Chosen But Free

In the book, Chosen But Free by Norman Geisler, Geisler makes some interesting points about how as believer we are chosen and at the same time free. I agree with a lot of the stuff Norman says in the book. He has a lot of Scripture and just natural, obvious thinking that he does to reach conclusions. Something that I really like that he does a lot throughout the book is distinguish between a mystery and a contradiction. I like that he shows the difference between the two and shows in the different views of Calvinism and Arminianism something can be contradictory. I like that he shows how reading into a text can make it contradictory with the rest of Scripture, not a mystery. I also like how he tells of the Bible verse that says for us to avoid contradictions. This book was a nice reminder of God’s nature and who He is and how we need to be careful to remember who God says He is and to not make contradictions.

I agree with Geisler’s view about being chosen in the sense that God knew that we were likely to be persuaded to come to know Him, so in that sense we were chosen. I really liked his analogy of the man who can choose between two women to marry. One he knows will never say yes, no matter how hard he tries to persuade her, and the other he knows that eventually, with some persuading, she will fall in love with him and agree to marry him. I really like this analogy he used, I think real life situations wonderfully reflect God and how God can often work considering He made the world and, therefore, a lot in the world probably works in tandem with how God works.

            I also agree with Geisler in that we are free, but God knows the decisions we will make. I believe that God does not force me to make any decision and that I make decisions on my own. I can be persuaded, but the decision is mine to make.

            The only thing I am still not quite sure about, although Geisler makes a good argument, is whether when we are saved if we will always be saved. I feel like although he explains things well, it is a subject I will need to research more on my own through reading the Scriptures before I can make my own decision on what I think God is saying. I understand Geisler’s view, I just don’t know that I necessarily agree with it all. I think it is a rather confusing topic, especially considering the author’s meaning in a particular passage is not always understood. I hope to someday be able to make my own decision on it, because I do think it is a rather important topic for every believer to make a decision of their own based on searching the Scriptures themselves.

Geisler, Norman L. Chosen but Free: a Balanced View of God's Sovereignty and Free  Will. 3rd ed. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 2010. Print.

Worship

There are so many different things that are considered worship. There is the music, the service, the way we live our lives, and countless others. However, when I hear worship, and I know this is because I have grown up in an American church since birth, I think music. Music is an awesome way to worship. Music is something most people enjoy. However, music can also be a controversial topic in churches. I have heard so many different things from a whole range of people. Young and old alike have their preferences when it comes to music. I have heard about how the music is too loud, how someone does not like a certain song, or even about how a person worships. There are so many factors to worship that can easily rub many people in a crowd the wrong way. However, I think that all of this is silly. Worship is worship. If the song is too loud, find a place in the sanctuary to sit where it may not be as loud. Instead of complaining and wanting others to accommodate you, accommodate yourself. If you do not like a certain song, oh well. If it is worshiping God, then it should not be about us and our preferences. That time is meant to praise God by singing truth, not about pleasing you with a particular beat. When it comes to the way others worship, if it is that distracting that you keep noticing it, move somewhere else or close your eyes. It is ridiculous to go to church and expect entertainment that you are meant to participate in. The church is not there make you comfortable, there should be times of discomfort actually because of conviction and such from the Holy Spirit. We go to church to fellowship with other believers and worship God. When it comes to the music in a service, I think it is time that we all learn to put aside our selfish ways and just do what we were created to do: worship.

My Testimony

I grew up in a Christian home and learned about Jesus and that there is such thing as a heaven and a hell. I learned that in order to get to heaven, I couldn’t get there on my own; I needed Jesus’s help. I prayed to Jesus and asked Him to save me from hell since I knew that without Him, I would go to hell. I didn’t quite understand everything at that age, but as I grew older, I learned more and at a later age asked Jesus to do the same thing again. I continued to learn more about Him and how I was His. He did something I could never do for myself, and since I asked Him to save me, I was His child which meant He would teach me like a parent would. He would do so through the Holy Spirit, who came into my heart when I asked Jesus to save me. Although I cannot audibly hear His voice, I can tell when He is teaching me certain things.  The Holy Spirit teaches me through giving me a nagging feeling in which I know that I have done wrong, called conviction.  It happens when I am doing something that God has told me not to do in the Bible, also known as sinning against God.  This is not the end, the end will not come until Jesus decides, until then I continue to try to learn more about God and please Him.