The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

I wrote this years ago (at the request of my previous church) to explain my beliefs on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. I am posting it to give the Scriptural and theological basis for my perspective, especially in light of my sermon series on spiritual gifts. It is being posted my personal blog because it doesn’t represent an official position of the church, though all of the elders believe that the Baptism is not a secondary experience but part of salvation.

In the Old Testament

In the Old Testament, God’s Holy Spirit did not usually indwell the typical Israelite. Rather, specific individuals might be given the Spirit – usually for a limited time and a specific purpose. However, the prophets foretold that this would change:

…I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.— Joel 2:28-29 NIV

And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. — Ezekiel 36:27 NIV

In other words, there would come a time when God would pour His Spirit out on all of His people, not just a select few.

In the Gospels and Acts

It was this foretold outpouring that John the Baptist was referring to when he said:

I baptize you with water, but he [Jesus Christ] will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. — Mark 1:8 NIV

John was saying that Jesus was the one who would usher in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, also called “the gift of the Spirit,” “the baptism in/with/by the Holy Spirit” (with, in, and by are all ways of translating the same Greek word “en“), and sometimes “filling of the Spirit.” Jesus reminded the disciples of this after he rose from the dead:

Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. — Acts 1:4-5 NIV

This happened shortly after Jesus returned to heaven.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. — Acts 2:1-4 NIV

Peter knew that this event was the fulfillment of the prophecy foretelling that the Spirit would be poured out on all believers.

[Peter said] “…this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:  ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people….’” — Acts 2:16-17 NIV

When his listeners asked Peter how to respond to the Gospel, he said:

Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. — Acts 2:38 NIV

Peter did not say, “Repent and be baptized, and then we will pray for you to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” But rather, “…you will receive the gift….” Peter was saying that salvation and baptism with the Holy Spirit would happen simultaneously. This promise wasn’t only for Peter’s original audience.

The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call. — Acts 2:39 NIV

In the Epistles

If, as the Pentecostal view holds, the baptism of the Spirit occurs after salvation and should be earnestly sought by believers, we would expect to see such a crucial event explained and promoted in the Epistles.

Yet, the only time “baptism with the Spirit” is mentioned in the Epistles, it demonstrates that we are all baptized with the Spirit when we become part of the body of Christ, i.e. when we are saved.

For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. — 1 Corinthians 12:13 NIV

In fact, when Paul lists the core components of Christianity, he mentions only one baptism, water baptism.

There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. — Ephesians 4:4-6 NIV

A Response to the Pentecostal View

The large majority of conversions recorded in Acts seem to presume that conversion and the gift of the Holy Spirit would go hand in hand, just as Peter had said. But there are some passages that seem to be exceptions to that rule. The book of Acts covers a time of great transition in the history of God’s people, when (for the first time) His Spirit began to indwell all of His followers. It should not surprise us that there are some unusual events during this time.

The following three passages from Acts have been used to support the view that the baptism of Spirit occurs separately from salvation. In two cases, the passages are probably recording a salvation event, but the other is a genuine exception that springs out of this time of transition.

1) Acts 9:17-18

According to the Pentecostal view, Paul (also called Saul) was converted on the road to Damascus, and then baptized (filled) with the Spirit a few days later.

Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord – Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here – has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized… — Acts 9:17-18 NIV

The Bible doesn’t say that he was already a Christian – it is likely that this passage is describing Paul’s conversion experience (see Acts 22:16).

Several times in Acts, receiving the Holy Sprit is synonymous with being saved. A good Jew would have understood that he had been saved from his sin by God, through the animal sacrifice at the temple. In his mind, the most conspicuous change when he accepted Jesus was that they received the Holy Spirit. This is why Peter had said “Repent and be baptized…and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,” rather than “…you will be saved.”

2) Acts 19:1-6

The Pentecostal view also sees the following passage as an example of baptism of the Holy Spirit occurring after salvation.

While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. — Acts 19:1-6 NIV

Notice that Paul seems surprised that these men had not received the Holy Spirit. But as soon as he finds out that they had only received John’s baptism, he realized they were not yet Christians. So, Paul then “leads them to Christ.”

