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New Calvinism Hermeneutics
Note carefully the following quote, and note specifically the definition of ‘synergistic’. You want to know what New Calvinism (NC) is all about, and how they interpret scripture? This is it.
Following is a quote by NC Terry Rayburn in his post Progressive Sanctification – Are We Sanctified by Works? (which is pretty much a response to this post of mine]:
There is an ongoing sort of debate on the subject of so-called “Progressive Sanctification”.
The usual question goes something like this:
“Is our Progressive Sanctification strictly accomplished by God (monergistic), or is our sanctification dependent on our own efforts and obedience (synergistic)?”
Hello? Synergism is all “our own efforts and obedience”?????????
Hmm. I have a different definition of synergism. It takes two by the power and enablement of God the Holy Spirit. I’m just sayin’.
Related articles
- New Calvinism: It’s Major Tenets & Sources (5ptsalt.com)
- Trevin Wax & What the SBC Will Be Teaching You All (5ptsalt.com)
- The ‘Another’ Jesus of New Calvinism (5ptsalt.com)
- Why New Calvinism Is So Dangerous (tcanc.wordpress.com)
- Eisogesis is Never Helpful (5ptsalt.com)
That quote puts two monergistic processes against one another. You are correct – that quote masticates the word “synergism”.
I had something profound to say, but my wife just told me it’s time to masticate dinner….maybe later….
Exactly. The *either/or* hermeneutic. Sorry to say it, but it is a common communication technique used by cults.
“Hello? Synergism is all “our own efforts and obedience”?????????”
Yes, you have to listen closely. So many of the NC followers are running around accusing folks of “works” because they have been taught Justification and sanctification are the same thing.
It has become absurd. As in I cannot even decide to pray or read my bible. I had nothing to do with either of those actions. And if I say that I had some input then I am usurping God and trying to be like God.
Does anyone else see where this sort of thinking can lead? Cult just about nails it.
CULT??? Do you know the definition? Live in LDS country, it may open your eyes a little.
If NC is a cult then you are saying Keller, Piper etc are all hell bound and deliberately deceiving people.
Reading lately it appears that there are only a few fortunate enough to have the truth, the rest of us are deceived.
Mon-erg-ism – break it down and then look at what the word means; “one working”.
Who is the one working? God. What is the work? Regenerating a dead, flinty heart to a heart of flesh and renewing a dead mind to life so it can comprehend and desire the things of God.
Syn-erg-ism – “two or more working”. Who are the two working? God and the individual. What is the work? God works toward the same things as are defined in Monergism, with the person ‘working’ to ‘cooperate’ with God.
Problem – The people who steadfastly insist that Synergism is Biblical just go blind and deaf over all the instances in Scripture that teach we are born dead. Not defective, not sick, not ill-equipped to combat sin; we are born dead in our trespasses. We are natural born haters of God, absolutely incapable of desiring Him.
The ‘usual question’ isn’t about sanctification or redemption. The usual question, the one continuously debated down the centuries is whether or not anyone can will on their own to come to God or whether God first has to reach down and change the heart and mind thereby enabling the soul to desire God.
Since Scripture affixes the agent of change, the worker of our sanctification as the Holy Spirit then I don’t see that there is any question at all to be debated or discussed. We don’t do anything in the sanctification process. What we are commanded to do is “…do not let sin reign in your mortal bodies”; that capability does not exist until God changes our nature from ‘non posse non peccare’ to the pre-Fall state of ‘posse peccare’ and ‘posse non peccare’. Paul is exhorting believers who have been transformed to employ our God-given ability to choose to NOT sin; the posse non peccare. Everything else involved in sanctification is the work of God alone.