Entries in Heaven (2)
Here's The Thing
With Augustine, Calvin, and the Reformed, I believe that no one becomes a Christian "unless the Father draw him." Thus far my agreement with the Edwardine/Cranmerian phase of the English Reformation.
But I also understand why English Arminianism took issue with the Augustinian and Reformed doctrines of grace. "For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe." "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." Thus my affirmation of Anglican Arminianism.
I am entertaining thoughts of ways these Scriptures can actually be harmonized without resorting either to Calvinism or Arminianism. Stay tuned.
Heavenly Participation: The Weaving of a Sacramental Tapestry
Just finished this book by Hans Boersma, who holds the J. I. Packer Chair in Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, B.C. Highly recommended. The author calls for a return to the "sacramental ontology" of the Platonist-Christian synthesis of the early Church Fathers. The reviews at the Amazon page are definitely worth reading. Bishop Ray Sutton mentioned the significance of this book in his recent talk on real presence at the ICCA, which I also highly recommend.