It pains me to have to write a guideline for commenting on my blog, but recently we had a troll jump on and argue incessantly with me about a link I provided.
According to Wikipedia, a troll is defined thus:
Someone who posts inflammatory,extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.
So, here’s how this is going to play out.
This is my blog, and you’re welcome to comment and add to the discussion of topics at hand. You are not, however, free to 1) attack me or other commenters, 2) intentionally try to provoke emotional responses by use of language, and 3) what constitutes 1 and 2 is entirely up to me.
My blog; my rules. Your blog; your rules.
If I am so inclined, I may grade your trolling on a scale I will call the Hate Mail Percentage Average (HPA). Score a 4.0 and you might make Dean’s List.
End of discussion.
Rawr! (…said in my best troll voice) 😉
I dont know if Im just being impatient or Im just a noob. Ive been looking for a sorta “aska question” box or “contact us” button but apparently there is none- sorry if there is. Anyway, I have a question and this is rather framed a bit formal cos Im sending this out to online entities who I think are theologically equipped to answer the question
Hi,
I was hoping you could give me a little insight about this:
Romans 7:18 (KJV)
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Now my question is: Do you think Paul was implying that there is absolutely no good in humans? Or that we are absolutely incapable of containing good apart from Christ? But wait.. What was Paul’s notion of “good”? Was he equating it to holiness? righteousness? things that are obviously unattainable without Christ.. apparently not- at least that’s what I think -If one examines the whole Romans 7 text, it is as if good is being framed in the context of actions. Rom 7:16 “I agree that the law is good” says Paul.. and by complying with the law, you attain “good”. Now the controversy arises: Did God intend us to be like this? Incapable of good?
I intend this question to lead to the issue of predestination and free will. Luther argues freewill to be false because it only leads to our doom. Indeed, darkness is necessary to see the stars. So did God create humans incapable of good to showcase his glory? What Jonathan Edwards calls the ultimate end of which God created the world?
The law bred sin, Romans 7:7 “I would not have known what sin is had it not been for the law”. Indeed if it not for the law, we wouldn’t have known how separate God is, how holy he is. So.. Is sin predestined? Are we predestined to sin?
I think free will and predestination can coexist at the same time.It might be that our daily choices are induced by free will, but we have a predestined end.
Id appreciate a reply. Indeed this is a Christian’s struggle.Basic of the basics, the very fundamentals of my faith and I want the truth. I haven’t consulted it with our pastor tho. I have also raised this question to my Christian friends so that they’ll also consult with their local pastors. I wish to find consensus in the body of Christ.
Thanks!
Mars