An Old, Tired Argument

I read an article entitled "Who Did Christ Die For?" that argued for the idea of limited atonement (the notion that Jesus only died for a few...those who were marked for salvation, but not for the whole world), and had to sigh a great sigh that this ancient argument between believers still lives. I, myself, have been caught up in arguing the different sides of this issue in the past, only to find myself frustrated and angry at people who don't see the same as I do. Aside from the fact that I see many, many weaknesses in the author's arguments and that the article is full of conclusions that were reached by assumptions, I have come to one very startling conclusion in the whole Arminian vs. Calvinism argument--Neither side will EVER convince the other that they are wrong and change their mind.

Which causes me to take several steps back and look at the whole thing from a wide angle view and say, "After all is said and done, what does all this theological arguing matter to begin with?"I mean, what good does it do anyone to believe Jesus died for only some? Does it serve any purpose to equip the Christian to greater witness or win people to Christ? Does it serve any purpose to disciple a Christian to have a closer walk with God? Or is it all just an academic exercise that gets people caught up in arguing theology? And if it's that, how much damage has it done through all the centuries to the Church in bringing disunity and strife?

When all is said and done, I am neither Calvinistic nor Arminian. I am a child of God. I was a sinner who has been purchased by the blood of Jesus and given the gift of a RELATIONSHIP with the Creator of all the universe. My faith does not rest in a theological treatise. My faith is in the Son of God who is the Way to the Father.

Above all, I think all this theology stops woefully short of what is truly the mind of God, anyway. It only presents one side of the whole truth, but fails to see what only God in His infinite wisdom can see. The very beginning of the article condemns itself when it argues that the gospel must be logical. It isn't logical at all, and man is only capable of seeing just so much of the wisdom of God.

The conclusion of the matter? Let us rejoice in the fact that we are His because of what Christ has done, let us marvel at the reality that His ways are so far above our ways, and let us pray, let us truly love God and love one another, and let us tell as many people that will listen of the good news we have come to know, and leave the rest up to God.