Open Theology (also called “Freewill Theism”) states that God does not know the future. He changes His mind in response to our prayers. This idea comes out of the “Freewill/Arminian” position which says that because of our freewill, God cannot know the future. If He did, …
Read MoreLordship Salvation
Lordship Salvation is the idea that in order to be saved, one must receive Jesus as both Savior and Lord. Belief in Christ is not enough, but good works are required. The guys who ascribe to this view would describe saving faith as repentance (turning …
Read MoreWomen’s Role in the Church
Although there seems to be lots of arguments about this issue in churches today, it seems like a pretty clear-cut case to me when you consider Scripture. The traditional view stresses the woman’s duty to “submit” to the authority of men and that they should …
Read MoreSystematic Theology
According to Chafer, Systematic Theology is the “collecting, scientifically arranging, comparing, exhibiting, and defending all the facts from any and every source concerning God and His works.” Hodge would agree, but would limit these facts to those coming from the Bible alone. Erickson says that …
Read MoreCatholicism
I hope I don’t offend any of my Catholic friends, but I just read about some of their beliefs and it jut seems crazy. It seems like their view of Scripture has just kind of watered down things and confused them over the years. Here …
Read MoreDispensationalism
OK – So dispensationalism is the method of theology that I would subscribe to. Here are some the basics for this ideaology: 1. A consistently literal interpretation of the Scriptures. 2. A definite difference between Israel and the church. (Covenant theologians say that the church …
Read MoreFreewill or Predestination?
This one is a really a tough argument because both sides can be argued with integrity from the Scriptures. My best guess is that this particular issue is much like Brian McLaren describes in “A New Kind of Christian.” (I don’t agree with him all …
Read MoreCreated in the Image of God
All Christians proudly affirm the statement that we are created in the image of God, but what does it mean? What kind of impact does our understanding of this concept have on the way we live? or on our theology? It’s from Genesis 1:26 – …
Read MoreAnnihilationism
This is the idea that those who die without Christ, will not suffer an eternity in hell, but instead they will be “burned up” and “destroyed” sometime after death. It’s kind of a more humane concept than an eternal torment. Those who ascribe to this …
Read MoreUniversalism
OK – for those of you who don’t know, let me first explain what universalism is. Basically, it’s the idea that everyone will be saved. There are quite a few really smart people who adhere to this position, and it’s gaining popularity in the world …
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