Tried With Fire

In All That Is In God, James Dolezal critiques "theistic mutualism" or "theistic personalism." He argues that it deviates from the classical theism of the reformed creeds and the works of earlier theologians such as Athanasius, Augustine, Anselm, and Aquinas. 1  The premise of theistic mutualism (TM) is that in order for God to be relatable, there needs to be give-and-take with His creation. Without this, God is reduced to a cold and distant deity. For example: We will have to teach the following: that not only does humanity change in its relation to God, but the living relations of God to humanity... also undergo changes, as both are manifest in the world... Without reciprocity between God and world such vital relations would have no authentic reality. 2 ... if God should not experience change over time in His "intimate actual relationships with His people" then God's love would be reduced "to the frozen wastes of pure speculative abstra...

It's my turn at Out of the Ordinary : During this time of year, it is more acceptable to bring up Jesus. I've seen plenty of nativity scenes in people's yards and even in front of businesses. (The fortune teller with the plastic creche out front broke the cognitive dissonance meter, though.) Even traditional Christian Christmas carols are being played on the airwaves. Many see the story of the baby in the manger as just that, a feel-good myth about love, joy, and peace on earth in sentimental but indistinct terms that don't offend anyone's sensibilities. But is that good enough? Many people say they believe in "Jesus," but sadly we live in a day when we need to press the issue and ask "Which Jesus?" Read the rest of the post here .

What amazing condescension is it that God, who made all things, should assume the nature of one of His own creatures, that the Self existent should be united with the dependent and derived, and the Almighty linked with the feeble and mortal! In His Incarnation, our Lord Jesus Christ descended to the very depths of humiliation, by entering into alliance with a nature which did not occupy the chief place in the scale of existence. It would have been marvelous condescension for the infinite and incomprehensible Jehovah to have taken upon Himself the nature of some noble spiritual being, such as a seraph or a cherub. The union of the Divine Creator with any created spirit would have been an immeasurable stoop; but for God to become one with man, is far greater condescension.  Remember that, in the person of Christ, manhood was not merely an immortal spirit, but also suffering, hungering, dying, flesh and blood. There was taken to Himself, by our Lord, all that materialism which make...