism versus Arminianism. We shall begin with a critical examination of Calvinism doctrines in the context of Arminianism theology and draw a closing conclusion.

ARMINIANISM DOCTRINE

The basis of the Remonstration is best exemplified by the summary proposed by Keith D Stanglin and Thomas H McCall as hereunder: 

1) Salvation (and condemnation on the day of judgment) was conditioned by the graciously enabled faith (or unbelief) of man;

2) The Atonement is qualitatively adequate for all men, "yet that no one actually enjoys [experiences] this forgiveness of sins, except the believer ..." and thus is limited to only those who trust in Christ;

3) "That man has not saving grace of himself, nor of the energy of his free will", and unaided by the Holy Spirit, no person is able to respond to God's will;

4) The (Christian) Grace "of God is the beginning, continuance, and accomplishment of any good", yet man may resist the Holy Spirit; and

5) Believers are able to resist sin through Grace, and Christ will keep them from falling; but whether they are beyond the possibility of ultimately forsaking God or "becoming devoid of grace ... must be more particularly determined from the Scriptures."

CALVINISM DOCTRINES

Among the controversial doctrines taught by Calvinism is the view that the sinner has no direct responsibility for choosing to accept Christ and that salvation is purely the work of God who had predestined a limited number of men to be saved. They claim that Christ's atonement was specifically limited to this group. This is known as the doctrine of Limited Atonement. 

This doctrine appears to be inconsistent with the teaching of some Scripture texts such as John 3:16-17 that makes no mention of any limitations on God's grace.

Calvinism also teaches that a true believer can never lose their salvation under any circumstances because God had elected them by His divine means from the foundation of the world (cf. John 10:3; Luke 15:1-8; Mark 3:13; 1 Timothy 5:24). 

They argue that those who fall or backslide from the faith and were true followers of Christ [the Elect] will never be lost to perdition but will ultimately return to the faith because God will restore them. 

This part of Calvinism theology appears to be consistent with Scripture. It is supported by a number of Scripture passages including the parable of the prodigal son [cf. John 1:12, 17:12; Ephesians 4:30].

Calvinism subscribes to the five principle doctrines known by the acronym TULIP. We shall briefly outline them below.

A) TOTAL DEPRAVITY 

This doctrine teaches that the sinner is completely lost in sin and is incapable of responding to the gospel without God's irresistible grace or effectual calling. Arminianism dispute this doctrine on the premise that it denies the moral responsibility and capacity of the sinner in conviction and repentance of sin. 

B) UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION 

The doctrine teaches that salvation is by grace alone and in Christ alone and no contribution is required from the sinner, not even his exercise of saving faith in response to the gospel. 

While Calvinism rightly recognizes God's grace in the gospel, it fails to acknowledge the sinner's responsibility in responding to the gospel. Arminianism believes that the sinner has a moral responsibility for accepting or rejecting Christ and that election was conditioned to faith. The Arminianism view appears to find support in Scripture.

C) LIMITED ATONEMENT

The Limited Atonement doctrine states that the atonement available in Christ is limited only to a group of sinners known as the Elect, the chosen few that, according to Calvinism, God had predestined to save from the foundation of the world. 

This doctrine implies that the rest of the sinners who are not part of the Elect will never come to faith. They will be destroyed in hell under God's wrath. This doctrine appears to violate John 3:16-17 and several other passages of Scripture that teach that the atonement is freely available to any sinner who believes in Jesus. Arminianism rejects the Limited Atonement doctrine on the basis that God's grace is potentially unlimited and can cover all sinners if they all believed. 

D) IRRESISTIBLE GRACE

This doctrine provides that those who had been predestined and marked out for salvation will receive God's irresistible grace or effectual calling that causes them to come to faith. 

The doctrine presupposes that the rest of the sinners [also known as reprobates] are denied this special grace and will never come to faith! Again this doctrine violates several passages of Scripture that demonstrate that God's grace is available to all sinners who hear the gospel proclaimed 

Romans 10:11-13 says "For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Arminianism equally rejects the Calvinistic position. They acknowledge that God's grace in the gospel is sufficient for drawing the sinner to conviction.

The above Calvinistic doctrine is premised on the deterministic Augustinian theology that influenced the writings of John Calvin in the compilation of the Calvinistic Reformed doctrines in his voluminous works titled "The Institutes of Religion." 

E) PERSEVERENCE OF SAINTS

This doctrine teaches that those who have been called to faith in Christ will never abandon the faith. Instead, they will be preserved by God's prevenient grace and will perservere in the faith and ultimately complete their spiritual pilgrimage on earth. Some designate this doctrine as OSAS [Once Saved Always Saved]. 

While this doctrine finds the support of some passages of Scripture, Arminianism argues that the a believer can willfully choose to walk out of the faith on his own volition with the attendant consequences. 

ARMINIANISM

Arminianism on the other hand holds that salvation is the result of God's grace on the one hand and man's exercise of free will, on the other. It teaches that God has simply placed at the sinner's disposal clear choices and their consequences. 

Arminianism theology holds that one can lose their salvation if they willingly chose to walk away from the Christian faith and renounced Christ. 

They further hold that eternal life is limited to those who truly believe in Christ and persevere in the faith to the end. They quote the words of Jesus in Matthew 24:13 that says "he who endures to the end shall be saved [cf. Mark 13:13]. 

They say that eternal life is subject to faith and belief and that God's grace is resistable due to the common grace of free will. 

Arminianism theology further provides that a believer can willfully turn apostate and hence divine preservation is conditional to faith. 

Both Calvinism and Arminianism agree on the depravity of the sinner arising from the imputed sin in Adam. They however disagree on the moral impact of the depravity. 