But doesn’t it say that that Holy Spirit came upon them after they were baptized? No, in the original Greek the order of events is not clarified. It simply says that they were 1) baptized and 2) the Holy Spirit came upon them.

3) Acts 8:14-17

The Pentecostal view says that the Samaritans in the following passage are like modern Christians who haven’t been baptized with the Spirit.

But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women….When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. — Acts 8:12, 14-17 NIV

These Samaritans had not yet received any of the Holy Spirit, whereas Pentecostals believe all Christians have some measure of the Spirit – even if they haven’t been baptized with the Spirit.

This passage records a very significant episode in the early church: the first time the Gospel was received by non-Jews. Just as salvation came to the Jews first and Gentiles second (Romans 1:16), it appears that the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit came first to the house of Israel. This event would then be the Samaritan’s Pentecost (in the pattern of Acts 2:1-4).

Why the delay for the Samaritans? We know that there had been long-standing animosity between the Jews and Samaritans. Perhaps God knew that Jewish believers would have a difficult time accepting His work among the Samaritans. Wanting to ensure that Samaritan believers would never be treated as second-class Christians, God waited until Apostles Peter and John came to substantiate their salvation.

We see a similar Apostolic “seal of approval” when Gentiles received the Spirit n Acts 10. In this case we get to hear the criticism of the Jewish Christians:

The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.” Peter began and explained everything to them precisely as it had happened… “As I began to speak [to them], the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?” When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.” — Acts 11:1-4, 15-18 NIV

In effect, we see three “Pentecost” events, one for Jews, one for Samaritans, and one for Gentiles. And as they were baptized by the Spirit into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13), they would forever be untied as one:

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. — Galatians 3:28 NIV

The Filling of the Holy Spirit

If Scripture teaches that all believers are baptized with the Spirit, does that mean that the “baptism” experience that Pentecostals have had is invalid? By no means! Scripture teaches that believers may continue to have significant experiences with the Holy Spirit. Peter was not only baptized in the Spirit, he was also filled on a later occasion:

After [Peter and other believers] prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. — Acts 4:31 NIV

By emphasizing that all believers are baptized in the Holy Spirit from the moment of salvation, we are not invalidating what has been a very meaningful and impacting experience for many believers. Rather, we are clarifying that it is better understood as a filling of the Spirit. All believers are commanded to continually be filled with the Spirit (“continually” is implied in the original Greek):

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be [continually] filled with the Spirit. — Ephesians 5:18 NIV

As believers, we are commanded to continually grow in our submission to and reliance on the Holy Spirit. This manifests itself through spiritual growth and maturity, evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. — Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

But the filling of the Spirit may also be experienced in more dramatic ways, such as the experience Pentecostals label “the baptism of the Holy Spirit.”

If a person earnestly seeks the power of God’s Spirit in his or her life, God will honor that desire, regardless of which label is used. This filling of the Spirit could be a very dramatic and memorable experience – especially if that person had previously been closed to the power of the Spirit. God has used the Pentecostal movement to remind the church of His Spirit’s powerful role in the believer’s daily life.

Why then make such a fuss about labels? The first danger of the Pentecostal doctrine is saying that believers who have not had a dramatic “baptism” experience have less of the Holy Spirit than those who have. As a result, there are many believers who live in guilt and confusion, thinking they have not received the Spirit because they never spoke in tongues.

The second danger is relying upon outward manifestations (such as tongues), which can be intentionally or unintentionally manufactured by the individual (see Matthew 7:22-23). A better test of the Spirit’s presence is consistent growth in the fruit of the Spirit, which springs from His inward work; if a person doesn’t bear the fruit of the Spirit, it is unlikely that he or she is truly Spirit-filled.

Conclusion

It is not my intent to invalidating this meaningful and impacting experience of many believers, nor am I minimizing the Holy Spirit. Rather, I want to proclaim the Biblical truth that every believer has been baptized in the Spirit and should seek both His continuous filling and dramatic empowerment.

