“How Great I Art”, “To Me Be the Glory”, “Great Is My Faithfulness”, and “I Need Me Every Hour” could be the hymns of choice based on a free will theology. If you are not sure what free will theology is please follow the link provided above.
I held this very view for more years than I haven’t. And even though I would not admit these hymns even remotely described my theology, I still affirmed man’s free will in salvation. So if you hold the view that man is ultimately responsible for his salvation because He chooses God then you should indeed pat yourself on the back and sing a praise in your behalf.
Now some might think this a bit too far fetched. But if you honestly look at the rational conclusion from the theology that says salvation has been provided by God and it was up to you to choose God, then you should rejoice in your salvation. And not only praise God for your salvation you should also rejoice and praise yourself as well. This is much like what a pastor friend of mine once envisioned getting to heaven and high-fiving Christ and proclaiming “We did it!”
But if you are from the “God does it all” camp then the stuff above would seem pretty silly. This is the camp I now sing around campfires in. And sing I do. If it wasn’t for the grace of God who gave me the faith to believe I would still be in opposition to a holy God. I would still be destined to be condemned to God’s just wrath for my sin. For it is God and God alone, which is known in theological circles as monergism, that provides the way and the means for salvation. He does it all. This my friends causes me to greatly praise my God.
Check out the lyrics for the following song.
Praise on!
Sadly, most Arminians will never admit this as the logical end of their theology. But what do you expect from a Christian culture that considers doctrine a four-letter word.
Baldguy,
Thanks for checking in. What you say is so true. They would never afirm that doctrine by admission. They just live it out in their evangelism and their ever flexible theology.
Are you new to the blogosphere?
Barry
Just moved from Blogger. I still have several blogs on blogger but have found wordpress to be much better. I am glad to see other reformed folk here.
BBG
BBG,
Good move. I also moved from blogger. I have foound word press to be very accomodating. It was suggested to me from one of our associate pastors who is a regular blogger @
http://www.irishcalvinist.com
Barry
paramore playlist http://www.seeqpod.com/music/?plid=b85f19c325