Calvinism insists that the depravity is total in degree and that the sinner is so corrupted by his sin that he cannot hear or make any sense of the gospel unless God's effectual calling is extended to him. They say that regeneration must precede faith. 

Arminianism rejects this doctrine on two grounds. First, they say that no evidence in Scripture supports the above conclusion drawn by Calvinism.

Secondly, they argue that the gospel message is powerful enough to draw the sinner to their conviction of sin. 

One of the Scriptures that appear to support the Arminianism view is Hebrews 4:12 that says "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." 

CONCLUSION

I agree with Arminianism theology on their articulation of the sinner's free will doctrine. I however disagree with their view that a sinner who truly comes to Christ can willfully renounce their faith. There's evidence in Scripture that while God permits the sinner to make a choice for obedience to the gospel, the decision to follow Christ is accompanied by God's preserving grace.

I similarly disagree with the radical attempt by Calvinism at redefining the efficacy of God's saving grace outside the authority of Scripture. 

Calvinism denies that the sinner can exercise his free will choice in responding to God's grace on the basis that the creature's exercise of free will limit or interferes with God's sovereignty and violates Ephesians 2:8-9.

My view is that there is no conclusive evidence in Scripture that God causatively manipulates the sinner's decisions to agree with His! If anything, man's exercise of free will is, in my view, evidence that God's sovereignty stands out unscathed. God divinely permits the sinner to exercise free will. He granted Adam this liberty and there's no evidence in Scripture that this liberty was curtailed [cf. Genesis 2:16-17; Deuteronomy 30:19].

How else is God justified in punishing the sinner if the sinner was not responsible for his decisions in the first place? 

Both doctrines however have some elements of merit in the Scripture within given contexts. They nonetheless require to be delicately examined in the light of Scripture in order to present the full counsel of God on the redemption of man. 

It is important to appreciate that church doctrines and creeds were developed by men as part of their responses to the teaching of Scripture. They do have their residual limitations when weighed on the scale of the revelation of God in Scripture. No church doctrine is perfect. Each has its strengths and flaws. The Bible must always remain the ultimate reference and final arbiter and authority for the believer or Christian community. 

No matter how skilfully these doctrines are articulated, debated, defended or attacked, one truth stands out: the  sovereignty of God through the grace in gospel of Jesus Christ and the free will choice on the part of sinner in responding to God's grace in Christ are inextricably intertwined. Neither can be discounted.

Nothing in Scripture teaches or affirms that God forcibly saves or chooses sinners for salvation against their knowledge or will. Similarly, no sinner is excluded from God's grace by an arbitrary decree. 

Finally, no sinner can come to Christ without the operation of God's grace in the gospel of Jesus Christ that draws him into conviction of sin.

The Bible teaches in 2 Timothy 2:19 that the Lord knows those who are His. Whether one is a Calvinist or Arminian is ultimately irrelevant on God's saving grace. 

God judges people based on the integrity of their hearts and their obedience to Christ and His word [cf. Jeremiah 17:9-10].

Yes, the sinner does have a choice in responding to God's grace (John 3:16-17). It is equally true that God in His divine and infinite wisdom has foreordained that those He has called in Christ through the gospel [and who freely and willingly respond to His saving grace in Christ] shall be conformed to the likeness of His Son (Romans 8:28-30). He calls men to Himself through the gospel of Jesus Christ and through no other means.

Salvation is therefore incomplete without the operation of God's grace and the free will choice and decision of the sinner. It is 100% God's grace and 100% sinner's responsibility.

God never controls sinners like robots and neither has He determined that some sinners are excluded from His saving grace. He gives us each sinner an open opportunity for making choices and this is why the punishment of the wicked in the lake of fire will be divinely consistent with God's nature as a just God who punishes the disobedient and rebellious [cf. Genesis 7, 19:1-29; Revelation 20:11-15]. 

Choices have consequences.

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2021

What Moral Lessons can We Learn from Psalm 51?

 

BQ NO 70 -  WHAT MORAL LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM THE STUDY OF PSALM 51?

By Ezekiel Kimosop

INTRODUCTION

Psalm 51 carries a preamble which identifies the author and the circumstances under which he wrote it. The Psalm is believed to have been written by David following his rebuke by prophet Nathan after his sin with Bathsheba wife of Uriah the Hittite.

The story of David's rebuke and repentance is found in 2 Samuel 12.

Psalm 51 reveals David’s brokenness and his acknowledgement of God’s grace and mercy in forgiving and cleansing sin. It also conveys the moral lessons that the writer learned from his imprudence. We shall examine this passage from a devotional standpoint. 

DAVID'S PLEA FOR GOD'S MERCY AND CLEANSING 

Psalm 51 opens with a plea by David for God's mercy (51:1). There are a number of specific pleas by David that spread across this Psalm that we shall identify as we progress in our study.

David's opening words reveal some of the divine attributes of God. He is full of lovingkindness and tender in mercy. These are powerful biblical truths that should be uppermost in our minds as we approach the presence of God each day.

God's lovingkindness and mercy are unconditional and no mortal can exhibit the tenderness of God in extending undeserved grace to sinful men. The Bible teaches in Romans 5:8 that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

In Psalm 51:1-2, David pleads with God to blot out his transgressions and thoroughly wash his iniquity and cleanse him from his sin.

The passage of Psalm 51contains heavy Hebrew synonymous parallelism which involves the use of different words to express the same idea. For instance blotting out transgressions is essentially the same thing as cleansing or washing the sin or iniquity. God alone has the divine prerogative and power to forgive sin and to permanently blot it away from us forever. Unlike us who forgive and keep a record of offenses, God forgives and totally forgets, never bringing them again to our charge!