Happily Ever After?

Here is an update version of “Soul-Prosperity Gospel.” I think it does a much better job of capturing my intent (the first version was clumsy and confused the point).

I have two young daughters, so I have read and watched my fair share of fairy tales, most of which end with a wedding and “they lived happily ever after.” Call me a wet blanket, but just once I would like to see one that ends with:

“…and the next day they got in a huge fight over castle decorations and Cinderella feared she had just made the biggest mistake of her life. But over the next many years, through all the normal ups and downs of marriage, she discovered in the struggles a deeper joy than any happily ever after could ever offer. The end.”

I am not holding my breath, but I fear that “Happily Ever After” does not prepare our children for the reality that is ahead of them. As I tell couples in premarital counseling, marriage is the hardest thing I have ever done, but it is also the best things I have ever done.

In the same way, I fear that many pastors and teachers (from a wide range of churches) are doing a similar disservice to Christians when they preach a “Happily Ever After” faith. In essence, they communicate that if a person removes certain barriers from their life (typically via an act of forgiveness, “giving it up to God,” or being prayed over), they will live happily ever after.

Like most erroneous teaching, it is based on truth: There are significant barriers to our soul’s wellbeing. I can think of four primary ones:

1. Blatant rebellion against God or his appointed authorities
2. Unrepentant unforgiveness or bitterness
3. Willful unbelief
4. Ignorance of God’s promises

When any of these are present in our lives, they may (and usually do) act as a roadblock, preventing us from moving forward in our spiritual growth or our relationships. Accordingly, we all should prayerfully and carefully examine ourselves for their presence in our life. Furthermore, these things may be dramatically removed with a single act of prayer, forgiveness, confession, or repentance.

So far, so good. The problem lies in the expectation that if these barriers are removed, then our Christian walk or our relationships will automatically become fruitful and vibrant, happily ever after. I do not think that is the case. Rather, when they are removed, then a person’s walk will become normal. By normal I mean the “three steps forward, two steps back” struggles with sin, ups and downs of emotion, and a deepening dependence up God’s Spirit.

As I pondered this topic, I have earnestly sought God to see if any such barriers are in my life, and I am reasonably confident there are not, yet my Christian walk is still a lot of work; some weeks I feel close to God, other weeks I feel distant. Sometimes I am victorious in my struggle with sin, at other times…not so much.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the life God has given me, but I think that the richness and joy comes because of the struggles. C. S. Lewis (speaking through Uncle Screwtape) called this the “Law of Undulation.”[1] It is specifically through the peaks and valleys that we grow in maturity, relationship with God, and joy. Said another way, in all sincerity I say I live a joy-filled, optimistic, victorious Christian life and it has only grown deeper through the toil and pain.

The curious thing is that I don’t know how many of the aforementioned pastors and teachers actually believe in the “happily ever after faith.” Most of the time, they know perfectly well that the Christian walk is full ongoing challenges which should serve to drive us closer to Jesus. After all, they face those challenges in their own life. So why do they communicate otherwise?

I am not sure. Perhaps they are trying to stress the importance of removing the road blocks (and I wholeheartedly agree), so they use inflated language to express the difference the removal will make.

Many people understand it as hyperbole or overselling, but (and here is the real danger and the reason for bringing this up at all), their words are misunderstood by the desperate and the naive.

Imagine that in your life you feel like you are constantly running in sand – perhaps always struggling to get ahead in life, facing continual challenges in your relationships, or always feeling defeated in your spiritual walk. Now some pastor or teacher offers you a silver bullet, a magical answer – if you just are freed from unforgiveness or rebellion, all that will change and you will live happily ever after.

So in great hope you forgive, repent, “give it over to God,” or whatever the case. And it perhaps it makes a real difference (as would be expected), but you soon find that life is still hard, knowing God is still work, and your marriage still a challenge. How do you respond?

