Lenten Musings - 26

I led the music at church today. I think it went well. "Well" with respect to, "we sounded pretty good and people seemed to respond well". I always end up closing my eyes when I lead. I don't know if people expect more "personality" from me, but I've always figured I'd try not to get in the way, and hopefully people have better things to focus on than me. I really enjoy the people I've worked with. I think I stretch people's boundaries and get them try new things. I like to think that I help them to grow just a little, and I usually learn a little something myself. They are at least very gracious with my ideas.

John 10
I'm not Calvinist, but a bunch of John sure sounds like it. Take John 10:26, for instance. Jesus tells the pharisees that they aren't his sheep. It sounds a little predetermined to me. And then in John 10:27-29, it talks about no one being able to snatch His sheep from Him. Has the ring of assurance of salvation to it.
I don't necessarily choose sides on the arminian vs calvinist debate. I figure there have been very godly and intelligent people on both sides of the argument, and if you take a step back, you can see both sides in scripture. But I'd like to just comment on one thing; assurance of salvation. If some are predetermined to salvation, and they can't be lost, that's all great, but what about those who fall away from the faith? Does that mean they never were saved to begin with? No one could ever know if they are saved or not. The people who I know who have fallen away would at some point never have even dreamed it possible.
I think of salvation like a marriage (which, coincidently the bible seems to do as well). There is a relationship there, with your spouse, or with God. It is the relationship that is most important. It's possible to be married without having a real relationship with your spouse. At some point, hopefully there was a real relationship, but if that relationship ends, then the marriage is over. I think it's the same with salvation. The anchor is the relationship, and as long as that relationship is maintained, so is salvation. I know it's not a fully developed bit of theology, but it's the best way that I've been able to make sense of it all. I invite any comments/criticisms on the matter.

Posted with LifeCast