The Bible teaches in Psalm 103:12 that "As far as the east is from the west, So far has God removed our transgressions from us."

It is instructive to note that no church minister or priest has the authority or power to forgive sin. God never delegated this authority to any man. Christ alone can blot away our sins by means of the atoning power in His sinless blood that He shed at Calvary!

Let us for a moment compare this passage with the parallel truths outlined in Psalm 102 which describes the pain of sinful disobedience and God's judgment.

THE DEPRAVITY OF SIN: PARALLEL LESSONS FROM PSALM 102

The imagery of the pelican and the desert owl in Psalm 102:6-7 reveals a forlorn life of isolation. This is how low sin can take us. The reproach from the psalmist's enemies shows the shame and humiliation that sin heaps on us (Psalm 102:8)

The next four verses of Psalm 102:9-12 portray the pain of God's judgment on the sinner. The psalmist mourned and wept because of God's righteous judgment upon him. The fact that the psalmist admits that God had cast him away (Psalm 102:10) is evidence that his fellowship with God was broken by sin.

Sin isolates us from the presence of God. We should always quickly repent of known sin in order to avoid the alienation from His divine presence. It is perilous to live in sinful rebellion because we shall be exposed to spiritual attacks and humiliation from Satan (cf. 1 Corinthians 5).

SIN AS A VIOLATION OF GOD'S LAW 

Now back to Psalm 51.

Psalm 51:3-4 records David’s admission of guilt which had goaded him continually. More significantly, David acknowledges that his sin with Bathsheba was primarily a violation of God's law even though it was a sin against the woman and her husband in that it violated the sanctity of the marriage covenant. Hebrews 13:4 says "marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled, but fornicators and adulterers God will judge."

God was justified in punishing David for his sin. God may severely punish us in His chastisement but we also learn from Scripture that God tampers justice with mercy. The Bible teaches in Psalm 103:10 that God does not punish us as our sins deserve! He is a gracious and merciful God!

David deserved to be deposed from the throne and executed for his sin but God chose to show him special mercy, perhaps on account of David’s own previous life of faithfulness. Instead God took away the life of David’s son from the illicit affair (see 2 Samuel 12:15-23).

Did you know that by God's divine standards, none of us deserves to be alive today? Yet God in Christ graciously forgives us and restore us to Him, sinful as we are! (Psalm103:10-13).

THE TRAIL OF ADAMIC SIN AND THE INNER TRANSFORMATION IN CHRIST 

In Psalm 51:5, David admits his innate sinfulness, saying, "behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me."

David rightly recognizes the perpetuity of the sin of Adam following his fall in the Garden of Eden. Adam's sin was subsequently imputed upon all generations of men until Christ. Some Christian traditions have attempted to dispute the imputation of guilt upon humanity. That is a discussion for another day. 

When Jesus was revealed as God incarnate, He offered to nail the sin of Adam on the cross for those who believe in Him. Only Christ was without sin [2 Corinthians 5:21].

Again, and contrary to the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, Mary the mother of Jesus was herself born sinful and was saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. The last record of Mary in Scripture describes her communion with the Jerusalem Church (Acts 1). Nothing in Scripture teaches that Mary was sinless or that she ascended to heaven. 

Those who are in Christ have been justified by His redeeming blood so that they are adjudged righteous before God. This does not suggest that believers can attain sinless perfection on earth! If that was possible then 1John 1:8-10 should be expunged from the Scripture!

Psalm 51:6 confirms that the truths of God's word are not subject to relativism as some purport to teach today. It is based on God's desire to transform us inwardly so that we are daily renewed in our knowledge of God and grow in Christ.

2 Cor. 5:17 says "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new."

We daily live by God's grace and by the leading of His Spirit and the admonition of His word. We should willingly submit to spiritual and moral sanctification by the leading of the Holy Spirit. Subsequently, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are better able to discern the holy standards of God and to desire to walk in a manner that pleases Him. 

David learnt these truths after his illicit affair with Bathsheba and its aftermath. We too can learn from his sinful disobedience and His restoration by God following his repentance.

THE PURGING OF THE REPENTANT HEART 

In Psalm 51:7-9 David's revisits his earlier plea for cleansing. This emphasis is significant in showing the depth of his anguish and his desire for total spiritual restoration from his sin.

The mention of purging by hyssop in Psalm 51:7 is significant for it underscores David’s wholehearted desire to be freed from the power of guilt. The washing by hyssop was a process of ritual cleansing described in Leviticus 14:4 and Numbers 19:6.

How badly do you seek to be reconciled with God when you fall into sinful disobedience?

Notice that David did not repeat his transgressions. He learnt from his moral excesses and accepted God's chastisement. He became a better man, a better leader, going forward. The Bible reveals that he was later approved of God [cf. Acts 13:22].

Can you think of the many times you acted in disobedience to God? Were you remorseful in his presence. What moral lessons did you learn from the imprudence?

THE RENEWAL AND RESTORATION OF THE SINFUL HEART 

Psalm 51:8-12 speaks of David’s desire for spiritually healing and total restoration.

The joy and gladness mentioned in Psalm 51:8 are symbols or marks of a restored soul which is free from guilt. The enemy often seeks to bring to our memories the pains of our sinful past. We should turn those memories over to God, reminding the enemy that we were forgiven.

David then asks God not to hide His face from him. This is a plea that God should not reject him but mercifully restore him. This is the desire of any erring saint.

Psalm 51:10 is perhaps the most famous Scripture text of this powerful psalm. David asks God to create in him a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within him. 

A clean heart is one without any known sinful condemnation. It is a heart that is at peace with God, not because of sinless perfection but by reason of our assurance of reconciliation with God. 1 John 3:21 says "Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God." 