Some people respond with guilt or discouragement, thinking that the fault is theirs, perhaps they didn’t give it up all the way or that God does not love them enough. Others will respond with a renewed effort, looking for some other answer just around the corner that will fix it all, so they go to the next prayer meeting, read the next book, or go to the next conference.

In either case, the tragedy is that may be so busy looking for their happily ever after that they miss the depths of joy waiting for them in the struggle.

 

---

[1] Found in “The Screwtape Letters,” chapter 8, which is an excellent presentation of the idea I am trying to convey here.

Soul-Prosperity Gospel

“Soul-Prosperity Gospel” is a phrase that I have recently coined. It refers to a perspective expressed by teachers and preachers from a wide range of churches. In essence, it says that if you remove certain barriers from your life (typically via an act of forgiveness, “giving it up to God,” or being prayed over), your life, relationships, and Christian walk will automatically become significantly better.

Like the error of the better known “Prosperity Gospel,” it is based on truth: There are significant barriers to our soul’s wellbeing. I can think of three primary ones:

1. Blatant rebellion against God or his appointed authorities
2. Unrepentant unforgiveness or bitterness
3. Willful unbelief

When any of these are present in our lives, they may (and usually do) act as a roadblock, preventing us from moving forward in our spiritual growth or our relationships. Accordingly, we all should prayerfully and carefully examine ourselves for their presence in our life. Furthermore, these things may be dramatically removed with a single act of prayer, forgiveness, confession, or repentance.

So far, so good. The problem lies in the expectation that if these barriers are removed, then our Christian walk or our relationships will automatically become fruitful and vibrant. I do not think that is the case. Rather, when they are removed, then a person’s walk will become normal. By normal I mean “three steps forward, two steps back” ongoing struggles with sin, the ups and downs of emotion, and a deepening dependence up God’s Spirit for every inch gained.

I have earnestly sought God to see if any such barriers are in my life, and I am confident they are not there, yet my Christian walk is a lot of work, my marriage is full of normal challenges, and some days I fight many temptations and trials. And I think that is just the way God wants it to be – the ongoing striving is a vital element of our being made into the image of Christ and drawing closer to God in relationship (the “Law of Undulation” as Wormwood called it). Good and easy are often mutually exclusive.

The curious thing is that I don’t know how many of the aforementioned teachers actually believe Soul-Prosperity Gospel. Most of the time they know perfectly well that the Christian walk is full ongoing challenges which should serve to drive us closer to Jesus. So why do they communicate otherwise?

I think that they are trying to demonstrate the importance of removing the road blocks (and I wholeheartedly agree), and so use inflated language to express the difference the removal will make.

Many people understand it as hyperbole or overselling, but (and here is the real danger and the reason for bringing this up at all), their words are misunderstood by the desperate and the naive.

Imagine that your life feels like you are constantly running in sand – perhaps always struggling to get ahead in life, facing continual challenges in your relationships, or always feeling defeated in your spiritual walk. Now some pastor or teacher offers you a silver bullet, a magical answer – if you just are freed from unforgiveness or rebellion, all that will change and you will be prospered in soul.

So in great hope you forgive, repent, “give it over to God,” or whatever the case. And it perhaps it makes a real difference (as would be expected), but yet soon you find that life is still hard, knowing God is still work, and your marriage still a challenge. How do you respond?

Some people respond with guilt or discouragement, thinking that the fault is theirs, that they didn’t give it up all the way or that God does not love them enough. Others will respond with a renewed effort, looking for some other answer just around the corner that will fix it all, so they go to the next prayer meeting, read the next book, or go to the next conference. And maybe some will just chuck it all.

So I end with these two encouragements:

If you are a pastor, teacher, or spiritual leader: Be honest about the ongoing challenges in your life. Don’t promise an easy Christian life, rather proclaim and demonstrate that life can be but God is good.

And to all Christians: By all means, examine yourself (with the help of friends or mentors) to discover if there are any spiritual roadblocks in your life. If there are, seek the Spirit and church’s help to deal with them ruthlessly. But at the same time, know that the normal Christian life can be downright hard, but infinitely worth every struggle, trail, and challenge.