THE BEAUTY OF A CONTRITE HEART 

David's plea in Psalm 51:10 is instructive of our yearning for total transformation in his attitude and conduct so that we are constantly aware of God's divine standards concerning us and are better able to obey Him in circumstances that our moral fabric is tested (cf. James 1:2-4).

Joseph exemplified a clean heart and clear conscience when he wrested his way from the grip of Potiphar's amorous wife who desired to draw him into sinful disobedience.

He was conscious of God's standards for him even though he was in a foreign land, serving as a slave. God's standards do not change, no matter where we go in this world. 

Notice the question that Joseph posed to this wicked Egyptian woman in Genesis 39:9, saying "How then can I do this wickedness and sin against God?"

Does this question inform your moral view today?

We may perhaps try to rationalize our disobedience in an attempt to justify it based on the prevailing circumstances. You may hear a believer argue, "What did you expect me to do in that situation? I was just helpless....!"

Nothing could be further from the truth! The Bible teaches that no temptation is too hard for God's people to escape! [1 Corinthians 10:13]. James 1:13-14 says "Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God" for God cannot be tempted by evil no does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his desires and enticed."

David could have found a lame excuse for his sin with Bathsheba but nothing could have deflected God's righteous anger against him!

LESSONS FROM DAVID'S DISOBEDIENCE 

Notice that David promises God that he will use the lessons learnt from his disobedience to "teach transgressors your ways and sinners shall be converted to you" (Psalm 51:13).

This is true of us too. We may save many from following the slippery paths of disobedience that we happened to have walked so that they may escape such snares.

The million dollar question is this: Do we teach others by our painful experiences and do we learn from our erring and those of others?

THE CLEANSING OF BLOOD GUILT 

In Psalm 51:14, David admits his guilt of murder. He had arranged with Joab, his army commander, for the murder of Bathsheba's husband Uriah. Uriah was not a Jew but a Hittite. He was one of David’s elite officers, perhaps a distinguished soldier who was part of David’s fugitive band during his wilderness experience. His beautiful wife did not escape David’s eyes and Satan took advantage of David’s weakness over women to bring him down. 

After sleeping with Bathsheba, she got pregnant and reported it to the king. David quickly devised a cover up plan  and called for her husband to be given a royal discharge from the battlefront so that he may return to his wife. 

Uriah, who was an innocent and faithful officer in David's army, honorably and respectfully rejected David's royal overtures which were intended to cause him to return to his wife as part of the cover up.

Uriah slept outside the door of the king's house in solidarity with his colleagues who were at the warfront (read 2 Samuel 11). He could not bear the shame of pleasure and comfort when his colleagues were facing danger out there! 

When David noticed that his tricks had failed, he opted to place Uriah in harms way and the man was finally killed in battle. David took Bathsheba as his wife. 

God was watching David’s every move and was sorely displeased by David’s evil deeds. He determined to punish him for his sins (see 2 Samuel 11:26-27). He does the same for His covenant people. 

God ultimately forgave David for his brokenness but He took the life of the child from his sinful union with Bathsheba as part of his series of punishments on him.

In Psalm 51:15 David reveals his desire to praise God. This is part of his longing for restoration from guilt now that his spiritual confidence is restored. Only God can restore our confidence and strength after our disobedience.

This is an important truth for every believer undergoing restoration from moral disobedience. We need to humble ourselves in the presence of God so that He may restore us to His paths.

We should not run away from God and from the congregation of His covenant people in rebellion when we sin. Instead we should subject ourselves to church discipline in full submission so that we may be restored into fellowship with God and with our Christian community. 

God has vested spiritual responsibility on our congregation leaders to rebuke sin and restore the erring to the way of Christ (cf 1 Timothy 5:19-20; James 5:19-20).

THE POWER OF A BROKEN HEART 

Psalm 51:16 -17 conveys deep spiritual truths concerning God's expectations. David says that God neither desires sacrifices nor burnt offerings, things that David would have gladly provided in exchange for his cleansing. 

However, David acknowledges by the leading of the Holy Spirit that God desires a broken spirit and a contrite heart above all else. This does not imply that an atoning sacrifice was irrelevant but that God's pleasure is not in the burnt offering per se but in the full restoration of the heart of the sinner!

David was truly broken for his sinfulness and this is the reason that God restored him fully. 

It appears that king Saul was not remorseful for his disobedience and that explains why God rejected him. He was proud and defensive even when confronted with his sins by Samuel the prophet (1 Samuel 15). 

CONCLUSION

Do you acknowledge and confess your sins? Could you be carrying the burdens of unconfessed sin in your heart? Struggle no further but yield to the admonition of God's Spirit and repent in truth so that God may forgive you and restore you to fellowship with Him and with His covenant people.

Finally, we learn from the life of David that he touched the heart of God by his obedience and pursuit of the things of God. 

God conveys a beautiful tribute to David in Acts 13:22, saying "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will."

What greater honor could David have received from God! The LORD overlooked David’s chequered past but could not forget his zeal for God. 

None of us is perfect but God looks at us in a wholesome way through the blood of Christ. 

Many people desire to leave a great legacy of power and social influence, including great wealth or possessions but few people care to touch the heart of God by their righteous living the way David and other faithful saints did. 

David had his many failings yet one thing distinguished him above all else: his desire to please God and to do His will.

David later desired to build God's temple in Jerusalem but God forbade him from doing it and instead commanded that it shall be built by his son Solomon.

David however gathered the temple materials and left it to Solomon to build the temple which was later destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. However, we know that the temple was David’s vision.

What dreams do you seek to accomplish for God in your life? How will you and I be remembered by God when our days are gone and what shall we have to our credit when we appear in the presence of Christ? 

Paul looked forward to the crown of righteousness even as he awaited his martyrdom in a Roman prison (2Timothy 4:7-8). Bible scholars say that 2 Timothy was Paul's last prison letter. 

He had finished the race and kept the faith. To his credit, Paul preached the gospel in a far larger frontier than his Jerusalem counterparts did and suffered untold afflictions for his faith. He wrote 13 New Testament Epistles. 

David wrote most of the Psalms we read in the Bible today, thanks to his life of spiritual devotion and unwavering faith in God. He was a brave warrior and a great worshipper of God who built his spiritual intimacy with God and loved and treasured the word of God [Psalm 119:10-12,105].

What stands us out in our generation? 

How is your walk with God today? Are you walking in the liberty that Christ has ordained for His saints or are you dwelling in sinful disobedience and carrying the burden and guilt of unconfessed sin?

Psalm 51 can be summed up in one statement: Sin is grievous but there is power in the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse our sin if we approach His throne of grace with brokenness of heart.

Shalom

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2021

Understanding Youth Rebellion - Lessons from the Life of Absalom son of David

 

UNDERSTANDING YOUTH REBELLION  - LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF ABSALOM SON OF DAVID

By Ezekiel Kimosop

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever heard or muttered this statement in deep frustration: "what's wrong with kids nowadays?" 

You are not alone. Several parents have hit snapping points with the rising level of rebellion and defiance among today's generation of young people, especially urban youth. Worse even, the Western libertarian culture is quickly taking shape in the rural settings as well, thanks to the reign of social media and online culture that knows no bounds. Youth rebellion, substance abuse and delinquency are alarmingly becoming prevalent. 

This raises legitimate questions... how can our children, some of who we raised in Sunday school and teen classes, end up in rebellion at the peak of their youthful lives? Is there a missing link that we failed to connect in the upbringing of these children?

LESSONS FROM ABSALOM SON OF DAVID

Turning to Scripture, we find several illustrations of what can be considered as spoilt children, especially young men, whose moral depiction in Scripture reminds us that youth rebellion defies human civilizations.

I can think of Solomon and his moral excesses, Rehoboam, Samson and his escapades despite being a Nazarite, among others. I will however pick on one Bible character, Absalom son of David, for our moral illustration. It is my view that Absalom's case depicts the intrigues in the circles of nobility in ancient Israel for a royal lineage whose patriarch, David, understood pain, affliction and anguish in his youth. My view is that there is so much more to learn from Absalom's royal misadventures. I will however pen down a brief evaluation. 

David, Absalom's father was himself deprived, ostracized and was compelled to lead a fugitive life in Philistine territory for a period that some scholars estimate at 10-13 years after being anointed King [1 Samuel 16, 29-31].  Absalom appears to depict a total contrast to David's measured life. 

Absalom was a handsome and charming prince but that was perhaps the only positive adjectives that could describe him. Scripture portrays him as an ambitious, unruly and restless royal who lived ahead of his time. He acted through impulse rather than reason. 

In 2 Samuel 3:3, Absalom is listed as the third son of David. His mother was Maacah daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur, an Assyrian kingdom. Absalom was privileged to be a product of royalty on both sides of his parentage...

Could this royal heritage trajectory be somewhat linked to his plethora of mischief? Could the mother, an Assyrian princess in her own right, have negatively influenced the character of young Absalom? These are some of the difficult questions that confront the reader of Scripture. 

In 2 Samuel 13, we read about the heinous plot by Absalom under which he murdered his half brother Amnon in an act of revenge after the latter raped his sister, Tamar. It is instructive that Absalom thereafter fled to Geshur to take refuge among his uncles... 

Despite his handsome or comely looks reported in 2 Samuel 14:25, Absalom was decidedly a spoilt boy, a royal rebel per excellence whose moral reigns were broken. His outrage is understandable but his secret murder plot was unacceptable. He should have allowed the royal judicial system to take its course against Amnon. 

Surprisingly, his father David forgave him for the murder of his half brother Amnon. This was because of the provocation brought about by the incestuous rape. It is also possible that his influential uncles petitioned David to spare the life of the young prince following his escape to Geshur. Interestingly, Joab was behind the royal intrigues leading to David's forgiveness of Absalom! 

Absalom was not done with his royal mischief. He went on to plot other schemes in open defiance. He did not appear to have  learned any lessons from his previous deviant acts.

In second incident recorded in Scripture, Absalom instructed his servants to set on fire Joab's ripe and uncut barley crop in an act of revenge after Joab refused to take him to see his father David (2 Samuel 14:28-30). At this point, Absalom had been in isolation for the murder of Amnon. This restriction was in furtherance of a royal decree. It was two years since Absalom returned from Geshur and his impatience got the better of him. 

David had graciously offered a royal pardon to Absalom following his murder of Amnon but there was a caveat. David proclaimed that Absalom should not be allowed to appear before the king for a given period of time. This effectively implied that Absalom's royal status was downgraded. He was a persona non grata within the royal courts for the duration contemplated by the royal decree. Absalom finally got a chance to see his father and the two embraced and reconciled (2 Samuel 14:25-33). David loved the young prince despite his despicable conduct. 

2 Samuel 14 reveals that Absalom plotted a third act of mischief. He set himself up as a royal gatekeeper, a "deep-state" kind of personality, in order to endear himself to the people of Israel and subvert the royal authority of his father. 

Scripture says that Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel (2 Samuel 15:6). He became popular in the royal corridors and his father was deeply worried on learning of this development but he did nothing to restrain him. 

It appears that following David's dereliction in reigning in on the ambitious prince, tragedy after tragedy followed.