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV)

A new label

I have just created a new label for myself: I am a post-Pentecostal, free-will Reformed pastor.

Post-Pentecostal means I used to be a Pentecostal pastor, and deeply value Pentecostalism’s reliance upon the Spirit and seek the same in my life, yet disagree theologically with “the Baptism of the Spirit as a second event” and also want to avoid the excesses of that movement.

Free-will Reformed means that I am in alignment with many elements of Reformed theology, such as the Supremacy of God and an emphasis on the clear proclamation of the Word through Biblical preaching. I have been more influenced by pastors like John Piper and Marc Driscoll than Rick Warren (though I respect him as well). Yet I am committed to the Biblical truth of God’s gift of free will.

In other words, I like to annoy everyone.

Hell as an act of love

If you understand that all that is good, right, pleasing, and joyful flows from God, then you will understand that the absence of God, which is Hell, would be the highest of horrors. But how do you express that to people who have no understanding of the glory of God as the highest joy, and who mistakenly view the essence of Hell (absence of God and the self-as-center, “better to reign in hell…”) as their idea of Heaven?

You speak to them in terms which they understand – you describe it as fire, darkness, torture, pain, and misery. That is not to say that Hell will not be all those things, but only to those who desire God can it be understood as such, this side of the grave.

Why is this important? Because it helps us grasp a fundamental truth: Hell is an act of love, for through it God allows his creation to have what they really want. Never forget that “The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.” (Psalm 145:17 NIV). Hell is God’s ultimate (in both senses of the word) monument to free choice.

I need some comments on this – help me see the errors in my logic before I preach on it!

The One Spiritual Disease

“Well, that’s all I can tell you about the new religion,” went on Flambeau carelessly. “It claims, of course, that it can cure all physical disease.”

“Can it cure the one spiritual disease?” asked Father Brown, with a serious curiosity.

“And what is the one spiritual disease?” asked Flambeau, smiling.

“Oh, thinking one is quite well,” said his friend.

G. K. Chesterton, “The Eye of Apollo” in The Innocence of Father Brown

It may not be the one spiritual disease, but “thinking one is quite well” is the disease that prevents us from being healed from all other spiritual diseases. Like the cancer patient that refuses to acknowledge he has cancer and thus rejects all treatment, refusal to acknowledge our brokenness prevents us to be healed.

Of course, this is why the message of salvation begins with a declaration of sin, “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). But it continues to be true after salvation – consider how much energy we put into convincing ourselves and others that we are quite well.

This is what makes community so vital – we cannot see our blind spots, and when we do we either ignore them or go into depression. But genuine community is a place where trusted friends both force to see our sins and demonstrate God’s love, acceptance and restoration.

Some Useful Stuff

I am all about digging for resources and binging on information. It’s part of how God made me (that makes me a “maven” according to Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point).

A while back I took Gallup’s Strengthfinder 2.0 (one of the best personal assessment tools I’ve found) and it showed me that I basically have two strengths: Gathering and disseminating large amounts of information, and liking people.

That’s it, that’s all I’ve got, but thankfully they work well with being a pastor. Just don’t ask me to actually get anything done (I would be in so much trouble without my lead deacon).

From time to time I will contribute a post to this blog with some resource I’ve found useful as a pastor, in hopes that they are useful to you as well.

Speaking of assessments, one of the ways my wife and I celebrated our 10^th anniversary was by completing Life Innovations “Enrich” inventory. This tool allowed us asses our strengths and weaknesses and brought up some issues we didn’t even know were there. This is also the best premarital counseling resource I have found. If you are not using it, I really encourage you to look into it.

Another recent find is Ask Moses, where you can ask a real live rabbi Biblical questions (obviously OT only). Here is the answer to a question that I recently asked. It really gave me a new perspective. (By the way, it is standard Jewish protocol to never write out any name of God in full, lest they be guilty of “taking the Lord’s name in full. Hence “G-d” instead of “God.”)

If G-d hardened Pharaoh’s heart why was he punished?