Finally, Absalom in his growing fame, attempted a jackpot heist. He plotted a palace coup and succeeded in mounting a surprise rebellion against David. The young prince had come of age. He sought to unseat his father! Absalom had initially lied to his father David that he was heading to Hebron to pay a vow before God. When David caught wind of Absalom's plot, he quickly left Jerusalem. 

Absalom temporarily deposed his father before his rebellion was finally crushed by the royal army. Absalom fled David's army and died under tragic circumstances while under hot pursuit by Joab, David's commander. Joab, [an evil man] killed Absalom despite the royal orders from David that they should not harm the rebel prince (2 Samuel 18). Did Joab perhaps use the opportunity to revenge for Absalom's burning of his uncut crop? 

Absalom's life came to a tragic end in what would pass for an epic movie script. 

CONCLUSION

David loved Absalom exceedingly and this could have contributed to the delinquency identified with the young man and his unfortunate demise. He failed to exercise his parental and royal authority in chastising his sons. 

We learn from 1 Kings 1:6 that David was equally soft on Adonijah, one of his sons by Haggith, who later rebelled against him in the royal succession matrix. Adonijah also unsuccessfully attempted to mount a palace coup with the support of a few close confidants of David including Joab and Abiathiar the priest. Joab was later executed by Solomon under the instructions of his father David for the murder of Abner, Saul's commander who had defected to David upon Saul's death recorded in 1 Samuel 31. Abiathiar the priest was defrocked by Solomon, bringing to a close the priesthood lineage of Eli as prophesied by Samuel (see 1 Samuel 3-4). 

It is possible that David was too lenient on his sons. He may also have been too busy fighting battles that he had little time for his large polygamous family. 

Yes, we all desire the best for our children but when we spoil them with the sumptuous things of life and fail to chastise them as appropriate, we could be setting them up for a difficult future.

Many of us who grew up in humble settings in the upcountry in the 70s and 80s went through hardships in schooling and by the time we came to the city to seek college education and career, we had tested the pains and afflictions of life and this foundation set us up for endurance.

Those of us who are now raising children in towns should learn life lessons from the illustrations that we can draw from Scripture and the practical circumstances of life that we can observe in our generation. 

How should we train a child in the midst of  the contemporary cultural pressure that increasingly shifts their focus away from parental guidance? How should we deal with the excesses of our youth today? Where is the missing link? 

How can we get these young people to understand and appreciate that pain and affliction are part of what makes dependable men and women in society? These are among the many questions we must wrestle with today as we raise our children. 

Having said as much, I must reckon that parenting is no easy task. It is as complex as walking through a labyrinth web. No one can claim perfection in this noble duty. Our children also develop their personalities through the influence of the prevailing culture that is unique to their generation.

However, parental guidance and moral interventions are indispensable for character building. Let us prayerfully approach this noble duty while trusting God for His enabling grace. 

Scripture says in Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it."

Let me conclude with words of advice for the young people who are reading this article. You have a responsibility to heed the wise counsel of your parents, guardians, mentors, elders and spiritual leaders at your disposal and to commit yourself to the discipline of a covenant Christian life in order to succeed in life. 

Absalom's case serves as a clear warning on the peril of unbridled ambition in youthful life. Our young people need to navigate life with patience and prudence. To everything there is a season. The Bible proclaims that there's a time for every purpose under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Whatever God has appointed for us in life will come at His appointed time. We cannot overtake God. 

Scripture further exhorts in Proverbs 1:8-10:

"My son, hear the instruction of your father,

And do not forsake the law of your mother;

9 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head,

And chains about your neck.

10 my son, if sinners entice you,

Do not consent."

Shalom

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2021

Unmasking the Heresy of Prosperity Theology

UNMASKING THE HERESY OF THE PROSPERITY THEOLOGY 

By Ezekiel Kimosop 

INTRODUCTION

This article was originally posted on L & D WhatsApp Forum on 20/01/2018 in response to a question by a member. I have sparingly edited it and brought it back in response to the growing number of questions and concerns on prosperity theology. 

The article was also written in response to an article posted by a member on 06/08/2018 which is titled "AS A BELIEVER, EVERY WORD YOU UTTER HAS TREMENDOUS POWER". 

The article also addresses issues under a separate post in which the writer claimed, among other things, that God has equipped every believer with "seeds of greatness" in them which guarantee their material success on earth. 

The writer further claims that believers should unlock the "seeds within" in every circumstances of life so that they don't settle for mediocrity and failure in life. 

This message sounds appealing on the outset until one considers the intentions and doctrines advanced by the architects of this theology. 

The Word of Faith/Prosperity Gospel movement teachers have attempted to advance a religion in which man is exalted and glorified as a demigod and the God of Scripture is debased and consigned to obscurity! 

I have written this article to defend the purity and sanctity of Scripture against this modern heresy that is growing by leaps and bounds. 

BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE WORD OF FAITH MOVEMENT

The Word of Faith movement is believed to have been founded by E. W. Kenyon [1867-1948]. 

Kenneth Erwin Hagin [1917-2003] is however considered as one of the most notable fathers and promoters of the movement. He was largely influenced by teachings of Kenyon.

Other popular televangelists and principal teachers of the movement include Kenneth Copeland, Jesse Duplantis and Creflo Dollar.  

The Word of Faith is now a global movement that stretches across Africa and Asia. A number of charismatic/Pentecostal preachers in Africa identify with the movement's doctrines.

My evaluation of the prosperity theology is premised on the outlines that are based on its theological features.

A) EXALTED CREATURE AND AN ABSENTEE DEITY

The Word of Faith and Prosperity theologies are, in my view, two sides of the same coin. The notion that God equips and empowers believers for success is part of the popular Word of Faith heresy which views the believer as a powerful agent whose words cause divine influence to be experienced on earth. According to this movement, the believer is able to experience material riches because of the POWER WITHIN the believer which God is said to have deposited in the believer. 