The hardening of the heart was in itself part of the punishment. He was wicked to the degree that he brought upon himself this harsh punishment.

Other Biblical commentators explain that G-d hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that he should be able to maintain his free-choice. In other words, even if Pharaoh did not want to release the Jews from bondage, the Plagues would be enough to cause him to allow the Jews to go–despite his desire to further enslave them.

G-d hardened Pharaoh’s heart, causing that the plagues should not affect his decision regarding the Jews. Thus Pharaoh was “free” to do as he wished–and as it turned out, his wish was to retain the Jews as slaves.

Need help getting organized and staying on task? I sure do. Here is a great blog to subscribe to: Lifehack. FYI: This is not a Christian site, so don’t get mad at me if you find some “inappropriate content.”

Finally, here are two fun ones: LarkNews.com (an online Christian satire magazine – my favorite headline this month: “Christians planning to be offended by next Eminem album”) and Stuff Christians Like (a smart Christian with a slightly irreverent, yet insightful blog).

Hope you enjoy this stuff!

Josh Kelley

The “Other Testament”

Tomorrow my church will hold its annual camping trip. It’s a great time of living out community while smelling perpetually of campfire smoke.

On Sunday, we will hold our worship service (nothing reminds you that the church is us, not a building, like closing down the building for a Sunday).

Not only that, there is something sublime about worshiping God out in nature, his “cathedral.” Accordingly, I will talk briefly about God’s self-revelation in nature.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.

Psalm 19:1-6 (NIV)

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Romans 1:20-23 (NIV)

Here is an interesting thought:

Creation itself is a testament to God. Almost in the same way that we have the Old Testament and the New Testament, we have God’s general revelation both in the universe around us and his specific revelation through the Bible. Both are vital.

I know that, for myself, it his revelation in nature that is the starting point of my faith – I cannot make myself believe that all of this just happened. While we may debate the methods by which God created the universe, it is evident that he created it.

However, (an important “however”) in the same way need New Testament in order to fully understand the Old, we need the Bible to understand the God of creation. Creation shows us “his eternal power and divine nature,” but not his character.

So while I believe God exists because of creation, I have fallen in love with him because of his revelation, both in the Word and (infinitely more) the Incarnation – God becoming flesh and dwelling among us.

But even still, God’s specific revelation should complement his general revelation, not replace it. Caught up as we are in the hustle and bustle of urban life, it becomes harder to stop and experience God, as revealed in creation and the Word.

I will close with one of my favorite poems, “The Grandeur of God.”

THE WORLD is charged with the grandeur of God.

It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;

It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil

Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?

Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;

And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;

And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil

Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

And for all this, nature is never spent;

There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;

And though the last lights off the black West went

Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs—

Because the Holy Ghost over the bent

World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.

G.M. Hopkins

Calvinism and Universalism

It seems to me that Calvinism (in so far as it teach God’s election over man’s free will) in conjunction to the doctrine of God’s love (which no true believer would deny) should naturally lead to universalism – for if God is love and he dictates all of our final destinies, would not he bring us all home to him? Yet nearly all believers acknowledge that the Bible clearly rejects this – some will be lost.

Accordingly the Calvinist is forced (in my mind) to say that judgment demonstrates God’s righteousness. What – is God’s righteousness so pale that it requires a foil to show off its brilliance? If we were to discount free will, would we not say that God’s righteousness would be most brilliant and glorious if all were to be saved? Is not Jesus sacrifice efficient enough even to bring Satan home?

I know that I speak only from human understanding, but if God is loving, and if he predestines our eternal state, and if Christ’s sacrifice was powerful enough to atone for all sins so that God’s holiness and justice may be upheld, I can think of no need for Hell.

But now add in the element of free will, that is that God in his complete sovereignty (and love) has given his creation some manner of choice: Hell is now a testament to God’s love shown in granting his creation the freedom to choose separation from him (“better to reign in hell than serve in heaven” they say).

And should we not proclaim that Hell itself is an act of love and kindness as well as judgment? For, “the LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.” (Psalm 145:17 ESV).

Your thoughts?