According to the Word of Faith doctrines, the believer simply needs to confess and possess whatsoever he desires and God is under a covenant obligation to respond. 

My view is that there is no such thing in the Bible as SEEDS OF GREATNESS in the creature. God alone is exclusively vested with such originating power and He alone sovereignly exercises His divine discretion on who and how to bless. 

The truth is that not all believers will be millionaires on earth but that does not preclude the fact that believers by whatever social description are God's children who share in the heritage of Christ, whether rich or poor, black or white, Jew or Gentile [Galatians 3:28]. 

B) MATERIALISM AND SPIRITUAL REDEMPTION 

Allow me to debunk another heretical myth advanced by the Word of Faith theology. Their teachers explain the material disparities among believers purely on the basis of their faith or the lack of it. 

They claim that believers should possess sufficient faith to "move the hand of God" or to unlock and release their needs from within them, saying that God is obligated to respond to our petitions based on the laws of prosperity and divine health that He has ordained. Never mind that such laws are not taught in Scripture!

They also advance a simplified heresy which says that since God has already deposited the "seed of greatness" or "power of divine destiny" in every believer by the Holy Spirit, all the believer needs to do is to "unlock it from within" without bothering God. 

Really? Does God expect us to simply unlock our needs from within our spirits and without any reference to Him?

Is God absent from our spiritual sphere? 

Again this is the same cleverly concealed old heresy we see in Genesis 3:1-6 by which Satan deceived the woman that she can be equal with God! 

To exalt the believer to a demigod and to debase or reduce God's influence and sovereignty to that of a figurehead is perhaps the most repulsive of all prosperity gospel heresies! Nothing can be more sacrilegious, in my view! 

The deity that these false teachers appear to project is manifestly distinct from the God of the Bible! 

The doctrinal script of the Word of Faith group is anchored on the false notion that God's action in the past had "sealed" everything including the material prosperity and the physical wellbeing of believers. Scripture however does not affirm this claim. God has never delegated or abdicated His sovereignty to His creatures. 

Biblical Christianity is not merely about material wellbeing, even though this is important for our earth living and ministry. If God's blessings are exclusively measured on the scale of material prosperity, how do we explain the fact that some of the global billionaires of our day are atheists? 

C) DENIAL OF CHRISTIAN SUFFERING 

The prosperity teachers deny Christian suffering of any description including illness or trials/afflictions saying that Christ nailed it all to the cross. 

Wait a minute.... What exactly was nailed to the cross as taught in Colossians 2:14? Let me briefly analyze this for our benefit. 

The context of this Scripture lies in the wider passage of Colossians 2:11-23 where Paul was teaching on the believer's spiritual liberty in Christ as contrasted with the bondage of the law of Moses. 

He was reminding the church of Colosse that they should not be bound by the religious decrees of radical Judaism which some were advancing among them in their futile attempt at imposing religious legalism on Gentile believers. 

The Bible teaches that it was our spiritual condemnation under the law that Christ by His atoning death annulled on the cross even as He purchased our freedom from spiritual bondage once and for all [cf. Hebrews 10:1-10].

There is no single reference to material prosperity in the passage of Colossians 2:11-23! The finished works of Calvary were not predicated upon material prosperity but spiritual victory and liberty from sinful condemnation. This victory in Christ was intended for the rich and the poor alike.

The spiritual pollution identified with the prosperity theology centers on its unhealthy focus on and glorification of earthly materialism at the expenses of fundamental truths of Scripture. 

There is nothing wrong with believers acquiring billions of dollars in earthly riches but material prosperity was not primarily what took Christ to the cross! 

Prosperity teachers further claim that all that believers would require for material wellbeing in this earthly life has ALREADY been supplied by God in advance! While this partly true, the statement is misleading in sense that it supports the notion of an absentee deity!

These controversial doctrines beg the following questions:

1) Do the prosperity doctrines not imply that God has no further business with us because He has discharged His "covenant obligation" of divine provision?

2) Does the Bible teach that all believers shall experience unlimited material prosperity in every conceivable aspect of their lives on earth?

If so, what sin have "materially disadvantaged" believers committed so that they are materially poor? Do they lack sufficient faith in God? 

3) How should we explain Christian suffering? What became of Christian martyrs who died for their faith in Christ? Did they lack sufficient faith to escape arrest and incarceration during the persecution of the church? 

4) How do we reconcile the suffering of great men of the faith such as Job, Joseph, David, and Daniel who suffered afflictions? 

How do we explain Paul's "thorn in the flesh" in 2 Corinthians 12? 

D) OPULENCE AND AVARICE OF PROSPERITY PREACHERS 

Let us now turn our attention to another important aspect of the prosperity gospel enterprise. 

It is an open secret that most of the American Word of Faith televangelists are multi billionaires who lead lavish/opulent lifestyles and own private jets which they display for all to see. They attribute their "financial success" to their "extra ordinary faith" in trusting God for provision. 

Now here are questions to ponder about:

1) Is it not an open secret that their luxurious living is funded by their Christian congregations through their "seed giving" and other church donations and collections? 

2) How many of these preachers can prove that they earned their billions from independent enterprise and investment ventures? 

3) Is it not a fact that their "prosperity" was gained through sheer manipulation and deception? How can this be a godly means of success? 

4) Is it also not a fact that some of the popular millionaire preachers in Kenya today have totally embraced the prosperity theology and are selling all manner of merchandise to their unsuspecting followers in the name of God? 

CONCLUSION

Having closely studied the false teachings of the Word of Faith/Prosperity preachers for a period of time, I am convinced that true followers of Christ should be extremely cautious not to buy into their deception but rather focus on a healthy and balanced teaching of Scripture. 

Let me conclude by stating that the word of God must always remain at the center of our Christian faith and practice. Any teaching that denies or contradicts the revelation and authority of Scripture is decidedly false. 

Biblical Christianity must be distinguished from the religion of Mammon that lies at the heart of the prosperity heresy. 

Our spiritual success or failure cannot be measured by material prosperity or the lack of it. It is far greater, far worthier than silver or gold. (Read 1Timothy 6:10-12).

The Bible warns us against ungodly greed. 1 Timothy 6:6-10 says "Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." 

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2021

A Critical Response to Andrew Wommack on the Creation and Fall of Adam

A CRITICAL REVIEW OF ANDREW WOMMACK'S CONTROVERSIAL DOCTRINE ON THE CREATION AND FALL OF ADAM

By Ezekiel Kimosop 

[This Article was written on 14th June 2017 following the broadcast teaching by Pastor Andrew Womack that evening on TBN] 

Just this evening I was privileged to listen to Pastor Andrew Wommack, a leading American televangelist who subscribes to the Word of Faith theology. 

Unfortunately I did not catch the entire series because he was concluding his teaching when I tuned in. 

In his concluding section, Pastor Wommack stated that there was no pre-Adamic civilization before the creation of Adam and Eve. Biblically speaking, this assertion is absolutely true. It is also true that God had created His angels long before the creation of Adam and Eve. 

I also agree with Wommack's view on the unbiblical theology advanced by the proponents of the Gap Theory which holds that there is an undefined time abyss between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. There is no evidence in the Bible in support of this New Age theory. 

WOMMACK'S CONTROVERSIAL THEOLOGY 

There are two issues that Womack captured in his telecast which I found rather controversial and that appear to contradict the clear teaching of the Bible. 

In his first assertion [which is faithful to his Word of Faith theology], Pastor Womack taught that God gave Adam absolute and unqualified dominion over the earth's resources, to subdue the earth for his benefit. This view is drawn from the statement of Genesis 1:26-28. The dominion doctrine is one of the fundamental teachings under the Word of Faith group which, in my view, is largely inconsistent with biblical truth. 

The Word of Faith movement portrays an  "absentee" God in the Garden of Eden and a glorified Man in Adam in so far as earthly dominion is concerned. They teach that believers have the same authority that Adam enjoyed in so far as earthly material prosperity is concerned. 

This theology is sounds extra biblical in the sense that the Bible nowhere teaches that God abdicated His sovereignty over His creation even for one minute! 

God was and still is in control of His entire creation including the resources on earth. Read Psalm 24:1, 50:10, Haggai 2:8. Adam was not given unfettered control over the earth's resources. He, like us, was merely a steward of God. 

The truth is that man was and still is totally answerable to God for the use or misuse of the world's resources and God has absolute authority to assign these resources at His pleasure. 

The second controversy relates to Wommack's view of the fall of Adam and Eve and the status of Satan on the Garden of Eden. This is perhaps the most blatant misrepresentation of Scripture, in my view. 

Wommack teaches that Satan was created as an angel and planted in the Garden of Eden by God to serve Adam. This teaching is nowhere taught or supported by any passage of Scripture. Adam was not Satan's master!

The Bible only speaks of the serpent as the most cunning among the animals that God created. This description reveals that the Serpent was used by Satan to achieve his evil purposes [cf. Genesis 3:1-6].

Womack further adds that Satan was a perfect angel of God at this point and that he was not fallen. 

This is a theologically shocking statement for a preacher to make! The theory behind Wommack's theology is that Satan was not created before Adam and that he could not have fallen before Genesis 1-3. Again this is a misleading statement that is not based on sound exegesis of Scripture. 

Wommack finally claimed that the fall of Satan and a third of the angels described in Revelation 12:7- 12 was only symbolic and not literal. He offers no exegetical basis for this strange interpretation. 

I have serious reservations with this kind of theological persuasion because it essentially denies the reality of the cross of Calvary and subverts the truths taught in the Bible regarding the fall and redemption of man.

If Satan was not fallen in Genesis 1-3, then the fall of Adam is perhaps a myth and the finished works of the cross have no meaning. Nothing could be further from the truth! 

The Bible teaches in John 8:44 that Satan is the father of lies and a liar from the beginning. Which beginning was this? Garden of Eden? Obviously this beginning goes far back beyond Genesis 1-3. 

The Bible does not specifically describe the period when Satan was created by God nor when he fell from heaven but we do know that he is not described among those creatures that God created in the Garden of Eden!

How on earth could a perfect angelic being created by God have led Adam and Eve into disobedience without himself being already fallen? 

Again to teach that the fall of Satan and his angels from heaven as described in Revelation 12:7-12 is merely symbolic is definitely an attempt to justify a false theology regarding the fall of Adam. 

It is a misrepresentation of the express teaching of the Bible which is intended to agree with a preconceived theological frame associated with the Word of Faith group. 

While I agree that there are different interpretative positions that theologians can take on difficult passages of Scripture, I refuse to accept the notion that the fall of Adam was not the work of Satan in his fallen state. 

I respectfully reject the teaching of Andrew Wommack regarding the authority of Man in the Garden of Eden, the fall of Adam and Eve and the expulsion of Satan from heaven. 

I believe that Satan was a pre-creation angelic being who fell out and was expelled from heaven before Adam and Eve were created. This is consistent with the teaching of Scripture.

The Bible warns that we must prove all things and cling to what is good [1 Thessalonians 5:21]. This exhortation applies to teachings and doctrines advanced by every group that purports to subscribe to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We are also commanded to test every spirit to see if it is of God (1 John 4:1-7).

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2018